Christmas Break in Utah 2022

We traveled to Utah in less eight hours -- Austin was driving very effeciently.  Molly lives her best life bewteen her two big sisters.  Melijah slept four hours, Nick slept three, and Eddie and Ryan gamed eight.

My mother's "holiday home" is filled with holiday magic.  Christmas trees in every room, lights hanging and emphasizng the light of Jesus Christ, and hoards of people on every surface.  Magestically and almost magically she triples recipes and feeds body and soul.  Her home is heavenly, because she's the angel living within it.

Wednesday we went skaing -- because this girl loves it.  I was so good this time -- I don't even need to pick up my feet and I just go and go.  

Eddie jumped on and off the steps and would race around as fast as he could.  Molly tried skates, but then traded those in for a scooter.  Ryan was hard to watch, because he looked like he would fall at any second, but he did great.  Maddie and Maisie navigated nicely.  Meg and Elijah held hands and danced.  Uncle Mike fell and hurt his shoulder, and Austin moved smoothly -- as always.

My 42nd birthday came and went in exactly everyway I could have dreamed.  A temple session in the am (Emily is missing in the photo) followed by sushi.

These are my afternoon party guests -- we laughed the entire time.  Maisie ate so much sushi, that she waited another 24 hours to eat again.

Here is my party in the pm.  Mother made two pans of rice crispies -- she doubled the butter (I didn't tell) -- so they really were the best rice crispy treats I've even eaten.  And I've eaten hundreds -- not just servings, but pans.

A few of my favorite guests.

Here is my after party -- we played SKIP*BO for a good hours, soaking up the last little bit of my festivities and Melijah.  

Friday we went to dinner as adults at Wildwood in Salt Lake.  Austin and I ordered pork belly -- AKA huge chunks of the little slimy fats in pork and beans.  We both thought the pork belly would be like the porcetta in Italy.  Hard no.  It was huge chunks of fat, that everyone tried to convince me tasted like bacon.  Nope.

A little more gaming together on Saturday -- we also did a HIIT workout juntos.

Cousins came to bring in the new year.  We love cousins.

A wonderful neighbor shot their aerials at 7:45pm just as our ball was dropping.  We whooped and hollered and made a big ruckus.  Then, everyone went home and a few of stayed to clean up for another hour.  Cleaning with mother and sisters is ideal -- everyone knows what needs to be done and then completes it correctly.  Good times.

Sunday was calm and still with gently falling snow.  We spent the day whispering and eating.

Finally, the last night at 8:30pm the children donned their snow clothes and played in the snow.  We had to leave early the next morning, but we revelled in it.

Mother waved us down the lane.  Her pink arms waving wildly.  I could see her pink dot as we rounded the corner; I was already missing her.

By the time we were in Hurricane, no more winter evidences.

Our ride home was blessedly uneventful.  I couldn't help but take another picture of. this smug little girls who is loved by all and loves all. 

 

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!  We didn't hear little voices until 6:20am, which was the exact time Andy called.  We were on the phone when the children came up the stairs and saw their stockings for the first time.  He was tickled with his packages, and we were tickled to have him "with" us.

Lots of smiles and squeals.

Breakfast.

One of the worst things happened as we were nestled in our bench at church -- my three youngest were slated to perform a trio -- but I HAD NO IDEA!  No one told me.  The song leader, from another ward, motioned to me, but I had no idea.  It was so bad.  They hung on the best they could, but in front of the stake, it was a rough Christmas present.  The musical numbers and partaking of the sacrament is the perfect Christmas tradition.

Luckily they were darling.

Gandma invited us to dinner, so I had very little prep and was able to rest in my bed with all my children surrounding me.  Ah, I love that.

Little Miss asked for this pig.  She named her Sweetie.

Grandma served the most delictible ham and Grandpa cuts the meat after the prayer, so it's actually hot when you sit down to eat it.  Clever.  We spent the next few hours playing games, chatting and Grandma gave us a tour of her room and bath.

Besties.  Andy then called and specifically asked to talk to Grandpa, then asken him to bear his testimony.  What a treat to hear the request and the reply.  Grandma followed in suit, and we felt the spirit so strongly -- especially since we banned the children to the "strawberry room."

Maisie HAD to use her gel machine -- both her nails and Meg's nails were darling.  

A day focused spedifically on the birth, life and ministry of Jesus Christ really is a special days.  Compound testimony with family and my hearts wells up.  How blessed we are to know Him and be loved by Him.  May we show our love and devotion by the way we love others.

Christmas Eve

We totally slept in and played moslty board games until 4pm today.  

At one point Austin's phone alerted him that the temp in his smoker was over 600*.  Voila! A flame-broiled prime rib for dinner.  We actaully had to use the hose to put out the fire.  Bye-bye oven mits.

After board game, we put the entire Costco puzzle together (again) in 1.5 hours.  That was such a rush.

Ha!

Grandma and Grandpa are always the perfect guests -- the expect little and judge nothing.  Eating always brings out the best in my crew.

LOVERLY.

After a quick clean up, we did the nativity and opened pajamas and socks.  The most squeals came from the socks -- they were all so surprised by them.  Thank you Target and GAP.

Austin ingeniously took this picture in the round.

We love them, and we need their love and support in our lives.  We are the luckiest to live right by them.

Little Miss wrote the best letter to Santa.  She said she asked Google for the spelling.

Terrifical.

Our final evening photo, but the night did not end.  They all went to the basement and played more games until 1am.  Now those are the Christmas Eve memories of yore.