Christmas Break Part Two

After we got home from Vernal, we spent the remaining days of the Christmas Break with my family.  My brother, Ben, and his family were visiting from Arizona and my kids were elated to play with more cousins.  I hardly took any pictures during those days, but much fun was had and happy memories were made.  

We spent a morning at a church, just to have more space.  We played games, had pizza for lunch, and decorated gingerbread people.  Bridget and Anna were delighted to be sporting matching shirts.  

Me and my brothers.  I love feeling short when I am with them, especially when I position myself between Danny and Kevin, which I always do on purpose.  :)

LOVE Marshall's photo-bomb here.  :)

Even though I only have pictures from our church outing we also just played a lot, had sleepovers, restaurant night with adults-only, and went to the annual Yancey Christmas recital.  The highlight of our time together was Lisa surprising all of us, even Ben, that she was pregnant with twins!  Twins!  Due this summer!  Love this family, and love any time we can get together!

Christmas, In Pictures

Getting back to the holidays...

We spent Christmas in Vernal with Richard's family.  The last time we were in Vernal for Christmas was 2005, our first Christmas as a married couple.  So, here we were, 12 years and 4 kids later, and that was kind of fun to think about.  It was a wonderful and relaxing time.  We spent four full days there and enjoyed it all.

The weather was great the entire time we were there.  I was a little sad about no snow on Christmas, but really, who can complain when you get to play outside every day the end of December.  

On Saturday evening Joe's family came over for an early Christmas Eve dinner.  Becky had an awesome game planned with the kids and adults, all sorts of prizes wrapped in a giant saran-wrapped ball.  So much laughter, and so much fun!

Gretchen was reunited with Pepper and couldn't be happier.  I don't think Pepper shared the same sentiments.  

Evening snuggles and reading with Grandpa Bob.

Christmas Eve afternoon we made our traditional sugar cookies.  This is a tradition that I grew up with and we have kept it going, with one change, Richard rolls out the dough and helps the kids with the cookie cutters.  I love it!

Music time with Grandma Becky.

Christmas Eve pajamas!  Gretchen was so exhausted, that she went to bed early and missed out on the photo op.  You can just see the excitement!

Finally, a decent picture!

I am only including this picture because of Rachel's face.  You really never know what you are going to get with her!

Christmas morning!  The kids made it until almost 7:00 am.  

Gretchen LOVED opening gifts.  She was very possessive!  And if we weren't watching her, she was under the tree, opening other people's gifts!

Pepper also loved the firehouse.  :)

We spent the afternoon at Joe and Aubri's home playing games and eating delicious Christmas food.  We ended the night with hot cinnamon rolls back at Bob and Becky's home.  A cinnamon roll on Christmas evening might just have to become a tradition!

The next day we went to Dinosaur National Monument.  The kids were sworn in as junior rangers.  :)

This mountainside full of dinosaur bones was fascinating!  Look at all of those!

No big deal, just a dinosaur femur!

We ended our outing by hitting up Freddy's.  Where I was mauled by three out of four children for pretty much the entire meal.  

A memorable and happy Christmas holiday.