Christmas Vacation 2008

We had a great time in Utah- thanks to both of our families! We were there for 3 weeks- but it went by way too fast. It was great to see the mountains- boy do we miss them out here. It is nice to be home and back to our routine. It's crazy that in just 5 1/2 short months Mike will be taking the first step of the boards and we will be moving to Ohio.

Here are some pictures from our trip-. We were able to spend our first week with my parents before Mike was done with school. The kids and I spent time finishing up Christmas shopping and projects and playing in the snow! Mike drove out on the 20th with 2 of our friends whose families also left without them! We then spent a week up in Centerville with Mike's parents. Thanks to the gift certificate from my parents and babysitting from Mike's we were able to go on a date to the Roof and take a walk around Temple Square! We had some great family parties and just fun being with the Taylors. Our last week we went back to my parents- Jonathan, Bree and Addi came from Florida- so it was fun to all be together again. On New Years we played games- Quelfs- which is the most random game EVER- but I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life! Ate a TON of junk food and watched a movie- and just enjoyed being together.

Christmas Eve - ( spent at my parents house)

Highlights

Homemade Chili and scones

the BEST sugar cookies EVER

special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus

setting out the special key for Santa as well as cookies and milk

last but not least- being with family

Santa and Mrs. Claus did a FANTASTIC job. We sang songs, they read a book that reminded us the real meaning of Christmas and the they gave the kids of a candy cane! ( I have a special connection with these two so for those of you in Utah who want these fun visitors go to http://mrandmrssanta.net/ I know they fill up quickly- You'll LOVE them!)

Because my parents fireplace is not the type Santa does best, we thought we would help him out this year and leave a special key to get in!

These are the shots I got when I told Samantha to smile for the picture.- So Samantha!

Christmas Morning

Highlights

the kids excitement

waking up to it snowing outside!

traditional breakfast of Shipwrecked

These last shots are just random ones

Cousins!

We have loved being around the cousins!- But boy did we miss Evan and Andrew! (Dave and Angela's boys-Mike's sister and brother-in law -who are so far away in California.)

Now that the 3 youngest are old enough it is so fun to watch them play together. Cecily and Collin would just follow each other around. They were so cute together. Collin still asks for "Cesi"

Here's Addi and Collin- they had a rough start but soon decided that they could be friends!My mom found this train set a month or so before we came. The kids LOVED playing/wrecking it! We kept it upstairs so that it would be easier to keep an eye on them- and the parts! We found pieces all over the house! - but it will go down in the playroom- where hopefully all the parts will stay together- fingers crossed!