If anyone ever wants to come visit us after Christmas – our doors are open and our weather is on point!

This year Steve’s brother and his wife came for a visit and we had the best day hanging out on the couch, catching up and playing some games outside with the kids. We never get bored of their visits – always a new topic, always more laughing. My memory is a little fuzzy on this, but I’m pretty sure Hunter and I won this game of corn hole!

We also snuck away for a quiet dinner and a treat. We don’t seem to ever eat Thai food unless we’re with them – we make sure to make dinner a priority when they come to town. Just a little downtown fun! Never a dull moment.

Just two days later my brother and his wife came down from Utah to thaw out for a bit. We spent a lot of time outside and it was just lovely. Hiking, biking, parks, tennis, outside eating – the weather fully cooperated with all of our outdoor plans.

My sister-in-law has struggled with some knee issues so it’s been a really long time since we’ve been able to play spikeball with them. She still worked us even coming off a bum knee!

Some of the kids are getting old enough to go on some more challenging adventures. They hiked camelback which is not a walk in the park. It’s steep. There’s boulders. It’s exhausting. They rocked it!

We went to a family improv club that the kids absolutely loved. We sat in the first row and they had several suggestions that made it to the stage. Not only that, I made it to the stage (it was the day before my birthday – three other ladies were also there near their birthdays and landed on the stage with me). Let’s be clear – I’m sarcastic and occasionally witty – which is nothing like improv. Those people have a talent I can’t begin to describe. It is extremely hard to think on your feet and be funny time and time again. We had a great time.

We re-created Hallie’s glow birthday party for a fun New Years Eve Eve – also known as my birthday. And you know what – they highlighters were just as popular the second go around!

Twinsie cousins who couldn’t help but continue to build towers with the glow and the dark cups.

We brought in the new year with sparklers, dancing and too many noisemakers!

We miss our late night game sessions, but we’re doing fine without the late, late, late night talks!