Christmas Vacation

We went to Utah to spend Christmas with my family. We had a lot of fun and the kids loved playing with their cousins. We had an activity planned for each day. Here is a brief overlook of our trip with lots of pictures. I thought I'd let the pictures do most of the explaining.

Dinosaur Museum

Our first day we went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point. We were hoping to see the Reindeer first but they didn't make their appearance until the evening so we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and a peppermint brownie instead.

After our treat, we went to the museum. It was so much fun!

Ethan scaring Olivia in the cave-Olivia loved it!

Elsa and Parker standing under T-Rex

Olivia loved digging for bones

All the cousins

What a fun place!

Later that night we went to Michael and Ashli's for pizza. It was relaxing hanging out and watching the kids play.

Harley Davidson and Shopping

The next day we met together and had lunch at Harley Davidson. Carol was super nice and stayed home with Olivia since she was having a rough morning. We were able to enjoy lunch and look at all the cool bikes.

After lunch, Carol, Hannah and I went shopping for the last minute Christmas gifts.

And, of course, we ended the shopping with a cupcake. Carol took us to a really cute bakery with the most delicious cupcakes!

Conference Center and Temple Square

We picked up Russ's sister, Michelle, on Friday and headed to the Conference Center. Russ and I wanted to show the kids where the prophets spoke and the Salt Lake Temple. We took a tour of the building. Parker and Hannah loved the roof the best.

I love this picture of Parker looking at the temple!

I love this picture too of Olivia's chubby face and the temple behind her.

In the visitor center they a model of the Temple with a diorama of what the Temple looked like inside. It was very impressive.Hannah loved looking at Angel Moroni on top of the temple and kept calling him "Golden." Every time the temple appeared she said, "There's Golden."

Parker, Hannah and I ran into Deseret book while Russ and Michelle pulled the car up for us. In the window they had a gingerbread cookie machine. Parker especially loved watching the machine work and they even got a cookie from it.

That night we met up with Carol, Steve and Jaime and their family at the Grand American Hotel and did a scavenger hunt. Each window display had a clue to find the star hidden in the picture. If you found all the stars, then you got a cookie at their deluxe bakery.

We, of course, had to stop by the toy store. The end of the scavenger hunt was a disaster! The bakery had run out of cookies and there was a huge group of parents and crying kids waiting for the next batch. One girl had a complete tantrum which set off all the kids and parents! Finally, a cart rolled in with freshly baked sugar cookies which couldn't be handed out fast enough. After all the loud chaos to get the cookie, it was definitely worth the wait! They were so delicious!!

We were all overwhelmed to try to attempt fighting the crowds at Temple Square to see the lights so we decided to drive around and look at the lights. Parker, Hannah and Olivia fell asleep and didn't see the lights and Russ got honked out at least 3 times in the short distance between the hotel and Temple Square. The lights were beautiful though.

Christmas Eve

We went to Jaime and Steve's for Christmas Eve. We started with appetizers: mini shredded pork sliders, blue-cheese wedges, avocado brushetta, cream cheese and salsa dip and chips and sugar cookies.

Mor Mor and Pa sent all the grandkids Santa Lucia costumes (our costumes came a little later). We thought it would be fun to do the Santa Lucia program. The kids were so cute and it brought back memories of going to Vasa every year watching the Lucia.

Next, everyone opened their pjs and slippers.

We watched a short movie on the Nativity and then had a dance party. All the kids really got into it!

Gracie read a few books to the kids which was super sweet.

We got back to Carol's place and put cookies and chocolate milk out for Santa.

Christmas Day

The much awaited day finally arrived and the kids were so excited to open their presents.

Hannah with all her presents. She was very happy to get Baby Alive!

Parker and his presents. I made quilts for all three kids which two months to sew. I'll post another entry on them since it was so much work. The kids loved them.

We went to church and then Michael, Ashli and Alyeska came over for dinner. It was a relaxing evening chatting and playing with our gifts.

Carol made a delicious ham dinner.

We had such a fun time visiting family and a very Merry Christmas!