Utah - Christmas 2012 (Thanks to Jeannine for all the pictures!!)

 

Due to traffic, we had to stay in St. George overnight Sunday night...and hoped to arrive in SLC about 1 or 2 p.m on Christmas Eve (Monday).  We tried to beat it, but there was a huge snow storm that moved in about 10:00 a.m. which forced us to arrive closer to 5 p.m. We were just glad to make it safely!  We pulled up to Neal shoveling the walks (in shorts!).


Everyone gathered at the house around 6:30 and the party began.  Of course we had our annual Christmas Eve Dinner prepared lovingly by Jeannine.  Jeannine and Neal kindly moved some furniture upstairs to make room for the 28 family members that would be present.  It worked out beautifully.

I was asked to read the Christmas story from the bible.


After dinner we put tables away and gathered in a circle for our annual present exchange.  This year we had decided to do a ‘homemade’ Christmas.  The presents were very clever and very fun.  We had each family take turns opening their presents so we could all see what everyone made.  Emmi went first.  She made each family a chip dip bowl in her AP pottery class.



After Emmi’s surprise we passed out all the presents and the opening began. Lynda Ann gave Jeff H. a U of U quilt.  Jeff was home sick so we didn’t get to see his surprised expression when he opened it.  I think Tucker was a bit envious.



Lyndsy made Jeff G. some coasters out of Mt. Dew and other bottle caps.  A big hit and very clever.



Maren made me a wooden picture block set.  There are six pictures on the blocks and you can change them to the one you want.  The kids have already changed it a dozen times.  I love it!  Lyndsy created a Bat Man checker board for Tucker.  The home made gifts were very well thought out for each individual person.



Mindy made a hat for Taylor.  I know she made some scarves for other family members, but I didn’t get a chance to get a picture of them.  She also made Annie and Jeannine casserole carriers. 



There was so much going on that we didn't get pictures of everyone’s gifts but these will remind us all of how fun Christmas can be without spending a lot of money.  By the way, Taylor is sitting on a huge bean bag that Maren made for Jordyn out of t-shirts! 

Of course there was the traditional cereal exchange.

 

This was Peyton's first time really truly playing in the snow.  Two years ago when we came and played in the snow, she was 4 and not very interested in it.  So cute!




(I was really sick Christmas Day. Tucker and the girls hung out at Maren's most the day.  The picture above is the only one I have from that day). The day after Christmas the plan was that that everyone was coming over to eat and play games.  The weather didn’t cooperate for the Gertsons coming in from Stansbury but everyone else showed up.  Jeff and Mindy picked up CJ at the airport that morning and so having him with us was a bonus! 



Jeff Hintze fell in the parking lot at LDS Hospital and wrenched his knee and maybe fractured his hip.  They are waiting for the results from the x-rays. 



We spent the evening eating, visiting, playing Six-handed Rook and enjoying watching the kids perform for us.





Tucker made chocolate chip cookies for the family and they were gone almost as fast as they came out of the oven.  I think every cookie was eaten within 30 minutes.  When the kids realized that Tucker was making cookies they all came in to the kitchen every now and again to check and see if the cookies were done and of course, to see if Tucker would let them have some dough. 






We all wanted to see the new movie, Les Miserable.  The only day we could work it in was Thursday.  We also wanted to have lunch at Café Rio.  As usual, the restaurant was incredibly crowded. But they serve so fast that the wait wasn’t very long and we enjoyed a great lunch.  Then Tucker, Jeannine, Neal and I long with the kids, drove out to Stansbury, picked up Jeff and Lynda Ann leaving Emmi and Mallory in charge of all the kids.  The movie was incredible and we all want to see it again.  We left Lynda Ann’s about 6:30 and headed to Wendy and Norms for the cousins Christmas gathering.  We called Maren and told her we were on our way so she could meet us there.  It was fun for Maren and Tucker to get to spend some time visiting with cousins they haven’t seen for years.  Maxfield gatherings are always a bit overwhelming and vast for me, but they sure are a friendly group.



I was able to play Mallory’s new piccolo that she got for Christmas!


It was fun to have CJ with us during the holidays.  We spent a few  hours visiting with CJ and catching up on his life.  One night we were up until 2 a.m. just talking.   


And, of course, sleep overs are a must.  Abby and Hayley were going to stay but at the last minute they decided that home was where they wanted to be.  Andrew went over to Jeff and Mindy’s to spend the night with Grayson. 




On Saturday, Annie and the kids were at Jeff and Mindy’s for the evening and on their way home dropped by to say their final goodbyes to Tucker, Jamie and the girls.  Lyndsy and James dropped in hoping to play games which we did after the Gertsons left.




We all decided to go to Neal’s ward for Sacrament Meeting (at 9:00 am which felt VERY early considering how late we had been getting to bed!).  Very different to attend a young adult ward as Lexi pointed out..  She told me “this church is really different from ours at home.”  She noticed that there were no kids and it was extremely quiet.





After sacrament meeting we came home and got dinner ready.  James, Lyndsy and River came over to join us for dinner and then we played Six-Handed Rook for about three hours.  Then we played beyond Balderdash, which James hated :-)



Peyton REALLY wanted to play a game of Old Maid with Gam.  She picked out the card game and gave it to me for Christmas.  I believe she won both games. She was thrilled!


To finish off the evening the girls BEGGED to play What Were You Thinking – a favorite game of the family.  We each read one question and then the kids were off to bed.  I had to take a picture of Peyton’s paper because she wrote all the answers herself. 





It seems that our phones are constantly attached to each one of us.  Whenever there is a break in the action, out the phones comes.



What a wonderful trip, despite our illnesses and bad weather!  We are very blessed to have so many people to love, and who love us back!