christmas 2012

This was our first Christmas (of five Christmases) as a married couple that Andrew didn't have to work on Christmas Eve! Or the day after Christmas! Or any day around it at all! And it was awesome.

We celebrated our new freedom by going to Utah for a week to see family and to eat yummy food.

We stayed with my brother Nathan and his wife, Kathryn, and their three kids.

Emerson hanging out with Aunt Kathryn (with cousin Caleb photobombing).

My whole family was there for the holidays, so Emerson got lots of attention.

Hanging out with Aunt Caitlin.

Eating his own mouth--a favorite pastime--while Grandma looks on.

Fun times with cousin Ellie.

He even got to play with his cousin Ryker, who is just one week his senior (and so much more active than Emerson that it's laughable).

Bonding over a nice plastic cup.

Emerson looks like a porker here, but I promise he's really not that big.

And then the food. Oh, the food. We saved up money just for this trip so we could eat at all the restaurants we've missed since moving to Oregon.

We got sushi (and non-sushi food for me) at Sushi Ya with our good friends, the Stringfellows.

Sorry for the yellow pictures. Blame my phone. Or blame me for always using my phone to take pictures.

Stolen from Ronnie--because I forget to take pictures of people!

We went to Cafe Rio with Andrew's cousins, Scott and Maran, and their three girls.

My mostly devoured pork salad.

We went to Mountain West Burrito and almost died because it was so delicious.

Seriously so good. Mmmm.

And we made a last-minute stop at Kneaders on out way to the airport for some famous french toast.

Before...

...and after.

Not pictured here (unfortunately, because they were also delicious):

Yes, we were a bit gluttonous. And yes, it was worth it.

We flew back to Oregon on Christmas Eve, and it actually wasn't too bad. We all got sick in Utah, so that was no fun, but otherwise, it was a wonderful trip.

To end this post, here are a few more pictures of Emerson.

Just being cute.

Playing with a new toy on Christmas morning.

This boy sure loves his Daddy.