Christmas & Vacation

On Thursday, December 23rd, we took an airplane ride to Las Vegas and then traveled to Hurricane, Utah, to celebrate the Christmas holiday with our families.  Jeff's and my parents live one mile from each other, which we always have a great time with everyone, but has several pros and cons with having most of our immediate family living right near each other.

We had lots of laughs, atv rides, target practice, lots of playtime with the cousins, a hike to Angel's Landing, and never enough sleep, but a good time had by all.

 Silliness with cousin Avery

 ATV ride with Papa Hadley

 Cookie decorating for Santa

 Newell, my brother, practicing his Rudolph impression

 Presents and more presents at both G&P's houses.

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 Target practice..Brian got a new gun for Christmas so Jeff is trying it out.

 Funny story...Jeff surprised me with this beautiful necklace for Christmas, and after I realized it was from him, he said that he was going to get me a gun instead of a necklace but it seemed a little odd buying a gun to go along with the Christmas spirit, he then told me that if I would rather I could return the necklace and get a gun...so that is what I did and I got a Ruger hand gun.

 Lunch at Pizza Factory with my best friend, Sara, of 25 years!!

 

My brothers, Doug and Newell, and myself...silliness all the time.

 Doug, and his daughter, Kiara (5)

 Ellie (6), Kristina, Newell, Jacob (8)

 My Family

 Doug and I before hiking Angels Landing @ Zion National Park with our Dad.

 15 years ago Jeff and I climbed Angels Landing and took our engagement pictures along the route.  We used the one taken at this tree as our wedding invitation pictures.  I took a memory picture by myself as Jeff didn't hike it with me this time. 

 View from the top of one of the most beautiful places!

 Where my feet took me.

 Looking down at Walter's Wiggles

Here is a picture I got off the internet to get a perspective of Walter's Wiggles.

 The trail about half way down.  It is 5 miles roundtrip and straight up.

 

 Great White Throne

 

 The view of our climb from Big Bend.  Just above the sun on the left side of the picture is the top of Angels Landing @ Zions National Park.  So glad I had the chance to hike it again and did it with my brother and dad.

A&A Hall

Our friends, A&A, are now the fabulous Mr. and Mrs. Hall.  We were very honored and excited to be able attend their wedding yesterday and wish them a long and happy life together!

 Mr. A & Mrs. A Hall

 Kate, Amy #2, & Amy #1

 Gentry & Summer

 Adam & Jeff

 Adam & Desi

 3 handsome boys...Miles, Hunter and Ethan

 The Girls

 The boys

 Amy & Colleen

and of course the shoes...

School fun for Christmas!

The past couple of weeks they have been making several Christmas projects at Ethan's school.  Today they made a gingerbread house.  Here are some pictures of his creations.  Today was his last day of school for 2011...bring on 2012.

Christmas program

Ethan's preschool class had their Christmas singing program this past Wednesday. He has been practicing his songs, and of course making up some of his own lines, for the past couple of weeks and he did a great job.  We are very proud of him.  I did make a video but still trying to get it to upload.

 

Peyton, Ethan, and Beau (his buddies at school)

If we don't have your address...

here is your Christmas card - hope 2012 is a spectacular year for all of you! (Click on the pic/letter for a larger view.)

Naughty or Nice?!?

Off to Mall 205 we went this afternoon to see Santa with Hunter and Blake (Amy's soon-to-be-niece).  Surprisingly, today there was a line so apparently he is becoming more popular but after a short wait both Ethan and Hunter had a good chat with Santa and no tears were had.  Even baby Blake only had a minor lip quiver but she also did great. Mall 205 Santa is the best!

Dear Santa...

Tonight Daddy helped Ethan write his letter to Santa.  Hope Santa is able to get all he is asking for and knows that we are going to be at Grammie's house this year, as they forgot to write that in their letter.  Silly boy, when Daddy asked him the last question, said...you can call yourself Jeff. (You can click on the letter to enlarge it.)

Zoo lights

Dry but cold weekend weather so we were zoo lights bound...

  Serious boys by the tractor

 Turkey with a Turkey

 Mommy's boy

 Breaking the law...but a cute picture on the train

 Someday we will get to ride the train, but the lights on it are really cool.

Girls weekend/Amy's getting married party!!

Olivia Beach, Lincoln City, Oregon...8 awesome girlfriends...shopping...laughing...hot tub...beautiful weather...casino...dancing...need I say more?!?

 Jill, Gentry, Amy (Bride-to-be), Carly, Darcy

Kate, Amy #2, Summer

 Amy #1, Amy #2, Kate & Carly

K, A#1, A#2

22

Packing and To-Do Lists are made, bags are laid out, and shopping is done.  Jeff makes fun of me for my list making and packing skills, and we are complete opposites when it comes to both, but my skills have yet to fail us and so it begins.  Almost all the gifts I ordered online and shipped to my parents house so we won't have to pack them there but I have extra bags to bring things home.  This is a new experience for us with flying rather than driving this year, with its advantages and disadvantages, the biggest plus is not having to spend 36 hours and 4 days in the car.
 

(Yes, that is the futon laid out and covered in bags)

The upcoming 22 days are going to go fast with several things planned to keep us busy and yesterday we started off the busyness with lunch and gift exchange for the boys & Olivia met at Red Robin.  With Ethan and Peyton being on a different school schedule than Hunter it has been harder to get the three of us together for play-dates but we make the most of our time when it happens.  

And to continue in the holiday spirit, Ethan and I tried out a new recipe yesterday afternoon, red velvet & white chocolate chip cookies.  It is Girls weekend at the beach starting tomorrow so Ethan helped me make and test out this recipe before taking them.  Ethan loves to help in the kitchen, especially the tasting...