Our family December 2013, part 2

Some pictures Eric's dad took while we were visiting in December.  I really liked these, so here is part 2 of pictures of the Andersons.

Our family December 2013

A friend in our ward took pictures of each family at our ward Christmas party.  These are our pictures. By the third one Abby is almost smiling. :)

More highlights from December 2013 roadtrip

A three week long trip is bound to make for tons of pictures, so I tried to pick out just a few to highlight some of the other things we did while in Texas and Phoenix that I haven't already posted about. 

At Grandmas House

Having fun outside

Definitely not used to having to be this bundled up!

                             Abby loved this little toy dog, we went on several walks with it.                               

Playing piano with Dad!                        

Spent lots of time going up and down stairs

                                               

Matching pajamas with cousin Hannah!

                                 

San Antonio Missions 

We went to all five of the missions. Lots of fun, way too many great pictures.

Grandma spent so long trying to get Abby to some into the fireplace. Once she gave up and left, Abby went right in. :)

Taking a break from all that walking!

Brackenridge Park 

Sharing a snack with Hannah

Waiting for the train we rode around the park 

Phoenix

On our way back to SD, we stopped by in Phoenix for a day to visit my sister Ruth and her family. 

Abby had so much fun being bounced around on their trampoline 

Went to visit the new Phoenix temple site, just minutes from their house

There was some great hiking right near the temple, so we took advantage of that. Those kids did so great!

Visited a park near their house, where Abby was able to ride a train again and feed ducks

We finally got back to SD a week ago, and we were sure ready to be home.  We had so much fun seeing family and playing all day, but we were glad to walk back into our tiny little apartment.  Abby was so excited to see all her toys and especially her books, and didn't seem to mind the absence of cool staircases and toy dogs and trampolines. Good thing. 

All in all, it was fun making the long drive out to Texas, but exhausting too.  Abby did so much better than I expected but I was sure worn out from trying to keep her happy and entertained.  I had lots of little busy car activities that I had thrown together and she went through lots of books, but it was still hard to keep her happy. Glad we won't me making that long of a drive any time soon!

Playing in the leaves

Christmas projects

In an effort to stay within a budget, and also because I really love giving home-made gifts, I made the majority of the gifts we gave this year.  Of course, it all took way longer than it I thought it was going to, even  though most were pretty simple.  Overall though, it was fun spending time working on things for other people.

We kept presents for Abby simple - a few artsy things (finger paint, playdough, chalk), and then for her main present we picked up some Lego Duplos at a baby resale store.  So I decided to sew her a cute bag to store them in.  I used this tutorial.

For Eric, I made this bag for his organ shoes. (have I mentioned that Eric plays the organ at church and absolutely loves it).

Then this adult bib for Neil, Eric's brother.  (love this monkey fabric!)

 

An apron for Eric's mom.  I also made a different, half apron for my little sister Lilly (no picture).  Used this and this tutorial.

Then for everyone in my family, I sewed a bunch of these reusable snack bags. This is a project I've been wanting to do for myself for a while now to help decrease the number of plastic bags we use, and doing it as gifts gave me the push to actually do it. :)