Christmas 2011

It's hard to believe that after all the hype and anticipation, Christmas has already come and gone. We tried to squeeze in a lot of celebrating...

First off, the week before Christmas Nate and I took a quick trip to Phoenix. Nate had to go for business so I tagged along. The bank paid for our flights, hotel, rental car, gas, and food. And since Nate is a Silver Medallion with Delta, he got upgraded to first class on the flight there and back and he gave me his seat so I was able to fly in pleasure:).

We stayed at the Buttes Marriott and it was SUPER duper fancy and gorgeous!

Over looking downtown Phoenix

 ONE of the hotel's beautiful pools...

We got home just in time for my Birthday. I really wanted to go to breakfast so we went to Kneaders in the morning before the boys went to school. It was delicious but very slow and we were not able to take advantage of the all you can eat french toast as much as we would have liked. But it was delicious!

That Night after Nate got home, we went to Temple Square to see the lights. It was beautiful and fun as usual!

We topped my big day off with a late dinner at Pei Wei.

And before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve. We spent the day hanging out together at home as a family. We had a nice big dinner and then went to visit Addelyn's grave to wish her a Merry Christmas. We delivered a gift or two to family, and then we went home to open our jammies. We read the Christmas story in the scriptures, watched Like II and headed to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.

The next thing we knew, Christmas was upon us and Santa had come.

We must have been pretty good this year!

Spencer woke up at about 6:30.  He came running into the family room and Nate and I heard him whisper, "OH WOW!"  He checked things out and little and then went and woke up Preston.  We let them check out their stockings and then they patiently waited until 7:00 for Lauryn to wake up (although she did not wake up naturally:).

Cool stocking goodies!

All right enough with the stockings...I'm ready to get this party started!

Lauryn immediately went over to her baby cradle and stroller.

She thought she'd try it out.

Good morning!

This stroller was mine when I was little.  The frame was still in great shape so I sewed a new cover for it and gave it a paint job and it turned out cute.  She loves it.

Lauryn's baby with a binkie Santa brought her.

Preston's Lego house Santa brought him.

The classic Christmas morning daze...

Ni-night baby.

Lauryn also got a Magna-doodle, Winnie the Pooh movie, and a diaper bag with baby doll gear.  Preston drew her name and he knew exactly what he wanted to get for her the second he drew her name, the Tangled Barbie:).  He's such a sweet big brother.  Having the kids draw each other's names and watching them choose and wrap a gift for their sibling was probably the best part of Christmas for me.  They were SO excited to give their heartfelt gifts.

more treasures!

I made both of the boys quilts this year.

All in all, Preston received a camera, a lego house, and Rio from Santa.  Along with an art set, clothes, a Wii game, a cool puzzle, slippers, jammies, and socks from Mom and Dad. Spencer had drawn Preston's name in their sibling exchange and he gave Preston a blue light saber, that ended up being the favorite gift;).

Spencer had a Star Wars Christmas. Here is his dual light saber (that spins)

The force is definitely with him.

     

Spencer's quilt

His globe puzzle after he assembled it.

His haul included a light-saber, Star Wars cape, and a Lego Star Wars ship from Santa. Lauryn gave him a Star Wars contraption for the sibling exchange.

And Mom & Dad gave him the quilt, socks, clothes, his puzzle, and Kung Fu Panda 2.

And done! Whew what a mess!

After church we headed off to Grandma Sandy's & Grandpa Craig's.  We had a delicious dinner with EVERYBODY.  All the kids and grand-kids were together for the first time in years!  Grandma and Grandpa gave Lauryn this little wagon which she loves.

Preston got Cars 2 for the Wii

It was a full house!

The wagon is not meant to be ridden in, but Lauryn disagrees.

Spencer got a Yoda costume to go with his new light-saber.

Like Yoda I look!

Then we finished off the day by visiting my parents.  Papa was decked out in his Santa mask.

We visited with my brother Mike and his family while we were there.

And my sister Brenda and her family.

Then we came home and had one last light-saber battle before heading off to bed.  We had a wonderful Christmas and it went by REALLY fast.  Until next year...

And Lauryn has found another use for her baby cradle, other than for her doll.

all tucked in...;)