We got as many as our siblings together last night as we could for dinner and we went to Javier's. The food was super yummy and the company was even better.
Here are the popcorn makers.
We spread out blankets and rearranged the couches.
Brady hadn't sat down by the time I started taking pictures but I wanted to document that he was there.
Dan and Shan hanging out (This is their last night of not being engaged.)
Here's the group. Notice that Zack and Lila are completely sucked into the show but Abby's bouncing and running around everywhere...that's how it was the whole night.
You are so glamourous!!! I have always tried to be as "stylish" as you but I feel like I never can quite get it right... (Notice that most of these pictures are from our cruise and you are wearing that blue sweater in pretty much all of the pictures...oh well!)
I love that you and Casey are such good friends with Nick and I. (I don't think we could have had as much fun on that cruise with anyone else.)
You are my best friend and always have been. I remember when we were younger we would try and match so that we could look like twins. Even though we really look a lot different there will always be a select few that "can't tell us apart." (As if we were really twins or something? Weird.)
You are seriously one of the best moms I have ever seen. I mean that too, with all sincerity. I am so in love with Benson and I know that he is such a good kid because of you and how you teach him.
You are such a good wife and are always trying to do nice things for Casey. The two of you really were made for eachother and there's nothing better than being with your best friend FOREVER!
You're an awsome sister...
And an even better friend!
Ronola gave Mom this stroller and Benson has been infatuated with it ever since. Whenever he sees it he says "stoller" and runs and climbs into it. Funny boy. We had it outside and he decided he needed to sit in it I guess.
We had ice cream. Casey and Nat are enjoying theirs. Casey and Benson both had playdough flavored and Nat had Brownies on the Moon.
Here is Nick and I with our yummy yummy Brownies on the Moon ice cream. (Oh, I could go for some of that right about now...)
Benson loved his tiny ice cream cone. It got everywhere but he enjoyed it.
This picture was actually from Saturday night. I went to the West Haven Days Fireworks with Nat, Casey, and Benson. Benson was so funny with the fireworks. He wasn't sure about them at first and then he started whining and crying and kept wanting to get passed around to everyone.
And of course at West Haven Days he had to get a flag. (Check out the sweet shades.)
And last night was so funny. I actually tried uploading a video but I literally tried for 4 hours and it wouldn't upload so I gave up. You just get pictures. 
When we asked Benson what it was he said "fog" and we asked him what it says and he said "wibbet wibbet." I hope I can get the video to load eventually but if not, oh well.
Benson drumming away. I took this one for Danny (aka Elder Haws).
This is Nick today. Brady gave Nick this suit and I thought it looked fancy on him. He was shoveling the driveway when we got home. Thanks for the suit Brade!
Our "official" 2008 Christmas photo.
Mom's gifts to open Christmas morning. She also got a dishwasher a couple days prior to Christmas. (Santa is very self-less.)
Andy and Cory's piles.
Dad's chair surrounded in gifts.
Nick and Tami's piles. Nick really spoiled me this year, like always.
This is what it looked like after Santa left. Looks nice and clean!
So those of you who live in the area know that we got tons of snow on Christmas night. It was so bad that McKenzie's parents told her not to even try to drive home, and Nat and Casey didn't want to deal with driving in the snow and stuff, so we all had a "sleepover" at Mom and Dad's. Nick and I drove down the street and got our air mattress and then we pulled out some mattresses for Nat & Casey and also for McKenzie. Andy just slept on the couch. It was actually really fun. We watched "Head Over Heels" and then fell asleep!
What would the sleepover be without balloon animals made by Casey? Nick is sporting his super cool crown or hat that Casey made him.
Shanna was talking to Danny. (She doesn't look happy does she?)
Dad sporting his new basketball shoes that Nat & I (and our spouses) got for him.
Shawnee & Brady
Ronola
Shanna and Cory
Nick and Tami
Casey, Nat, & Cory
McKenzie and Andy
Mom went crazy with making quilts for everyone. These are the ones she made for Andy & Cory. Nick says this was a "Quilted Christmas."
Dad with his hot air balloon quilt that Mom made him. (I used this one at our sleepover and it was FABULOUS!!!)
Emily, Nat, and I secretly surprised Mom with making a quilt with some fabric that she used to sew things when we were little. I'm pretty sure she liked it. She started crying when we asked her what the fabric was from. Big hit I think.
Okay this is my favorite picture and this is why I saved it for last. I am posting this mostly for Danny but I thought I would let you all see how much weight Dad has lost. He fits into Danny's leather jacket that Danny wore right before he went on his mission. Dad, that's amazing. We're all proud of you for losing that much weight!
So for Dad's birthday tNatali had a great idea to take Dad on a Daddy Daughter Date.
P.S. Did you know it's no longer Dan Dan the Maytag Man? I didn't know this until I got the camera out to take a picture and I said something about Dan the Maytag man and I was quickly corrected. Oh well. This picture reminds me of when we went on our trip to San Fransisco and Dad stood by the Six Flags guy.
Love, Tam