Penrod Family Pictures

On the 26th we took family pictures. Keith's family hasn't had family pictures in several years, besides the few taken at weddings in the last couple of years. So we decided it was well overdue and took some at the house.

This one was for pure fun, it cracks me up. Taken in their backyard.

All the Penrod siblings and parents.

The boys and one in-law

The girls and three in-laws

Later that day we had a small family baby shower for Kathleen, Brandon's wife. We played a game, she opened gifts, ate soup & homemade bread and decorated headbands for their baby girl Ivory. We ended the night by watching Music and Lyrics and enjoying root beer floats.

Everyone showing off  their headbands they made.

Root beer floats! Keith and I gave everyone in his family these huge root beer mugs three years ago for Christmas, they sure came in handy!

On Friday, the 27th we went to Philadelphia since Kathleen has never been. We went to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the Portrait Gallery, watched a movie in the Visitors Center and walked around the city a bit, then ended with dinner. I always love going to Philly because of all the historical sites and I always learn something new.

Visitors Center

Liberty Bell

Idahome

I pinned this image awhile back and for some reason in came into my mind today on our six year anniversary, I thought it was the perfect picture to illustrate us. Keith and I met, dated, got engaged, married, had our first apartment and had Carson all in the great state of Idaho, and we still live here. It makes my heart happy that all of these most precious and important things to both of us happened in the state I was born and raised. Every year I say this but I seriously still can't believe another year has passed and we've been married for six years now. Every year I learn more and more about what it takes to make a good marriage work. I'm so grateful each day I have with Keith and Carson. 

Today was perfect. We spent most of the day in Atlantic City with Keith's family, out to pizza for lunch, then went shopping for my gift and went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Six years-- still can't believe it.

Laser light show inside the Tropicana

Comfy and Cozy are We...

Christmas with the Penrod's in New Jersey is always fun. Christmas Eve we did a little last minute shopping, then decorated a gingerbread house, made & ate dinner (chicken parmesan), had a Christmas program, pinata, talent show, and homemade ice cream and cake for Keith's moms birthday, all in the comfort of a cozy wood stove. It was packed full of fun and we ended the night with my favorite Christmas movie- Home Alone.

Catherine and Krista (Keith's sisters) getting started on the house. Props to Catherine- she made the gingerbread house from scratch!

Duck face, I didn't get that memo

Guarding the house--haha

Me, Carson, Cousin Tennyson, Catherine and hubby Kolton and Krista

Keith and Catherine preparing dinner

Getting ready for the Christmas Program

Grandma, Cousin Tennyson and Carson

Pinata time- ignore the no pants, Carson just stripped and wouldn't put them back on.

Homemade Ice Cream!

Grandma and her two grand kids!

Christmas day was full of stockings, present opening, a big breakfast, family time, Despicable Me 2, Long Beach Island, and a big Christmas dinner. I loved all my gifts from everyone, but it was just most enjoyable spending time with everyone.

Keith got me Home Alone 2- now I have both of them!

Krista knitted all the girls scarves! Way talented Krista!

Jake legos from Grandma- he loves anything JAKE!

His ultimate favorite thing is Play Dough- so naturally we had to get him tons of it!

Brandon showing us his bow tie. Krista got all the guys bow ties. (Brandon and wife Kathleen)

Trying on the bow ties

Carson excited about the movie Journey 2

Keith's sisters (Catherine and Krista), Kathleen and Keith's Bro Brandon

Christmas morning family picture

opening his stocking, so excited about the m&ms

Smile!

Our Nation's Capital

We decided to come out to New Jersey again and be here for Christmas and New Years since all of Keith's family will be here. We flew in on Monday, the 16th and on Friday and Saturday we took a 3 1/2 hour trip down to Washington DC. Can I just say if you haven't been there yet, GO! I loved everything about it- the Temple, the museums, all the monuments! The best thing is that all the museums are free!

Friday- Arlington National Cemetery, Lincoln Monument, Washington Monument, Veteran's Memorial, Washington DC Temple & Visitors Center, Dinner at La Madelines, back to the hotel.

Saturday- National Archive Museum, Museum of Natural History, Original Smithsonian Museum, The White House.

We didn't even tap all the museums and things that there are to do there, the Natural History Museum alone takes forever to go through and we saw maybe almost half of the exhibits there.

Here are some pics!

Arlington National Cemetery

JFK's grave with the eternal flame

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider

My favorite- the Lincoln Monument

Washington Monument

Eating at La Madeline's

The Temple area was all light up with lights!

Nativity at the temple

DC Temple

It's even bigger in person- it's the tallest LDS temple

Yummy Breakfast

On the shuttle to the museums

National Archive Museum- I loved this museum because we got to see the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Lincoln Monument

Natural History Museum

The White House