Christmas and New Years

The drive to Cedar was actually really nice! Both girls did really well, and with 2 stops and Brighton actually sleeping for about 50 minutes, we made it in about 7 hours with just a minute or two of crying.

When I was packing for myself, I was so proud that I fit all of my clothes, shoes, etc. into one bag. So where did all this other stuff come from? Oh yes, we have kids. (and maybe I brought up some crafting supplies including my Cricut)

 

One of the first activities on the list was making a gingerbread house with the cousins. Brighton wasn't into decorating as much as she was eating. But Ashton and Dax had fun!

Christmas Eve we had our usually buffet which included: Carnitas, Sweet Pork, SUPER delicious authentic Corn Tortillas, Rolls, Guacamole, Salsa, Jalepeno Artichoke Dip, Crab Puffs, Bean and Cheese dip, Shrimp Cocktail, Rocky Road Fudge, Cream Puffs, and various other chips, crackers and candies.

Christmas morning started a little earlier this year. (8am!) We start with stockings, followed by a huge breakfast of cinnamon rolls, sausage, bacon, ham, (we didn't want to miss a part of the pig), hot chocolate with whip cream of course, and orange juice.

Then comes presents. After you open your present you go get one from under the tree for someone else and so on.  Eventually I think Brighton was going every other time. My girls were so spoiled by their grandparents!

One of the best gifts of the day. Our families favorite Christmas movie is Christmas Vacation.

Casey didn't fly out until the 26th, so we saved our "sibling gifts" for when he got there. We draw names each year, so we thought it would be nice to wait for him to open those.

I was SUPER lame and asked for money. Adam and Charla were so creative and turned 50, $1 bills into a bouquet of flowers with a butterfly fluttering over them. Charla said it served me right to ask for money and told me it would take me hours to undo them all...which it did, I think almost 3 to be exact.

 

Brighton (when not being dramatic) had so much fun playing with my brothers. I think Adam was her favorite, sorry Garrett, Casey and John!

This is Casey in this picture, not Adam, just so you're not confused ;)

The days after Christmas were filled with shooting...

It was freezing, freezing, freezing, but we had a good time.  Braden got a clay pigeon thrower, so he got to test out his new shotgun (that he got for our anniversary last year).

Guess who?

Don't worry, it's just a pellet gun.

Casey, Dad and Adam. I just love my dad's face.

I didn't get to shoot Casey's gun, but it was so quiet and didn't kick at all. Now that's a gun for me!

I am SO awkward. I haven't shot a gun for a LONG time, and I seriously suck at it.

The guys did a ride over by Kanab one of the days. Notice there isn't any snow! While CA was getting rained on, so was Southern Utah, it didn't snow until several days after Christmas, and only a few inches.

The girls got to craft and be girlie.  Brighton's hair has gotten so long!

We spent hours making cute necklaces and bracelets thanks to my mom and online tutorials.

Of course we went bowling one of the nights.  They even had shoes that fit Brighton. I was dying over how cute she looked.

Brighton bowled for about 4 frames, and then occupied herself on the horsies. Morgan was nice enough to join her :)

New Years Eve was spent eating at Milts, a steak house up the canyon, and then vegging and chatting.

Ashton was so excited to have Braden show him his Star Craft 2 secrets.

Another fabulous picture of my dad. My mom just loves it when he does stuff like this!

Scamps and Bike. 

(Sundee's nickname has been scamps her whole life, and Brighton calls Mike, Bike)

John and Alexis.

Casey 

(sans his gf Laura)

Charla and Morgan

ME!

(Notice cute necklace that we made)

Then there was shopping.

Riding horses and visiting with grandparents.

And we ended the trip with a 102 fever. Brighton just gets random high fevers that never turn into anything. So weird.

The drive home wasn't quite as pleasant. It included about 4 stops, took us about 9 hours, with Brighton refusing to sleep AT ALL and several hours of crying.  But we survived and are glad to be home.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years as well!