Vrchota Christmas

After the craziness ended at our place, we decided to head to the Vrchota Christmas at Steve and Kelly's to introduce Jasper to some of his extended family.  We hadn't seen many of our aunts and uncles in over a year, so it was fun to catch up and see Eli and Jasper meet everyone.

A bunch of us cousins with Grandpa Vrchota

 Eli and Eddie loved playing with the trains.

 I had a great time catching up with Grandpa Vrchota and introducing him to Jasper.

 Uncle Jim holding Vincent.

 Silly Uncle Tom holding baby Jasper.

Great Grandpa Vrchota got to meet the triplets for the first time.

Auntie Elizabeth snuggling up with Jasper

Christmas at our place

Knowing that we were going to have a brand new baby in the beginning of December, we decided it would be easier to host Christmas at our house than to try and travel with a newborn, a two-year-old, and a dog.  Everyone was gracious enough to accommodate our request, so we got what we asked for...and more!  Looking back, we're not so sure it was less stressful to host than it would have been to travel, but the Christmas of 2011 will surely never be forgotten!  At any give point we had 5 kids under the age of 2, 2 kids over 3 years old, 8 adults, and two dogs at our house...most guests even stayed overnight for Christmas weekend!  It was an absolute zoo, but it was so much fun.  Here are some of the highlights of our 2011 Christmas:

 Eli making "turtles" with Nana.

 Auntie Trina and Jasper

 Elsie and Eli...whose wine is that, by the way? ;)

 Babies,

 Babies,

 Babies everywhere!

 

Mommy and her boys

 Christmas carnage!

 Fishy kisses!

 Cousins being goofy and having fun!

 Look at all of those cousins!

 All the kiddos with Nana

 Playing with the newest, hottest toy from uncle Troy

 Making a gingerbread house

 Christmas dinner with Dad and Lee

 Just hanging out...it got crowded, but it was fun!

 Grandpa made a very special toy for Christmas: a garage for all his cars!  He loves it!

 We made cookies for Santa with Auntie Jenny.

Jasper's first week at home

When we arrived home, Jack and Sharon were our very first guests.  They had been staying at our house with Eli and stayed for an additional ten nights after we came home from the hospital.  Their help and support was invaluable.  Having extra sets of hands to help with meals, diaper changes, and play time was so wonderful.  It's not just the help that we appreciate from them so much, it's the loving advice from two knowledgeable parents.  It was quite simply just a wonderful transition home for us, and much of that ease can be attributed to them.  Here are some pictures of Grammie and Gramps and a few other visitors during the first week at home:

 Grammie snuggling with her new grandson

 Gramps going "rock-a-bye" with Jasper.

Eli loves to hold his little brother.

 Jasper's first bath.  We had LOTS of help!  He cried at first, but then settled in and really seemed to enjoy the water.

 Grandma and Grandpa Dahnert were there for that first bath too!

 Uncle Brad giving Eli some much-needed attention with some Play-Doh time.

 Uncle Brad and Jasper

Bouncing "up in the sky!"

 Auntie Trina holding Jasper for the first time.

 Grammie and Eli making Christmas cookies.  It took us a few tries, but in the end, we made some pretty tasty cookies!

While Grammie and Gramps were visiting, we got to celebrate an early Christmas with them.  The best gift, of course, was our new little baby Jasper, but Grammie and Gramps gave us some wonderful gifts as well!  Eli was really digging opening presents this year...he finally gets it!

Jasper couldn't open any of his presents this year, so Eli had extra fun "helping."

 

Our first Christmas as a family of four.

 

It was hard to see Grammie and Gramps go.  It was so much fun spending such a long time with them.  We wish they lived closer so we could see them more often.  We all love Grammie and Gramps and can't wait for their next visit!

Heading home from the hospital

Because Jasper was born via c-section, we could have stayed at Sacred Heart Hospital until Monday, but we Tiffany was recovering so well and we were anxious to get settled in at home, so we chose to leave on Sunday, December 11th instead. It was time to start life as a family of four!

 

Walking up to the house with our new little baby Jasper.

 

Sharon and Jack had been watching Eli and were waiting at the house for us when we arrived.

Grammie can't wait to take Jasper out of his car seat for some snuggle time.

 

All snuggled up in his car seat.

 

Eli woke up from his nap to find Jasper had come home.  He's here for good!