Christmas Whereabouts 2010

our festivities began with brunch at papa wally's house.

we ripped into presents and ate and were happy and cheerful.

the kids decorated gingerbread men.

then we headed to a beautiful christmas eve service with my mom and cousins. we ended the night at my sisters house.

of course the cousins all had matching pajamas. we ate again and ended the evening playing a mean game of charades, kids included.

and a cute christmas baby just for your enjoyment.

and then santa came to our house. the santa that comes to our house does not wrap the kid's gifts (that would be way too expensive and take santa way too long,this is all our kids have ever known so it is not weird to them). the twins were blessed with their very first ever (mom and dad caved) gaming systems (we said we would never buy one). they each got a ds and tatum got a bike. a toy, or craft, a book, a movie and some practical things in their stockings: undies, bath gel, you know all that good stuff.

the loot....(that pillow pet was not a present)

and a mug for everyone to enjoy. from my most favorite store, anthroplologie, santa is the best.

danny and the kids made me this mug. i adore it.

after enjoying the morning as a family we headed to my sisters again for breakfast, in our pajamas of course. we spent most of the rest of the day in our pajamas. i got to talk with my brother in michigan and my sweet niece juna. we ended the celebrations with dinner at papa ken and grammies. more eating and enjoying family. my heart was full.

The Best Trip EVER

We dove to williams arizona the week before christmas. we hung out in the pub and had dinner. i kept the kids occupied with puzzles and crayons.

M ran into the waitress and she accidently spilled wine all over danny. wups

the dads and kids hung out in the cute lobby/lodge area while us girls searched the town for bathing suits

the next day we drove to the amazingly breathtaking grand canyon.

the boys hiked down a bit.

and then what we had all been waiting for THE POLAR EXPRESS

and then and then oh......it SNOWED...this is what made it the best trip EVER

we ended the evening with lots of playing in the magic.

the next day it continued to snow but just a bit. so of course we built a snowman, well the dads helped the kids and i warmed myself by the huge fire.

we were trying to take a sweet family picture, when ryan kicked the tree and this happened.

tatum ended the trip by warming herself up. then we drove home.

the 7 hour drive really was not bad. i love road trips. we listened to two of the narnia books, watched movies and listened to christmas music. ahhhh it was a trip i will never forget. i don't think the kids will ever forget seeing it snow either.