Merry Christmas 2012, Utah!

So, the week was just awesome with my parents in Utah.  We slept in, had yummy meals not cooked by me (thanks mom), snuggled, skied a bunch, relaxed, read, made cookies, watched a few Christmas movies (Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and Christmas Story) and played.  We also happened to have a few adult games of Trivial Pursuit... girls against boys and this time the girls were victorious!!!  We also spent lots and lots of time skiing!  Mom, Dad and my brother Craig were there which just made it perfect.

On our first afternoon there we got to look at this... beautiful!

 Letter to Santa and cookies

 Making cookies with Mimi

 

 This is tradition... remember this?  Or this? 

Grady's stocking and Santa presents

 Cole's stocking and Santa presents

 Their pretty tree

 Ninjago anything was really big this year with G... and every other 5-8 year old boy I think!

 Cole LOVED his Jake and the Neverland Pirate ship from Mimi -- he says "piyets, piyets"

 I LOVE this sequence for a few reasons...

He was shocked and hadn't asked for this...

and we loaded it full of educational games.  :)

He LOVES his itouch...

 Daddy telling him what it was

 Thrilled!!!

 Star Wars anything is also a major big deal in our house

 Cole is obsessed with Thomas and Cookie Monster and got both for Christmas

 Grady bossing showing Cole how to work the cannons!

 Sweet Mimi and Uncle Craig

 He's got it now!

 Thomas book from Great-Grammy Hulda

Cole LOVES books... it runs in the family! 

 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... talk about a flash from the past!

 I couldn't have been happier with how the platter for Mimi turned out!

 

Star Wars Fighter Pods... another obsession

 What every toddler really likes the most!  ha!

 G and I are going to read the book and then watch the movie... I know, I'm a nerd!

 Daddy's new coat and Lego Star Wars Wii

 I LOVE my boys!

They are the best present anybody could ever ask for!

 I also LOVE Utah and plan to move there in the future... once I win the lottery

 One morning there were three bucks standing out back... amazing!

 

 Icicle and snow shovel fights with Papa!

 G has taken over Mimi's Uggs

 

He also decided to take over Papa's chair!

 Have I mentioned how much of a cookie obsession this kid has?!?

I am weak... pretty much when he asks, he receives!

 One night we went on a horse pulled wagon ride through the country and to the North Pole...

 Richard and Craig were thrilled...

it reminded them of out train ride to the North Pole a couple of years ago that they LOVED

The things we do for our children...

 Grady got to sit up front!

 The kids got to pet the horses

Cole says "horsey" and when G was his age he called them "hors"  he, he

 Grady whispered what he wanted to Santa, which by the way has changed 6 times in the last month

No early shopping next year.  I will be present buying on the 24th!

Dad asked Santa what G asked him for to help us out a little and Santa replied, "I have no idea."  Thanks Santa!

Cole was really enjoying the moment... ha!

 Like I said before... a cookie makes everything better!

 Watching the Gators play, along with another 100 games over the week.

We are a sports family!

 Grady loves his Uncle Craig so much!

 
It was just the best.  I love my family so much and am so thankful that we are blessed enough that we could spend Christmas with them this year.  I look forward to many more Christmases in Utah for  years to come!