Christmas 2011- Columbia Edition!

We knew it was going to be difference this year, because it’s our first Christmas far away.  But we were lucky enough to be able to take a whole week to celebrate!  We started in Columbia, because Ruthie was graduating the weekend of the 16th.  Jess even came in from Colorado, and it was great having all 4 of use together! :)

So, obviously we started off the trip with graduation on Saturday.  Despite being a December graduation, the weather was beautiful, which made it much less painful to take pictures around campus!  I guess it’s because I went to school there, but I think MU’s campus is just beautiful, and I love being there.  Lots of good memories, and it just says CoMo to me! :)  Anyway, Jess took most of the pictures, so I don’t have many, just a few of the girls on the columns.  I’ve been wanting to take pictures of them there, because I think it’d be fun to have pictures of them as kids on the columns to compare with the pictures of them at the columns in their graduation gowns, you know, when they graduate from MU. Hehe… a mommy can hope! 

P.S. I’m not really going to be able to use this second picture, because, yes, those are plaid boxers in front of the columns… not our’s.  Apparently someone had a little too good of a time at the columns before graduation… hopefully Jess will have some good ones, or I’ll be doing some work in photoshop! :)

And, gratuitous shot of my girls and their daddy on campus… love my family!

After graduation festivities on Saturday, we went to church on Sunday.  Then we spent the next couple of days just hanging out in CoMo.  We did some last minute Christmas shopping with Jess, went out for dinner with Tim, Mal, & Grandma Jo, and went out for lunch and to see Santa at Bass Pro with Tim & Mal.  And, of course, laid around the house, ate too much, and generally had a good time hanging out with our family. 

Audrey’s favorite thing to do at Grandma & Grandpa’s… maul Sassy!  Sassy is the most tolerant animal I’ve ever seen, she just let A do whatever she wanted.  Which included things like Audrey holding up her back legs and doing the wheelbarrow… yikes! 

A and her favorite toy! :)

Love the Bass Pro Santa, because they give you a free pic, and it’s not an arm and a leg to buy more.  However, I don’t think I’ll be buying more this year.  Here’s the picture I took… yeah, not a framer!  Pretty hilarious, though.  Audrey, not a fan of Santa.

We did manage to get a cute one of the girls in Santa’s sleigh, though!

Audrey got a wicked cold, so she didn’t feel very good for most of the trip.  And she was definitely too worn out for shopping!

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a rip and tear session at Grandma & Grandpa’s house!  We all got together on Tuesday night to exchange presents.  We started with breakfast for dinner, of course.  We were cracking up because when we set the table, all of the food was tan- breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, pancakes… carbs, anyone? :)  And it was all delicious!

Laney got the passing out presents job (although, as it was going to take about 4 1/2 years for her to get it done, Ruthie and Grandma helped). 

Before the ripping and tearing, though, Laney had to “open” her big present from Grandma & Grandpa.  Dad had brought in a bike and covered it with a blanket.  After she passed out all of the presents, Dad told her he was cold, so she pulled the blanket off.  She was QUITE excited…

And, of course, she had to take it for a little spin!

Audrey pretty much opened her first present and was done opening.  She was totally content to push the shopping cart from Aunt Ruthie around the rest of the night!

Dad won the biggest present award…

But, it was really just a Black and Gold Auctions car magnet, buried in packing materials… good call, Josh! :)

Anyway, we had such a good time hanging with the Price’s in Columbia.  It was great to have all of the Price kids together, especially since Jess is pregnant, fun to see her all excited!  Can’t wait to see all of the pictures she took, so look forward to more pics… and, of course, Christmas 2011, Springfield and Kentucky editions! :)  Hope your Christmas was as fun and filled with family as our’s!