December Part 4 - The rest of our vacation and New Year's Eve

One morning Brek convinced Grandma Jensen to pull out her cello. This is one of Brek's favorite things to do when we visit.

Then Grandma suggested we get out one of the old broken violas hanging on her wall and turn it into a more appropriately-sized cello for Brek. She pulled out an extra cello bow and go to work teaching Brek proper position and technique.

And then they started playing duets:

This is one of my favorite pictures:

Another day Joe & I had a date and when and did some shopping. We went to lunch at Zupas like we always do which is my favorite restaurant and I got the same thing that I always get. So yummy!!! We did some clothes and shoes and Costco shopping too. It's nice to visit a city after living in rural country. Then we met up with my sister and her family and saw the new movie Annie. Very cute!

On New Year's Eve day, we drove up to Salt Lake and went to the zoo. It was a free admission day. I knew it was going to be cold, but I wasn't quite expecting freezing. Brek was pretty whiny and unpleasant. There weren't as many animals out as we had hoped. But we hung in there for an hour or so and called it good. We did get to see the gorillas (inside, thankfully), and an elephant out playing in the snow, and the sea lions and seals (not even the polar bear was out!), but we did see the brown bears, and then the tigers too. They were pretty active.

Trying to get a picture with the tiger. Not such a good one:

Then inside. Brek liked the big turles the most:

Before we left we stopped and got hot chocolate in the zoo cafe.

That evening cousins arrived!!!

Playing with Jensen, Eliza, Mara, and Olaf

It just so happens that Mara and Eliza's new Christmas pjs are the EXACT SAME ONES that my mom got for my nieces, which match Brek's pjs. So they wore them on New Year's Eve together.

Tea party with cousins and Olaf:

Brek, Eliza, Mara, Lizzie, Olaf, and Sabrina

Our brother-in-law Matt got a race car driving simulator for Christmas, so he brought it over for our New Year's Eve party. As the evening dwindled down and got later, even Brek took a turn. His cousins Rose, Nora, and Mara were helpful so he could have several turns. Apparently he's really good at crashing:

It was fun partying with the Jensen family to ring in the New Year. It was the first time Brek has gotten to stay up until Midnight, which he of course thought was totally awesome (and of course made for a cranky boy the next day). We're grateful that Brek has such wonderful cousins that play so well with him. Happy 2015 to our family and friends!!!

Brek's 3rd Birthday

Brek's birthday was quite the multi-even celebration. With friends in town and from church it seemed like too big a group to handle all at once, so we decided to split up the festivities.

We started with a party at the zoo with all of Brek's church friends and their families. Our time was split between the water park and the actual park, and I will admit that we didn't even go and see the animals, tho some sweet old lady bought Brek some food to feed the fish. We celebrated with chocolate cupcakes with yellow frosting, which is what Brek had requested months earlier. He decorated all of them with a variety of sprinkles.

A few days later we had a party at the local park. We made a "cake" out of a stack of doughnuts and had some juice. And then the kids played.

Opening a few presents from friends

 We came home and kept playing with his huge bubble wand

Then he helped me make his actual birthday cake. He of course, had the most important job.

Morning of his actual birthday, we had "fancy breakfast" in bed. The menu included orange julius, pancakes, and bacon.

Happy Birthday Boy!

His stack of presents:

I think he's happy about his fruit snacks.

Presents from Grandma Jensen

Scripture stories

Lightning McQueen flashlight

Chuggington book

He's learned from his daddy well-appreciate the gift before moving on.

And finally, the piece de resistance:

He had to remove every last piece of "wrapping paper" that was touching the bike

Lightning McQueen balance bike

Birthday Boy with his bike

Taking it for a test ride. It didn't go well. But hey, it's the memories.

 Time for cake and singing

Later we received gifts in the mail from Aunt Tracy and Grandma and Papa Biggs, as well as a card from Papa Great and Grandma Great, but I didn't get pictures of those.

We had lots of fun with all the celebrations and sharing it with friends. We're grateful for our little boy and all of the excitement he brings to our family.