There is really no place like home for the holidays...although we won't be home (I still consider Utah home for now) for any holiday, we were able to spend some time there during the holiday season. Brian and I decided a few months back that we would spend time in Utah before Christmas due to the insane price increase that happens to airfare the week of Christmas. It turned out to be so much fun because we were able to still do a lot of holiday things and people weren't as busy yet because it wasn't too close to Christmas:)
Thad and I flew out December 1st and we were lucky to have an extra seat on the plane again. He was of course an angel and even slept for the last 1.5 hours! The next few days were spent getting hair done, playing with cousins, going to ward Christmas parties and having some little parties of our own.
Gma and Gpa Whitehouses Polar Express ward Christmas breakfast. All the kids got to come in their jammies and when it was all over they passed out bells and let the kids run WILD while they cleaned up:)
Saturday my wonderful mother put together a little lunch with my gal cousins and their kids because I won't be able to see everyone at the annual Christmas party. Most of us don't see each other very often but it is always a blast when we do! My adorable cousin Sharley (to the left of me in the bottom right pic) just had her 3rd baby 2 days before and stopped by to say hi on her way home from the hospital...what a great fam I have!
On Sunday we rode up to Logan with this awesome aunt and spent some time at her apartment before heading to this birthday bash:
Brielle turned 1!
I am so happy we were close enough to celebrate this little gal. Her and her mommy mean so much to us and there is nothing else we would rather do!
We were also able to see Stellar and Tar just a week after leaving them in Ohio and it was sure fun to see familiar faces so soon! Aren't those kids just adorable!?
Thad and I had a sleepover w/ the birthday girl and then Sadie Lady and her mommy were able to join for just some good old playing. Something I love about these gals is that it doesn't have to be anything fancy...somebody's living room, toys and food along with great conversation will do just fine.
The fun didn't ever stop and we just jam-packed our schedule with great things to do:
Monday: I'm so glad I was home to be able to see my little sis-in-law perform in her first dance concert with the high school dance company (she is the one standing on the the left w/ the tall girls hand in her face). She did such an AMAZING job and I'm so sad we're not close enough to go to all her concerts.
Events like this always include good company! Angie and I (bottom right) didn't even know each other were there and sat across the isle from each other the whole concert. I was so happy to see her and Vessie and her little sis Alyssa also did an amazing job in the concert too.
Tuesday: Had a fun 2-hour lunch at Chik-Fil-A with these 2 beautiful gals (and yes, the other children made it out alive before Thad scratched their faces off) What are we going to do with him!?
Wednesday: Dinner party with these long time friends...by a long time I mean since 6th grade, so really long time! Rachel, we missed you tons:(
Thursday: Dessert and a show with these greats! Sarah teaches at junior high and has built their dance program from the ground up. Angie and I were able to see the fruits of her labor and she did an incredible job! She influences so many students in an incredible way and I could tell how special the night was for so many of them.
Twas 2 weeks before Christmas and all through the house...
Was and early Christmas party while the Monsens were in town.
We all enjoyed watching Thad open his gifts, of course...
He was spoiled, of course. (and yes we got his toys back to CT in one piece...even if the suitcase was delivered the next night at 12:15am and Mike and Katie had to answer the door in their PJs!)
How can you not spoil this kid though? He gives the best loves in the world!
Don't worry, we were spoiled too! Brian got a Barnes & Noble Nook and I got my first sewing machine (I will take a pic w/ it when Amazon delivers it).
Thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa Whitehouse...we are truly blessed!
One of the highlights of our trip was being able to be home for the Christensen family party. It is held the second Saturday of every December and it is always a blast!
On our way to the party the Monsen kids stopped at the Gma and Gpa Monsens. We don't see them often either, so it is always great to catch up.
Like I said the Christensen part is always a blast and Brian and I both said before the trip that we were more excited to be in Utah for this party than actual Christmas day! There is always delicious food, great company and fun games. Brian and I didn't get too lucky with the white elephant, but we picked the right number and won Grandpa Christensen's gift for the married grandchildren! We ended the night with a game of animal and I came second...I'll have to work on that for next year;-)
Sunday ended our weekend/began our final week in Utah with a fun get together with my family.
I have the cutest nieces and nephews!
Thad gave Avery her cousin exchange gift and Caden gave to Thad, so we had lots of kids without presents that were obsessed with the ones that did...it was a blast!
It was so wonderful to spend time with these beautiful women and we definitely missed Tiffany and wish she could have been there.
After everyone left my parents treated our little family to another early Christmas gift exchange. They always spoil us and gave us lots of emergency preparedness items that we are in definite need of. I got hooked up with some nice, colorful thread for my new sewing machine, Thad with an adorable name puzzle and Brian a good book!
Thanks Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Kent
Our last few days consisted of heading up north, hanging with the Fauxes (no pics, which I'm ticked about), seeing movies, being lazy, and of course more fun!
Lunch with these fine ladies was a great way to start my week! The USU bookstore will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm so glad I can keep in touch with The Clothing Connection;-)
Niki is my girl. I'm a few years her senior, but we are practically the same person. She got married last summer and is planning some fun adventures...I'm so proud of her for following her heart instead of her head. She is such an amazing person and Chez is lucky to call her his wife.
After spending lots of the day with Taryn and Breanne and visiting our old boss from Cobble Creek, our night ended with The Marvelous Madsens!
What a great group of people! Thad and Sadie love being with each other and it was so fun to see them together again...they really belong together.
The Madsens were great enough to feed us dinner, let the kids destroy their house, have a Christmas FHE and wonderful conversation.
Yes, we tried once again to get a nativity shot, but once again it didn't go over too well....
Haha! Isn't the attempt adorable though? Hopefully Heidi can hook me up with a better final shot this year cuz ours just isn't cutting it for me:)
The night ended with comfy jammies and kisses from Heidi, of course.
On our last morning we were privileged to visit this beautiful place:
The Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Brian and I went to the open house but never have done a session. It is so gorgeous inside and out!
After packing everything up we went to our favorite Utah eating spot with some of the best people in the world.
It is so fun that we can do things with our parents together and we are so grateful for each one of them individually. Our visits to Utah would not be as wonderful as they are if it weren't for them. We love our families so much!
Thad is just the joy of our life and we are so glad we are able to make these trips and create memories for him with his wonderful extended family.
Our trip home wasn't too eventful, but we didn't get an extra seat as things are getting busier for the holidays. Thad climbed EVERYWHERE, but didn't make much noise or mess. Things went pretty smooth until it was time to get our baggage at JFK. We watched impatiently as EVERYBODY claimed their bags and we got 2 of our 3 checked bags and our car seat...our Christmas present bag was MIA!!! It was past midnight and our ride had been waiting for us for 3 hours. Thad was a tired mess, and of course other people lost their baggage so we just had to wait. We made our lost baggage claim and the waiting paid off when they called the next day and said it would be delivered at midnight...midnight? Yes. Mike and Katie spent the night, so they were the lucky receivers of the long lost suitcase;-)
Wahoo! We have all our stuff and it was an incredible trip home. Success.
