Happy New Years!

By the time New Year's rolled around things were relatively quiet.  Our family and Michael were the only ones left, so we knew we needed to step it up for New Year's Eve.  The answer...

Balloons...Lots of balloons...In a wide open space (we're crazy like that :)

The world was topsy turvy for the night

Maniac McC strikes again

I was "safe"

Grandma was not.

Matts was in his element

It only took everyone, but the Hulk could be conquered.

Enjoying a little post bedtime snack.  GUMMIES!

Michael may or may not have had to run around the house in his shorts.  I'm just saying...

At the strike of midnight we discovered just how much the Swedes love their explosives.  It looked and sounded like WW3.  There were, hopefully Legal, fireworks shooting into the sky from every direction.  It was cool enough I woke up the boys to show them.  

Apparently strict gun control +inflammable ice +holiday spirit =very enthusiatic swedes.  

God Jul

With 8 kiddos and their accompanying adults (+Michael who's somewhere in between) our holiday in Sweden was non-stop entertainment.  Add a couple feet of snow and you have pure Christmas magic.

The Residence

We invaded our first school

Enjoyed some quality time at Junibaken

And enjoyed lots and lots of time in the winter wonderland.

Matts was a great protector

Little C liked to cause mischief and despised any and all gloves.  

G just wanted to have a good time

Reed and I also got away for a weekend in Stockholm and like the good people we are hit up the temple.  

Doesn't hurt that it's right next to a delicious bakery.

It was wonderful to get to enjoy the sights of Stockholm, eat some amazing food (best Italian ? ever) and SLEEP.

Although it seems crazy to go to the freezing cold arctic, where they only have 4hours of sunlight per day, it was a perfect break from life.  Filled with lots of sledding, food, movies, and family.  

Christmas Day

Tis the season for Legos.  

Santa was very generous and the boys very good and Christmas Eve and Morning were wonderful.  

Not a bad way to travel.  

We trekked across the ice and snow to see this sweet little creche at a local church.  The children all sang carols for Jesus and sweet Linnea wanted to sing an extra song as a present for baby Jesus

Little C putting together Thor and Iron Man

Oh yeah, that's a candy necklace to go with his mouthful of goodies.  

Not sure when he grew up, but here's my BIG boy

After a quick change into "cougar gants" Christian was ready to read with Grandpa

Not sure if the giver(s) or receiver was more excited about these (they cam in a 6 pack :)

G was more than happy

Our Cheeky Monkey

Merry Christmas to All!

Alise's Baptism

It's crazy awesome that even though my family is spread far and wide we've been able to come together and support each other through important events.  Alise decided to patiently wait to baptized until a large part of the family could be there.  It was wonderful.   

Newell cousins singing.  

Cute Kiddos

The Baptize Girl and G. 

Alise asked the boys to share their testimonies and G's was short and sweet.  "I know in my heart and mind that Jesus lives and loves me."  Matts was a little more verbose.  He used all his speaking skills, making excellent use of the pause, the hand gesture and the personal anecdote.  It was priceless.  

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Since Cath was already hopping the pond to visit my parents in Sweden we concocted a plan to get together for some good old fashioned bonding time.

Miss Madi fulfilled her 1st lifetime ambition and future career training by going to see Phantom.   All the other kiddos tolerated it, but for Madi it was enthralling.  (Matts reported that she thought EVERY part was the BEST part :)

Miss Iz at the show.  She enjoyed some quality back tickles once things got a little slow

The sophisticated big kids.

Our concierge for the week.  Reed got great tickets and arranged a fantastic night.  

Kensington Palace.  Madi imagined the life of a Princess while Izzy joined the boys in a game of  ching-ching.  Little C was battling a nasty virus and spent a lot of quality time in the stroller.

Some things never get old.

The Hooligans trying to escape the Tower.

On their best behavior.

Cath and I went out for a night on the town which meant on thing; DANCE PARTY!

G and Miss Iz at the Science museum.  G is working on his duck face.

I think he perfected it.

We also hit up the V&A.  It was our first time there and we LOVED it!

Madi fulfills her 2nd lifetime ambition and career with a visit to the Roald Dahl House.

Iz was wonderful with "Baby Christian"

Hijinks in the Tube

There was some serious tromping on our path through Great Missden.  

Elementary...

Cousins!

By the end of the trip Iz was missing Scott pretty badly, luckily Uncle Reed was more than happy to fill in for some quality time.  

All in all it was a fantastic, crazy trip.  The kiddos had a great time and it was definitely an example of the more the merrier.  Especially crazy was the fact that we reenacted my Mom's life, schlepping 5 kiddos around Europe.  It was exhausting and  exhilarating and completely worth it.

Holidays in London

Before heading up north we enjoyed some festivities in London.  The big boys memorized the 12days of Christmas in honor of Regents Street and Covent Gardens, with it's ginormous ornaments and lights became a favorite hang out.  

Enjoying (mostly) the decorations at Covent Gardens.

Daily opening of the Lego Advent

Ice Skating at the Natural History Museum.  We went for a primary activity and ALL the boys, even Little C were puttering around by the end.