CHRISTMAS 2012

There was so much to get done here at home before we left for Christmas. We had to get all the books done for the practice and make sure all the employees were paid before we left. We also had the Christmas lunch with all the employees at Cheddars. That was a lot of fun to sit and talk with everyone and have a good lunch. Kevin really has the best employees! Our flight didn't leave until around 6pm and I was so afraid that the boys wouldn't sleep and would be so tired and cranky. Luckily it worked out to be opposite. They were tired and ready for bed and slept the whole time. It was great. It's always a little uncomfortable holding a baby on a plane, but it worked out fine. We got into SLC really late and went straight to Farrell's and to bed. (I only have some of the pics, my mom has a bunch...)

We got to spend a few days with Farrell and had tons of fun. We played with lots of games and new Legos, and watched the Fresh Beat Band and danced and jumped a TON! Farrell has a mini indoor trampoline that Wyatt just had a ball on. We got to go and have lunch and IKEA with Farrell and Jill and Tyler. We found Farrell a nice new TV table for her living room. It was fun spending some time with Jill and Wyatt started to get attached to her it was cute. He was crying for her later that night. The next day we got to hang out some more and do the drive thru lights in Layton. That was a big hit because Wyatt has loved all the lights this year. Everytime we pass a house with lights he makes a comment so the drive thru lights just made him super excited, especially the "tunnel" of lights. That is his new thing- tunnels- which can include a lot of things that you go under, but he loves them! We also got to attend the Helm Family Party which is always some crazy fun! We had great food, dancing, socializing and of course musical chairs. Kevin won a few years back, but this year it was Kevin and Tyler in the top 3 I think and Tyler (who weighs half of what Kevin weighs) pushed Kevin off the chair and ended up winning. It was especially fun to see all the kids, and of course Santa paid a visit. Wyatt saw us go up to Santa with Jack and he got a goodie bag and Wyatt wanted it. Kevin told him you have to sit and wait for your turn, then sit on santa's lap, then you will get a bag. He very seriously turned around and sat near all the kids to wait for his turn. Then when they called his name he jumped up and very seriously sat on Santa's lap and waited for his goodie bag. He knew what he needed to do and knew what he wanted!! As soon as he got that bag he was out of there!! It was so funny- he was just on a mission! Jack didn't hate Santa, but started to whine. The kids were pretty tired that night and we headed up to Park City to hang out with Sam's family.








On Saturday we did the tubing hill in Park City. We weren't sure what to expect with Wyatt. We put him down the baby hill and he wasn't really into it. We decided to just take him on the big hill and luckily HE LOVED IT!! We went pretty fast, but he liked being in the big tube and a few of us got to get all hooked up together. He wanted to go again and again. He was able to go with me and dad and grandma, me and grandpa, and cece and bob. He just loved the snow and wanted to eat it, and especially throw it. His favorite was telling us "he hit grandma with snowballs". Another day we got to go on a sleigh ride (horses pull us through the snow on a wagon). There wasn't as much snow as we thought there would be, but it was fun. Wyatt liked the horses and it wasn't too terribly cold. Our guide was also super quirky so he kept us entertained, we also saw some deer. It was nice to hang out with my grandma and uncles and families, especially Randy and family who came all the way from Hawaii. On Christmas Eve Kevin and I went skiiing with Josh and Randy up in Park City. It was the perfect day!! Besides the fact that I am SO out of shape and got so tired and sore, it wasn't crowded, there was fresh new snow, and it wasn't bitter cold. Kevin skiied instead of snowboarded this time and loved it! He said it was SO EASY-- LOL, made me feel good as I was dying!! We spent most of the day together with Josh and Randy which is always fun. Glad we could all go together. Of course my parents babysat the kids for us which was so generous of them, the kids had a fun time with them in the snow. After skiing we got ready and went to Grandma Maurine's for her Christmas Eve Party. There was lots of family there and we had a good time. It was so good to see my grandma and Dave and for her to get to see the boys. The snow was really starting to hit Utah and the roads were a little bit bad, but we were excited to be having a white Christmas.
Side note: Jack was so funny this trip when we took pictures. He would see the red light or the flash and he would flash the biggest smile and cutest squinty face. Almost every time he did it! My mom has a bunch of them.

Christmas Day was fun and busy! Luckily we had let the boys open some of their presents from gma and gpa early because they had a lot, lol. So they weren't too overwhelmed on Christmas. Cece and Bob got them the cutest stockings from Disneyland with Mickey on them- we just Love them! The other top presents were a big rocking horse and a Lightning McQueen Ride on Car and some really neat trains that move from Farrell. They both love these toys and get on them all the time. Of course they got lots of other fun toys and cute clothes, and dad bought them Lego Duplos which wyatt is really getting into. We got to eat breakfast with the family and open presents and then the kids played while we got ready to go to Farrell's.

Back at Farrell's for Christmas Day. I was so so excited to have Farrell's Christmas Dinner, and it didn't dissapoint. Everyone was there this year except for Kurt, Laura and William and then Amber's Family we saw at the family party, but couldn't make it to dinner. We had such a great dinner; we were able to all fit at one big table and could talk and enjoy our dinner. All the kids were really well behaved. Wyatt just loves his cousins. Especially Maddie, Lauren and Anonya. I guess he's a ladies man? They just played and played and played, I didn't even see the kid much. Jack on the other hand was a handful- getting into everything and wanting attention,lol. We got to play the white elephant gift game with everyone and it was hilarious as always. Our gifts were pretty desirable- a mini leg lamp and a foot massage machine. The kids had fun with the balloons and fart machine and woopy cushions. The best thing that happened was that Jill opened up a gift that Farrell had put in the pile. They ended up being some of Jill's cocoa mugs that she had left at Farrell's in the closet. AWKWARD! Jill was pissed that Farrell didn't ask her and used them (but she had left them in the closet for like 2 years). Then Jill got even more mad when Eric threatened to steal Jill's mugs. She was so mad, but ended up being able to keep them. That night Jeff's kids spent the night and the next morning Wyatt had fun playing with them. At one point they were all cuddled on the couch watching Fresh Beat Band on their Ipad. Too cute! One night Anonya got to go bowling with us and then go to spend the night and Wyatt had a blast with her too. They did lots of jumping off the trampoline and the chairs. It was so cute when Wyatt tried to say "Nonya". We love cousins! One day we went to check out the new City Creek in Salt Lake (it was pretty neat) and we had lunch at Cheesecake Factory with some of the Fam. YUMMY!! Wyatt kept talking about trains so while we were downtown we took him on Tracks. He thought it was pretty cool and was satisfied with a free 5 min ride- SCORE!










Another highlight of our trip was that Kevin and I had babysitters so we got to go to three movies. That is seriously a record!! We saw Hobbit with Cece, Bob and Josh which Kevin loved and the rest of us just liked (too long), Skyfall (I loved it), and Jack Reacher (we went really late so I fell asleep, but it was good and Kevin loved it). It was great to have a few date nights.

My mom's cousin Cole is a cop and he took us all to a shooting range and we all went shooting. It was fun to hang out and chat with Cole and Carrie and the kids, and the guys had fun with all the guns!We also had a big bowling birthday party for Josh (turning 21) and Jack (turning 1). We had lots of family there and Farrell and Anonya got to  come too. Wyatt and Anonya did great and she helped Wyatt with the ball etc. It was a busy, but fun night. We got to sing happy bday and eat cake, especially for Jack to have his cake.

Our trip was so fun, but tiring and we had a few last days with each family and were ready to head home and get some rest! We are so grateful for our wonderful families and friends and all the love and support we get. Definitely one of the best Christmastimes yet.