Well, we’re back from a crazy but fun two weeks in Utah, and I’m so excited to tell you all about it! We hadn’t been to Utah or seen our families (except Evan and Holly who drove up and went camping with us in September) since July, so it was great to see them and spend time with them during the holiday season. And so, with that little introduction, here’s how our two weeks played out:

Abe and I flew from Spokane to SLC in the afternoon with no major issues. We spent the rest of the evening at Evan and Holly’s, and Alan, Jess and Claire came over for dinner.

Eating up the attention from Grandma and Grandpa.

My BFF Dani came and picked me up in the afternoon and took Abe and I back to her place for a sleepover, woohoo! 🙂 It was fun getting to know her husband Denny a little better, and of course just to chat and talk and catch up with her. She’s been my BFF since we were in 5th grade and I adore her.

I got my hair done by my other BFF Emily while the brave Dani ran some errands with Abe. Afterwards, Dani, Abe and I met up with Dani’s sister Jessi for lunch and Zupa’s and drove up to Dani’s parents’ house in Alpine to see them and her other sister Gabi. They are my second family and it was so good to see them. After that, Dani drove me and Abe down to my mom’s.

I sure love this girl.And she makes my hair look amazing.

We love our Auntie Dani!

These days were spent with Mom and Chari, doing some shopping, some resting, some churching, and I even got some photos taken by Ashley (which I can’t wait to share with you!).

Me and my sis — she is so tall!

Kyle flew in! And then drove down to my mom’s. It was so good to see him after a week apart. We sure missed him. We spent the evening watching It’s a Wonderful Life (per tradition) and having our family Christmas dinner together — yum! We also read Luke 2 together.

We opened presents and ate breakfast. After Chari’s dad picked her up, Kyle, Abe and I said good-bye to my mom and drove up to Evan and Holly’s. There we opened a few more presents, and then Kyle’s two brothers and their families came over for Christmas Dinner.

What a little ham! He saw that I had the camera out and started cheesing it up!

Friday (26): 

Kyle and the rest of the fam went tubing in the morning, while Abe and I (the sickies) stayed home and rested. We had a pizza lunch with everyone before they left for naps and dinner. After dinner we all met up at Nate and Mel’s for more family time.

Cousins! We missed our California cousins Allie, Luke and Logan.

I sure love these two little ones.

Saturday (27):

Evan, Holly, Kyle, Abe and I met up for lunch with my mom at Zupa’s in Provo, then we took a little drive around BYU campus and picked up a few things in the bookstore, and then headed to the BYU v Gonzaga basketball game! Nate, Mel, Liam, Alan, Jess and Claire met us there. Our poor little Abe was tired and a bit cranky by this point — he made it through the first half ok, just a few tears were shed when the cheers got really loud. But by the second half he had had it, so I took him out and we met lots of other babies and moms, ha. After the game the whole crew drove up to American Fork for dinner at JCW’s, yum!

Church and Sunday dinner with Nate and Mel’s family plus Alan.

We had originally planned to drive down to Price to visit Kyle’s grandma, but between bad weather and a doctor’s appointment (for Grandma) it just didn’t work out. So we ran an errand or two and spent time together. Later that night, Kyle, Abe, Evan, Holly and I went over to Alan and Jess’s for a bit more family time before we left.

This picture cracked me up.

Kyle, Abe and I flew home together, and boy, was I glad Kyle was there! Our light was delayed by over 2 hours and so we just had to chill in the airport. We eventually made it home around 7 pm, and then had a fun time opening a few presents that we didn’t take with us to Utah. After that it was an early bed time for us and the babe.

Opening his books once we got home from Utah.

Phew, what a trip! But we loved every minute of it — other than the me and Abe being sick part, and the Kyle getting sick when we got back part. But other than that… It was so amazing! I hope you all had a great Christmas, too! It’s really such a special time of the year.