Christmas in Michigan

We spent Emmett's first Christmas in Michigan this year. It was white and beautiful and made us grateful for Albuquerque the rest of the year ;) The longer we're away from real winters, the more wimpy we become, but it's SO nice for the Holidays!

The neighbor's barn...this used to be a big orchard, but they've built houses now here

Micah's home from the backyard...the previous barn
is right through those trees and blocked by the house

We made great use of his snowsuit! This picture is at our house, though...so maybe it's when we went to the Fiesta Bowl BYU game, because that's the only time he needed it down here!
They had found some of they're old baby toys...
Emmett loved the bouncer, just like his dad used to!
Wasn't sure what to think of the jumper. He didn't jump too much,
but i think he liked being able to stand without anyone around!

Oh the basement....everyone spent a LOT of time down here, late into the nights
We drywalled all the outside walls over the break & met a deadline for insulation guys to come
(It was a foam insulation that's blown in AFTER drywall's up)

Don't mind all the pretty faces I make

Jason & Brian

Wow, Emmett's NOT looking at either camera!

Kelli got to meet Emmett

and back to the basement....

Who's been good this year?
(this doesn't really look like him)

and a wall goes up!!

The Lillroses meet up with friends every Christmas Eve to act out the Nativity
This is my absolute favorite picture!!

And we got the lead roles, thanks to the little one
and yes, there was flu going around our house so we wore masks...
Not anyone's favorite, but we survived

He was loved....

CHRISTMAS!
Tiffany, Sammi & Savvy made Mother a HUGE quilt
It was a great surprise!

And Cassandra and I are reverse twins! Didn't even notice it at first

Aunt Sam helping him open his first present ever!

Emmett got an elephant! And it has a squeaky mouse attached that I think it so cute

YAY for books!

The magic touch

Megan sent him this sweet suit! I LOVE these!

and back downstairs....

With President Remund! He was Micah's Stake President and afterwards his YM Pres

Cousin Jenny drove a ways to come see us!
We LOVE her! (Micah won't admit this though) and Joseph came, too!

Emmett checking out his Great Grandma Lillrose
at the Christmas Carol Play, which we all thought was amazing!

Bath time

Visiting his Great Omy

This was a LATVIAN church we saw on the way to Sister Beyer's
If you zoom in on the sign, it says so. I was STOKED!

on the plane to Boston...

Thanksgiving

YAY!! I found them... So Betsy & Tanner & Jason drove down for the WHOLE week of Thanksgiving! How fun is that?!

We woke up to a White Thanksgiving! That's probably the
first time we really saw snow stick for more than an hour!
(PS You can comment about my bedhead if you want)

It was Emmett's first snow, of course

I put Tanner in charge of the turkey and he did an AWESOME job...also of course

Our friends loved the stairs!Betsy's rolls...the main dish for Micah!
He was excited for these

Jason offered to hold Emmett who fell asleep...then he didn't want him to wake up so he didn't put him down, but I don't think he expected him to sleep so long! Hours later, they were still together and Jason hadn't had a chance to get ready

But I never got fully ready either, so it was a nice, calm afternoon
Our friends, The Boyces, helping set the table

Men in the Kitchen!?! Micah likes to impress our friends with this talent

Emmett's 1st Thanksgiving!

The Spread

Emmett ALWAYS sees the camera! Heaven forbid he NOT look at it...

Besty & Emmett sittin' in a chair...
(all I'm sayin' is she loves him)

Boys went shooting...

and deucing....

and VLA-ing

and the girls crafted...

and photographed...

Pop's Li'l Corn
(Besty had this idea cause it's Micah's favorite snack
& photoshopped one of these with that phrase)

and our little turkey!

and to the Bodies exhibit, but they didn't allow cameras. Betsy and I have wanted to go to this for years now!!! We have even been together in the same city while the exhibit was there THREE times I believe, but never made it. Luckily, it worked out this time! It was different than we expected, but I really enjoyed it!

We were SO SAD to see everyone go.... we had a wicked fun time with everyone!