New Year's 2016

Per our annual New Year's Day tradition, we all met in Columbus at Skateland for a skating party. My mom's been organizing this party for several years, but I'm often out of town over New Year's so I usually miss it. This year I was home, since Thomas was coming home, and it was a lot of fun! I fell...twice...and that was not so fun but the rest was a good time. And a good workout!

Skating Style

After the party, we went back to my parents' house and had dinner and played some games. My Aunt Crystal, who is a remarkable seamstress, was there and I asked her some questions about dress design and she and I designed and sketched out a "hypothetical" wedding dress, which I just so happened to have her make a couple months later when I got engaged. :)

Somehow Adelina ended up eating in the corner, looking like she'd been banished from eating with everyone else. :)

She loves the big kids - especially Jonah.

Reading with Grandpa

Ticket to Ride

Thomas's Homecoming

Thomas has been serving a two-year mission for our church in Hawaii, and on New Year's Eve, he came home! Our whole family, including Grandma, gathered at the airport to welcome him home. This is an everyday occurrence in the Salt Lake City, Utah airport, since so many Mormons live in Utah, but here in Indy we were getting some curious stares. I had Cooper and Campbell spending the night with me the night before so they helped me decorate some signs for him. My roommate Rebecca and her sister Patricia were nice enough to come take pictures for us so the rest of us could focus on enjoying the moment.

Isaac and Dominika got there right after Thomas came through, so they missed the before photos.

Le'is for the parents

I love this photo because it looks like the kids are still holding the signs waiting for him to come. Uh...guys...he's right there.

I'm sure the biggest difference he noticed was in the kids - they change a lot in two years! This was the first time Thomas and Adelina had met in person - she was born about 5 months after he left.

Thomas had his moment, but afterwards we all went to Steak 'n' Shake and Adelina went back to being the center of attention (mine, at least. :))