New Haven, CT: check!~

For those of you who have not yet experienced this flaw I'm about to share: consider yourselves lucky! For those who have, I am sorry. 

Hi, my name is Ginnie, and I am a bad gift giver.

It's very true.  I have such a hard time thinking of good, helpful, thoughtful, creative gifts for those I love.  For this past Valentine's, I "surprised" Nelson with one of his favorite meals. That's it. waah waah waaaaaah. Nelson however, gave me a cute "card" from  him and Auden, an {almost} 2 LB. box of chocolates, and, last but not least... a trip to New Haven, CT!!! As this may show, Nelson as a wonderful compliment to me, is an excellent give thinker-upper/giver.  It's a good thing I married him.  Or else I probably never would be invited to a birthday/wedding/celebration-that-requires-a-gift again.  Thanks, love. 

So, I have LOTS of pictures for you from our trip to New Haven.  Stay tuned!! Here are some pictures of Valentine's and a preview of our New Haven adventures.  To sum up: we had so much fun.  

his gifts:

my gift..... 

 

best gift: having this little boy with us for Love Day. 

{insert "aaaawwww" from audience} 

New Haven! 

(aka: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry)

this was me in the middle of telling Nelson to not look so awkward and come closer. it cracks me up how far away he is from us. That man. never fails at making me smile and laugh. 

 

Also....

Can you believe that this very sober boy who rarely smiles for cameras is going to be ONE in less than a week???? Oh my dear.... where has this year gone? I love you my little Auden. Sweet baby boy. You'll always be this baby in my eyes. love you.

a Christmas memory

One day, when Nelson and I were hanging out with Auden at home (here in Boston), Nelson started to sing Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and Auden loved it.  He's danced before... but not too much to regular songs.  Old McDonald, or music from his music box... he'd bounce up and down, throw his hands in the air, and "sing along."  Oh man, it's adorable, but it's cuter exponentially when he starts shakin' his groove thang when the Queen song comes on.  Not any other song from them... but just that one.  We were able to capture a little bit of it during Christmas break.  Unfortunately, our boy is a little camera shy so it's always hard to get those super-cute moments caught on film... but hopefully you'll still smile and chuckle along:

my favorite is 0:14-0:17. I love it when he waves his hands in the air! 

This was after a 3-minute long dance party... we were all tired from laughing so hard...

catching up from Christmas {photo dump}

Oh, hey 2013! 

We are back in Boston.  all three of us. 

We were in Utah enjoying the holidays with family.  It was a mighty good three week vacation for me. It's also really heartwarming to see this kid: 

spend some time with his relatives.  

now that we're back, I'm missing the lights... the food... the festivities... the laughter... 

Christmas was so amazing this year with Auden.  I can't believe his first Christmas has come and gone and now we're approaching his first birthday! 

Am I really going to be a mother of a one-year-old?? 

It's hard for that fact to sink in.  Does it ever get easier? The realization of where your life is at that certain moment?  I remembering feeling that way about going into junior high... high school... graduating high school... college... after college... engaged... married!

baby!

life. 

those four letters are so profound. filled with so many memories and experiences.  so many character-changing stuff. 

These pictures are just a few moments from our Christmas break.  Let the reminiscing begin. 

 The Pace Family Grandchildren's (as in all the Paces) Christmas Party.  Theme: Back to Zarahemla {during the time of the birth of Christ} talk about a holiday party, right?? 

can you tell who my in-laws are?? 

I'll give you a hint.... "may the odds be ever in your favor!" 

Book of Mormon-themed games, in Hunger Games format.  

We were really lucky to spend time with both families for Christmas during the break.  We spent actual Christmas Eve/day with my family at their house and then a couple days later we had another Christmas Eve/day with Nelson's family in their cabin!  Um... so pretty sure our break can be defined as "awesome."  

{ignore the messy counter... our fault. when I say "our" i mean "Auden"}

One of the BEST gifts though, was that my sister announced she is going on a mission!  her papers are in and we are just waiting for the call!  I'm betting on Korea..... 

one of Auden's Christmas ornaments his Nonnie made.  It's one of my favorite pictures of him.  If only I could get a close up of those lips!  

Christmas at the cabin: 

I took the liberty of taking more pictures here.  My camera was dead for Christmas at my parents.... sorry, folks! (and folks as in my folks)

You'd think being around family would mean we'd take advantage of more opportunities for family pictures. wrong. good thing we got a tripod for Christmas! 

i looked back and saw this moment. I had to capture it. Pace boys just chillin. 

those boys!!! love them.

yes, that is a real bunny. Meet Houdini!  

 he was semi-sick at the time.  I am really sorry to his Nonnie, Grumpa, aunties, and uncles for this face that they saw all. the. time. He is a much happier boy now, now that he is well.  

to end on a prettier note... instead of Auden's distressed face.... 

Merry Christmas! 

(Because those two words mean so much happiness and love)