Christmas in Utah

We took our usual holiday trip out to Utah this winter - this year it was for Christmas. I was hoping to give my kids medicine for carsickness, but after not getting the okay from their doctor, we ended up just making sure we had our trusty throw-up buckets available. We have had carsickness issues every single drive to and from Utah for that past 4 or so times we've driven, so that was my biggest stress preparing for this trip. Luckily, we made the entire drive to Utah without incident, so I was relieved (the trip back however was a different story).

So we spent the first night and day at Tyler's sister house where we celebrated Abby's birthday along with her cousin's birthday. Sunday, December 19th, was Abby's 6th birthday and she started out the morning by receiving a special phone call from Belle herself of Beauty and the Beast. Belle knew Abby was turning 6, talked about their mutual affection for chocolate cake, and also had the entire castle sing happy birthday to her. As Abby listened, her eyes got wider and wider, and as soon as she got off the phone, she goes, "I'm like freakin' out!" And then she proceeded to tell everyone that Belle had called her. She was so excited. It was adorable. I wish I would have recorded it!

All the cousins loved to sing and dance together. They spent a lot of the time doing this when we were together.The two birthday girls.Here is the cake that my sister-in-law made. I thought they turned out so adorable. She split a cake in two and decorated them both the same so each girl could have her own.We all separated after that day for the next week leading up to Christmas. Tyler's parents took our girls back to Vernal with them while Tyler and I took our anniversary trip to Las Vegas (post and pics to come later), and we all reconvened in Vernal the day before Christmas Eve. We did our usual Christmas Eve festivities which included a talent show. Here are most of the grandgirls (in their matching pjs) singing for the talent show. With 2 grandparents, 8 children and spouses, and 12 grandchildren, there's bound to be a haul from Santa. Here's one half of the room Christmas morning around the tree. And here are the girls opening their gifts from Santa Christmas morning. Abby got her Buttercup Bike that she asked for. Tessa got the Princess Scooter she had requested.And Aubrey loved the fact that her present came with a baby that she wanted out immediately.
After spending time with family, administering medicine for sick kids (Aubrey had some ear drainage that took her to an urgent care place the day we returned from Las Vegas), taking family pictures, visiting with friends, and seeing the newest grandbaby blessing, we made our way home. We love being with family and always feel like it goes by way too fast, but one thing's for sure: with all we brought home, we must have been good last year! We are definitely blessed with such a wonderful family!