Ben's Super Hero B-day Party!

Ben had his Superhero 4th birthday party at 'Bouncin off the Walls' in Utah. I have never been before and I had SO much fun! We took Dallas down the big slide a few times and he seemed to like it. There were about 20 little kids and just as many adults running around playing on all the stuff - it was great!

Teag and Dallas coming down the big slide
My mom and Dallas in the jump house
Super-Dallas!
just bouncin' around
Ben (the birthday boy) and Hannah (his supergirl-friend)

Christmas Day

We started Christmas morning at my parents house, where Santa had clearly stopped by. Dallas was especially good this year ;) and got lots of fun stuff from Santa, mommy and daddy, cousins, and grandparents.

He got some instruments, a reindeer, books, his first toothbrush in his stocking

And we can't forget the "Gymbo" puppet -

his FAVORITE!

Dallas and Eliza checking out all their cool stuff

Eliza pretending to be an "American Girl" doll
Alexa and Kira in their fun jammies!

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Then it was onto Teag's parents house for a great meal, more gift-giving, and just hanging out with the family.

Judd, Amberlynn and Valerie - we missed you!

Dallas and Gracie on Grandpa Whiting's lap

The kiddos with their cutest hats that Grandma Whiting made for them all

Dallas enjoying his bink while opening gifts

Christmas Eve

Another tradition with the Reynolds Family is Dinner at my Grandma Reynolds house on Christmas Eve. She makes a great meal and a variety of about 6 different cookies for dessert. The cookies make a great breakfast Christmas morning with a glass of milk!

Scott and Eliza
Dallie going in to give Eliza "loves"
Alexa and Kira in their Santa hats!
Scott giving Teag a little after dinner massage
Our nephews Josh & Jer with Jake

Jason, Lisa and GramDallie with Uncle Jay

The kiddos

In the white elephant exchange Teag was lucky enough to get my "can-can girl" costume from when I was in elementary school

And Scott was lucky enough to get a rainbow trout that Alexa caught at Willow Creek this past summer. My dad had been freezing it for the past several months...

The Nutcracker

Part of our Christmas tradition is going to Ballet West's Nutcracker on Christmas Eve Day. We have been going for as long as I remember and I love it more and more each time I see it!

Jake was inspired after he saw the men dancing around!

Alexa's Baptism

My sister Lisa's family lives in New Jersey, but our niece Alexa wanted all the family to be at her baptism, and she wanted my brother Jake to baptize her, so they did it in Utah over Christmas. Cutest picture!

Lex was SO excited and proud! She had been looking forward to this day for a long time!The guys
The O'Neil family
Alexa at her after-party :)

Mom and Dad's B-day Dinner

The Reynolds fam went to Willow Creek for dinner for my Dad's b-day on the 22nd. My dad was so cute and called all of us prior with the idea of suprising my mom and celebrating her b-day (Jan. 18th) that night too since we would all be in town. The kids stayed home with a sitter so we had a great night out with just the adults. The BYU game was on in the bar, but everyone had strict instructions not to say a word about the score b/c Teag had it being recorded at my parents house.

How 'bout those Cougars?!?!

O'Neil still managed to act like a kid
My dad with his new Lederhosen apron
All the Reynolds girls
Stevie's b-day present from the O'Neils. We all LOVE the office and of course had a showing of all the Christmas episodes while we were in Utah.
This b-day is a big one for my mom (60!) so we had a fun present for her. We gave her 2 envelopes labeled 'option 1' and 'option 2' and told her she had to choose one. Option 1 was a girls trip to Chicago for shopping on the Magnificent Mile, a taping of Oprah, dining and a play. Option 2 was a girls retreat to Red Mountain Spa in St. George.
She opted for the Spa and we are all SO EXCITED!!!

Santa!

While we were in Utah we had a Christmas party with my mom's side of the family. It was fun to get together with all the cousin's and catch up and see everyone's kids. Santa even made an appearance, and it was a good thing because Dallas hadn't visited him yet!

He was not so sure about Santa at first...

but he reconsidered when Santa gave him a book and a toy

This is Dallie's cousin Ben telling Santa "I want a Spiderman web-blaster that gives you 5 opportunities to blast a web".

Santa responded "5 'opportunities'? Really?"

8 months old!

As of yesterday (the 9th) Dallas is 8 months old! Last night Teag and I were talking and saying how we CAN NOT believe he is this old! It has gone so fast. I wish I could have stopped time at each stage because it is all so much fun. Each new thing he does is so exciting!
What he's doing now:
. standing at the couch
. clapping
. waving bye-bye
. scooting/army crawl EVERYWHERE!
. chatting, chatting, chatting!
. eating all sorts of fruits and veggies
. loves to splash and play with toys in the bath
. still sleeping like a dream for about 12 hours a night
. luckily still gives mommy and daddy loves and kisses

That's my boy! He is always trying to get my DC!

We love Little Gym!

Dallas LOVES his little gym class! He is constantly squealing, clapping and checking out all his little buddies. My mom and dad got to witness this firsthand while they were here last week. They could not believe how much this little guy enjoys it!

4 of the other babies were also in Dallas' Gymboree class, so he has been playing with them since he was 4 months.

practicing standing
fun on the bars
Dallas and his little girlfriend Addison (they were born on the same day!)
pull ups and eating the bar
Dallas and his little buddy Patrick

*Christmas Lights and tree*

So every year I give Teag a hard time and tell him he is a scrooge. When he was playing for the Cardinals he spent a Christmas alone in Arizona and hasn't really gotten into it ever since. (we were engaged, and I have since realized I probably should have stayed there with him...)

Therefore, when I beg him for Christmas lights and tell him it is time to get our tree, he doesn't humor me.

Well, after growing up in the Reynolds home, this doesn't really jive. My mom goes ALL OUT. Last week my parents were asking if we had our tree and lights up yet and I told them the situation to which they responded, "no daughter of ours isn't going to have a tree or Christmas lights on her house!". So, no suprise ,they flew up here, got us lights and a tree, and my dad went to work outside while my mom and I were busy inside!

When Teag got home that night he was actually very pleased!

Once again, thanks mom and dad! You're the best!