Slacker..... Christmas post

This is the best word I can think of to describe me and my lack of blogging! Slacker or maybe queen of procrastination :) Yes, that's right I'm back. First an apology... where most of you are enjoying February... I am re-visiting Christmas & New Years.
What happened? you may (or not) be thinking. We'll It all started with Christmas time. It is one of my favorite times of year. Growing up in Utah Christmas is cold and snowy and beautiful. So being here in Sunny Southern Cali was making me feel a little bah-humbug because to me it can't be Christmas time if it's 80+ degrees outside. (I know what am I complaining about, most of you would kill for this weather, I'M SORRY!) I just really enjoy the change of seasons and have a childlike love for snow! Well here it is the first part of our trip....

It was finally time, time to pack up the car using my serious puzzle skills that make most people ask "did you really put ALL of that in your trunk?" (I'll have to take a picture next time so you can see my amazing skillz ;p). What should have been 10 hrs later but was more like 13 we finally arrived to the snowy retreat I affectionately refer to as "home". Then even though it was crazy and hectic, running last minute errands attending Christmas parties, wondering if everyone would make it due to 13inches of snow dropped in one day! IT WAS BLISS! I was happy, it looked and smelt and felt like Christmas. I was with the people I loved and all seemed right in the world again!

A few days before Christmas we partied with Rich's fam. It was cozy and fun. Lots of yummy warm soup and other good grub. Low key conversation goofing off, the dreaded white elephant gift exchange not to mention some sweet family moments. I had my camera out for a few minutes.. here are the people who sat near me: clockwise, my sweet Kaiya, Jen modeling the dreaded long johns from W.E gift, Miles, Tanner showing his lovely earrings from W.E, Kaitlyn holding the newest member isn't she yummy!, Ammon displaying how we all feel during the holidays, and Issac.

Like I said it snowed, and there was lots of it. (YEA!) My kids LOVE to play in the snow. Poor things were going crazy, everyday we heard "can we PLEASE go play in the snow!!!" Kaiya needed new boots so they had to wait a few days longer then they wanted to. Here's some of the fun from grandma and grandpa's back yard in the fresh powder.

Then we partied with my family. Good food, games, kids running everywhere. A talent show, and the kids dressing up in random dress-ups acting out the nativity as it's read from the Bible. GOOD TIMES! (clockwise: Halle and Jarron watching a movie; Avery, Isabella, Ella, Dan, Halle, Addison, Kinley, Kaiya acting the nativity; Addison and Kinley; Grandma Patti (my mom) sporting the "star"; Avery sleeping in the field with his sheep; Tiff N Dan.

Christmas morning was great. Kids slept in. We had a low key morning opening gifts and playing with toys. My dad made breakfast a Christmas tradition and yummy as always. We usually go visit a few of Rich's brothers on Christmas but this year we just hung out in our pj's all day at my parents house. It was kind of nice to not go anywhere. The kids got exactly what they asked for from Santa. Kaiya got Barbie as the island princess with lots of extras. (Thanks to some ebay detective work. They stopped selling this toy in stores last year but hoped Santa could find it somewhere.) Jarron got another Buzz Lightyear, but he came with a tank, motorcycle, and jet. (I think this is the 3rd Christmas in a row he has wanted Buzz from Santa)

Not to mention the new pj's and fun slippers!
My favorite gifts are bright and colorful! Red high heel mary jane-shoes from Rich. I love them... he teases me that I need to click my heels to go home, but knew they would make me happy. The other gift I love is a new cookware set from my parents, it's Rachael Ray and bright orange! They add some flavor to my bland white kitchen and somehow make cooking a little more fun.

After Christmas we spent some time with Rich's family and I spent a day with two of my college roomies...and best friends...I seriously love these girls!! Here I am with DeAnna and Kelly.

Then it was time to pack up and go to the cabin for more snow and lots of fun.... details coming in the next post.