We're Back!

We headed off to Utah to visit my family for Christmas and New Years. We made it up there on Monday the 22nd to enjoy getting ready for Christmas Eve festivities and to do last minute shopping.

On Christmas Eve we like to have a buffet of small foods rather than a big dinner. So we enjoyed, ham and rolls, spinach artichoke dip, shrimp dip bowl, cheese and crackers, fudge, sugar cookies, hot wings (which I'll post the recipe for later), chips and dip, oranges, strawberries, fruit dip and.... soda of course.

Casey and Brighton

My hot Mom in her new outfit that Casey (I) got her for a late birthday present.
Me and my shy babe.

Now that we are all grown up, my oldest brother wasn't able to make it over so our tradition of opening Sibling Gifts was postponed until Christmas Day. However, my Mom surprised my Dad with a new kitty. Our cat (well really my Dad's) died a few months ago. He was so happy to get another playmate!

After visiting We then watched Christmas Vacation (a family favorite) and headed off to bed so Santa could come.

Christmas morning starts WAY later these days. We do stockings first (at about 8:30/9) and then feast on homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Bacon, Hot Chocolate (with real whip cream of course) and Orange Juice. After, we start the present process one at a time. The last few years we have one person pick a present for someone else to open, and then that person picks the next present, and so forth. I am sooooo excited that I got my first set of nice cookware! I can finally get rid of my modge podge of hand me downs!

I laugh out loud every time I look at this picture and the next one of Sundee, I just had to share. (Sorry, Scamps)

Sundee enjoying her new scarf my Mom made for her...

Couple of hot sisters, don't you think! ha ha ha

Ty being 'nice' with Brighton.
Braden looking through our new cookbook.
My mom put together cook books for all of us of all of our favorite family recipes

My Dad has been asking for "The Grabber" for a long time, and finally got one!
Brighton got a cute precious moments doll from my Mom, along with a precious moments nativity, an August Birthday girl figurine, and some super cute clothes.

We were expecting a huge snow storm Christmas Day so we didn't plan to go anywhere, however the 'big' storm never really hit... Cedar at least... oh well. For Christmas Dinner, we headed over to Lucky's Chinese Buffet! Which I think was the only restaurant open. We're over the big homemade dinners with all of the clean up...if you can't tell. This is where Brighton enjoyed her first Dr. Pepper.


Friday, Braden headed up to Provo for his "Vacation while on Vacation" to visit Calvin & Julie and Brad & Emily. Brighton was just adjusting to being at my parents, so I thought it was best to not rock the boat, and just stay put. He enjoyed shooting with his buddies, watching the UFC fights, watching sports (my parents have never had cable so sports are hard to come by), and playing Xbox for a few days before coming back on Monday.

On Friday, Brighton and I along with my fam headed down to see my grandparents in New Harmony. Although they are south of Cedar, they received about 2 more feet of snow, and it was about 10 degrees colder, I swear.

The view from their front porchSerious ice in the back yard

4 Generations

Saturday was a girls day, where we enjoyed lunch at Chili's to celebrate my mom's birthday about 4 months late, watched Mama Mia, sewed a purse, and I relearned how to Crochet.

While the boys went riding

John

Casey

Sunday was a normal day of going to church and eating taquitos and green sauce (thanks to Celito Lindo) for dinner.

Monday we went down to St. George to visit the local Kohl's to exchange a few presents before Braden returned and then we all went to Lupita's for some more Mexican Food before Sundee and Mike headed back to Vegas.

The rest of our trip included lots of more yummy food, more shooting, lots of visiting, movie watching (Yes Man was hilarious), another trip to see the Grandparents, and then of course our New Years celebration of dinner at Chili's, pretending like we were Frosted with our cupcake making and watching the ball drop drinking Martinelli's.




We then headed home on the 5th back to the much warmer weather (and smog). Brighton was an angel both up and back, which was much appreciated. Now... if I could just get all of this stuff put away and my Christmas Decorations packed, we'll be good!

And some other pics...

Brighton with her Cousins (Ashton 7, Ty 3, Dax 4)

Bath time pictures with Grandma