UTAH for Christmas, part 1

We hopped back on a plane to go to Utah for Christmas. We'd kind of thought about going to Utah for Christmas, but then Tommy's sister Callie got engaged and set her wedding date for December 28, so we knew we were definitely going! It was a little crazy having two such big trips back to back, but it also was the best time of the year for Tommy to be gone so much from work, so it was worth it to time it that way.

We had a really, REALLY great time in Utah. Our kids just love being at Grandma's house--they have a huge collection of toys (which our kids spread all over the whole house all the time while we are there) and best of all, they have COUSINS to play with! They love having Zach and Maddie and Tyler so close and getting to see them every day while we are there. Plus the joys of all their awesome grandma and grandpa, and aunts and uncles being around--what's not to love?

For the few days before Christmas we just hung out at the house and played in the SNOW. There was barely any when we first got there but then after a few days we got a good few inches and our kids were in HEAVEN! And let's be honest, so was I. It's the California girl coming out in me--playing in the snow feels like such a treat to me, and seeing my kids do it (since they have just as little snow experience as I did as a kid) is even better. We had such a good time playing in the snow. Sooooo beware, we took about five billion snow pictures... since this is like a once-every-five-years experience for our kids.

Lucy was soooo happy to be there! And she got this huge grin on her face every time Jet would walk by. She did NOT like any of these strange people that wanted to hold her, but she did love Jet!

I was so pleasantly surprised that Maddie loved me this trip! She didn't like me much over the summer but she wanted to sit in my lap all the time this week.

Tommy, Kurt, Melissa and the kids went and drew on Kenzie's car while she was at school the first day to surprise her, haha.

The first afternoon we were there, it started snowing a little bit but it kept going for a few hours. The kids went outside and were playing in it the whole time.

It was Graham's first time seeing snow!

Dane was so thrilled to throw "snowballs" at everyone and everything.

All of us in the snow for the first time.

And, look at this cute little snow bunny. We only took a billion pictures of her in this outfit every time we went outside with her in it.

I went to the Utah Ogden Mission office to drop something off for Bethany! So funny to think that she was just a few miles away the whole time we were there.

The cousins playing together. They said they were robber villains and were stealing everything in the house from everyone. Mainly all the toys, and hiding them under the piano. They did this game most of the days we were there. Haha.

Dane went "sledding" on the driveway.

And Austin came up! We were happy to get to see him in addition to the Leiningers!

Melissa and James were so nice and watched our kids for us while we went to see Star Wars with the rest of the family. (They'd already seen it on a date.) And in all the rush to get out the door, we forgot to give Lucy her pacifier, so she had a really hard time falling asleep. Of course.

But the boys could NOT have been happier about having a sleepover with Zach!!

This killed me. Maddie is in love with doing makeup, and she loved giving everyone makeup. She did it for Lucy and Lucy was kind of unaware but still sat there and let her do it. It was SO DANG CUTE.

Maddie giving Lucy mascara...

And showing her what she looked like in the mirror. Are you kidding me? So cute!

And she also gave me a makeover too.

Tommy went skiing one day with his dad and siblings, which he hasn't gotten to do in maybe four years. Yay!

Lucy got a mint brownie or something Tommy was eating and would not. let. that. thing. go.

Kenzie told us she'd NEVER played Monopoly before, so we had a good old-fashioned Monopoly night.

Lucy let Kiki hold her for about five seconds before bursting into tears. So nice.

Kristen was buff!

Tommy was excited to wake up one morning and go shovel the snow. And Dane was excited to do it with him.

Haha! Tommy said he really did like doing it.

All the girls went and got their nails done for the wedding.

While the kids and men stayed home and played in the snow.

A fulfillment of a dream--Dane was so proud of this snowman!

And they made snow ice cream--another dream of Dane's!

One of the only things I wanted to do was go to Salt Lake and do the temple lights. So we did that a few nights before Christmas.

We walked around the City Creek mall and got dinner there, and this water fountain show was pretty impressive. I like how both boys are looking back at the fountain in this picture.

Yay Austin!

I can't stop laughing at Graham in this picture. He was trying to hide himself under his hat; he did NOT WANT TO BE IN A PICTURE. Or get out of his nice warm little nest in the stroller. It is just so funny. But still counts as a family picture, right? You can see about two inches of his face, I know he's there!