Christmas "Vacation" in Utah

We left for Utah on December 16th and it was a little rocky getting out the door.  The kids and I were all sick with colds, and two nights before we were supposed to drive through the night, Brandon had to work an all nighter at work (which gratefully doesn't happen too often).  He worked all day Wednesday, then came home and watched the kids while I went to YW; then he changed his clothes, went back to work and we didn't see him until Thursday night at 6p.  I was apprehensive to let him drive Friday night, but he assured me that he'd be fine (I am not a night-time driver!).  Oh yeah, Rachel threw up on Brandon in Flagstaff and since everything was packed, he just took off his shirt and was wearing his garment top and jacket (important detail for the next part).  Luckily the kids slept as well as we could expect in the car and we only saw a few deer, which is my only complaint for driving through the night.  Around 2:30a we were almost to our exit (and complaining about the I-15 construction in Provo) when a cop car pulled us over.  The cop had clocked Brandon driving 70mph (in 55mph construction zone, which he was just following the flow of traffic) and claimed that he was not staying in his lane.  So here we were, 10 minutes from home, with Brandon smelling of throw up and him in his garment top and jacket, pulled over for a suspected DUI.  If we could have deciphered which lane line we were supposed to follow, I think Brandon could have done a "better" job staying in his lane.  THANKFULLY, he let us off without giving us a ticket (our Christmas miracle!).  Brandon's comments later were, "With a face like this, how could he give me a ticket" and "The only thing I'm drunk on is Christmas Spirit."  And he was also a little disappointed that he didn't have to do a field sobriety test.

We spent lots of time the first few days wiping noses and covering our mouths with coughs.  But we still managed to go to Brandon's cousin, Johnny's homecoming and hear Nana talk, have Christmas dinner with the Hale family, and see the lights at Thanksgiving Point.

Rachel was so excited for the Grandma sleepover with all her cousins, and it was a huge success!  This was their third annual sleepover, and the festivities include:  eating dinner together, swimming in Gma's hot tub, reading Christmas stories, new pajamas, watching the Nativity movie, and then trying their best to go to sleep.  Even Andrew got to sleepover this year!  Then Nancy and Val send the parents out to dinner.  This year we ate at Riverside and tried to behave ourselves and fit in with the crowd.  We missed Scott & Rachel who were at the hospital with new baby, Miles!!  Rachel had her baby while we were in Utah three weeks early, but just in time for us to meet him.  I was so happy about that, and he is so precious.

One night, we went with the Parker family to Riverwoods to see Santa.  Rachel asked for a princess bike with training wheels and Andrew asked for a car.  Then we went to Provo Beach Resort and watched Brandon and Cade surf.  It took almost the whole hour for them to figure it out and get comfortable, but they said they had a blast.  It looked super hard, and I don't love to do things that I know I won't be good at, so I was happy to watch my brother do it with Brandon.

Brandon and Kyle came up with another crazy Christmas greeting for their 20 or so fans.  Here is last year's and the years before that.  They made calendars this year and photoshopped themselves in 12 famous pictures from this year (i.e., Justin Bieber concert, Twilight, Obama Situation Room, Steve Jobs, etc.).  I'm sure these calendars will get put to very good use, don't you?

Kyle & Brandon's Christmas Calendar Photos:

From top to bottom & left to right:  1.  Justin Bieber Concert  2.  Cardinals win World Series  3.  Awkward Family Photo  4.  Greece Riots  5.  OHS 10 year reunion  6.  Pepper Spray Controversy  7.  Royal Wedding  8.  Situation Room with Obama  9.  Steve Jobs  10.  Twilight - Werewolves Cast  11.  Vancouver Riots  12.  The 1st Christmas Card from 2001 

We try to spend equal amounts of time at both of our parents house, and we try to go to every party possible.  Christmas Eve included a brief dinner with the extended Hale family, where Brandon and I showed off more Christmas sweaters - 'tis the season!  Then we went to the Parker's and did the traditional nativity scene with the kids and talent show, which I already did a post on (but next year, Chad, we want karate!!).

Christmas Eve was busy for Brandon and I, especially because Rachel had one of her "middle-of-the-night-coughing-fits-that-we-can't-do-anything-for" that usually last between 4-5 hours, and since I knew it wasn't croup (just asthmatic coughing), we just did breathing treatments and watched Christmas movies.  This repeated again Christmas night, and then we were finally able to take her to the doctor and get her a steroid Monday morning.  This is a normal occurrence for our family, it just meant that we were worn out!

Christmas morning was magical!  Andrew got his car and Rachel got her bike from Santa!  The kids had a fantastic time eating treats from their stockings for breakfast and opening present after present after present.  Rachel especially loved her dollhouse and princesses from Nana, her pink helmet from Grandma, and ladybug pillow pet from cousin, Kennedy.  Andrew loved everything, but my favorite reaction of the day was when Nancy gave him a new blue blanket!  Andrew loves his white blanket, but it was getting so stinky since he chews on it (he never took a binky).  He loves that particular one, and Rachel has a pink one just like it that Andrew tries to sneak every once in a while, so I knew he'd love a new blue one.  Anyway, a child has never been so happy for a gift!  He hugged it, chewed on it and layed on it in complete bliss for 5 minutes straight it seemed.  He showed everyone and was so happy!  It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

It was nice to be around so much family for Christmas!  And I liked that it was on Sunday so that we could go to church and be reminded of the real reason of the day.

We headed home on Monday afternoon, but Brandon and I were both exhausted, so we decided to stay at the cheapest hotel in Page, AZ that we could find.  He slept in a bed with Rachel, and I slept in one with Andrew - although both kids desperately wanted to sleep with dad, but Rachel wouldn't let Andrew sleep with them - blah blah blah.  He's the favorite right now.  It was very broken sleep, but it was sleep!

When we got home, the kids played by themselves without any trouble for at least two days straight.  Between the new presents and being away from their own house/toys, they were completely entertained.  Basically I let them do whatever the heck they wanted to do, while I did whatever the heck I wanted to do.  This is just how the days following Christmas should be, and I loved it!

Bubba likes to try to feed himself - it's gets a little tricky when it's butternut squash soup

Grandma Nancy's playhouse - thank you for the beautiful face, Rachel

Cousin Logan & Andrew with Nana - I love the cheese face!

Grandma sleepover with matching pajamas

Santa!  Andrew wasn't too sure, but then put on a brave face

Here's the video of Brandon towards the end of his surfing session.

At Provo Beach Resort - Andrew enjoys the carousel like his big sister!

Christmas Eve Dinner, sweaters courtesy of my mom

Yes, you are seeing a silver turtleneck and tassel on the zipper; I have a hot husband.

Christmas morning with the Parker's

Bubba got his car!

And Rachel got her bike!

Andrew's loot!

Rachel's loot - again, thanks for the awesome pose, Rachel!

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