Month Long Christmas Vacation Part 1

Now that we live in Florida - it is a little more expensive and hard to see family very often. We were so blessed to be able to go see both families this Christmas and to make our trip more worthwhile - we visited each family for 2 weeks. Yes people...we were gone a month! It was quite a challenge packing for 2 different climates with room to spare for the many Christmas presents we accumulated while we were traveling - but we made it there and back without having to adjust any suitcases for weight or having to leave anything there! I definitely took a lot of pictures this time so here it goes!

Utah/ Idaho

We started out our vacation in Utah where we stayed with my sister and her family. They were amazing and let us borrow their car and we drove around Provo and Sandy visiting friends and family! It was so much fun to see everyone and catch up with some good friends! While in Utah - Shaef found a new best friend....Lumpy. He loves the "Heffalump Movie".


Tiffany was nice enough to let him have it and he has loved that poor elephant to death. He loves to carry it around in his mouth by the trunk.

Thank you so much Tiff - that elephant sure is loved!

After a few days in Utah. We traveled a little farther north to POKY!! I was so happy to be able to spend my days crafting and sewing with my mom and Shaef loved playing in the play room! Anson spend a lot of time at the court house with my dad just watching and learning - but also making some important connections with judges and lawyers. We are actually really considering heading back that way when this law school thing is done.

Shaef really loves his uncles! "Nanner" has come to visit us a few times but this was Shaefs first time in awhile spending time with "Fevor" and "Mike". He loved going outside with Trev to catch snowflakes on his tongue.

We also spent a little time with the Farnsworth family!

For the last few days we were in Idaho, all of my family was able to be together! Everyone made the effort to come so we could spend time together! We had so much fun participating in many of our family traditions:

Graham Cracker Houses....Buildings...Structures

(they are getting more and more elaborate each year)

Philadelphia Museum (Tanner and Elizabeth)

Eiffel Tower (Trissy, Mike and Rissa)

Santa's House (Maren and Tiffany)

Dragon Lair (Shaef, Trevor and Anson)

Santa's Workshop with a school and library (Tennille and Megan)

Megan has quite the imagination! I did my best to build her dream...and she ended up happy so I think it worked! We make a great team - we both love school and reading so the added school and library onto the workshop was a must! It was so fun to work with her!


Acting out the nativity (here are the three Wise Men)

We also had a lot of fun eating fondue!

We had fun doing our sibling cousin exchange and my sister made us an adorable advent calendar. I had told her a week before that I needed an advent calendar and she already had it made and wrapped! She knows me soo well!! My mom had been very busy sewing also and made alot of really special gifts for us kids. She made us each a photo album with the words of the "Family Proclamation" with pictures, picture block puzzles, and for my sister and I she made us Christmas Quilts!! They are beautiful and she is so talented!!!

Shaef got some very fun toys from "Bampa and Maga" (Grandpa and Grandma) and "Iffy and Mike". (Tiffy and Mike) The cars and car mat come from the grandparents and the tunnel from the Aunt and Uncle! He loves them and has some new fun toys to play with all of his friends here in Florida!

In Idaho/Utah we also: Ate dinner at Red Lobster, went to my cousins wedding reception, watch the BYU bowl game (Go Cougs!), played basketball, played "Just Dance", watched movies, the grandkids went with the grandparents to the petting zoo, ate a lot of yummy food, and watched Trissy cheer at a few basketball games!

It was an amazing two weeks!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our vacation!