Christmas in Utah

Our holiday vacation was about as good as they come, at least for us. Everyone else in my family took turns hiding out sick in bed for a couple days with an awful virus of some sort, but we somehow managed to avoid the plague for the most part. And we were still able to spend a lot of fun time with my parents and siblings, as well as some of Drew's sisters and their families.

Each day felt like just the right balance of fun outings and relaxed time at home with the family. Which in my world is the recipe for a perfect vacation.

(Also note that my camera battery died about two days into the trip, and I hadn't packed the charger. Oops. Welcome to the trip of crappy cell phone pictures!)

Here's how it all went down. . .

We headed to airport Monday afternoon with two happy kids ready to travel. These two are seasoned pros at the airport and on the plane.

We spent our first night making gingerbread houses. Henry was really excited about the candy.

Santa (My sister's awesome friend) came to visit with toys for the kids. 
I'm not sure how they felt about him . . .

Lilly and Aunt Amanda left a note and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Lilly told me a week before Christmas, "Mom, people just dress up like Santa when he comes to places and people sit on his lap, but the REAL Santa comes on Christmas Eve." Glad she got that figured out. :)

Lilly went to bed hoping for snow, and guess what?!

There's nothing quite as wonderful as freshly fallen snow, especially on Christmas morning.

Even the birds gathered for their own Christmas morning celebration.

After present opening, Lilly was ready to get out in the snow. Henry wasn't so sure.

 

Even Grandpa revived from his allotted two days of sickness/bedrest for some sledding.

While everyone else was getting sick, I was filling all my days with fun and taking full opportunity of the free babysitting services. We went shopping, to movies, out to lunch, did a yoga class as a couple, and took Lilly bowling and ice skating. She loved both, but ice skating might be her favorite thing ever. I think it held in her mind some special connection to a certain winter-themed Disney movie.

  

We rang in the new year with sushi and Martinelli's and a very competitive round of Wacky Sixes. And the next day it was time to say goodbye.
Goodbye to family.

Goodbye to mountains.

Then just a few quick hours by car and plane . . .

and we arrived, happy and safe, back home in *slightly* warmer Texas.

The End.