Really Late and Lots of Pictures Part 1

This year for Christmas we went to Utah again to be with our families. We had a lot of fun and I am really excited for the day we can do Christmas as our own little family. Maybe next year Santa could come early to our house (I hear you can make special arrangements with the North Pole.)

We left Friday the 19th well, actually it was Saturday because we left at 2:30 a.m. Partly because the roads were closed in Wyoming and partly because it takes so much longer to pack than you think!

Brinley and Matthew awake and alert at 2:30 am on our way to Grammy's house!

This is what the roads looked like a lot of the way there! Sometimes I couldn't even see 10 feet ahead of me. The wind was really strong and blowing snow all over the place. It ended up taking us 13 hours to get to Utah.

Brian and Brinley chillin' while we waited for an hour and fifteen minutes on the road at a standstill just outside of Evanston because I-80 was closed.

Jami and Matt chillin'. Matthew finally got to open his prize he had been carrying around for the past 2 days...a m&m filled candy cane.

Brian made the kids a special present ....a folder filled with blank paper and some WASHABLE markers! That was a hit for my little artists. By the time we got there Matthew's hands and legs were completely covered in marker.
Our good friends let us crash at their house on Saturday afternoon and get ready for a family Christmas party. I was just going to give my marker boy a bath but then all the kids decided they wanted to join in the fun. Matthew (2) Brindy (4), Brinley (3) Tate (2).
The kids took a picture of us watching them take a bath. All 8 1/2 of us were hanging out in their tiny bathroom! Melanie, Chris, Jami and Brian.
The reason we left at such a crazy hour was to get to the Wall Family Christmas Party to surprise Brian's family. It was a lot of fun to see family we haven't seen for a long time. The picture is of Grandma K and Great-Grandpa Wall with most of the Grandkids and Santa.
Matthew and Santa.Brinley and Santa.
Jami, Brian and Santa.
Brian playing pin the present on the tree.....pretty funny!
My Mom has a tradition of making and decorating gingerbread men every year. My Grandma then comes over and judges them and guesses who made which one. She pretty much can guess who made what gingerbread man. My kids loved it this year. This is Brinley with her gingerbread man made all by herself.Matthew was in heaven with a huge bowl of candy in front of him and the freedom to choose whatever candy he wanted. He really got into making his gingerbread man. He was so focused!
Matthew's gingerbread man.

Matthew holding his newest cousin, Kate. He was so cute with her! He held her for a long time and would pat her head and give her a binky.
Miss Kate
Brinley was my snow angel. One day it snowed and snowed and snowed so me and Brinley went out to play. There was probably a good 18 inches on the trampoline that we had to get off. Brinley had so much fun and helped me build my snow fort. I have not seen so much "good" packing snow in a long time!Our snow fort.Brian came out to help for a little bit.
Matthew and Grandpa Murray at the Murray Family Christmas party!
Jami and her Grandma Murray. She is in her 80's but still so beautiful, capable and very thoughtful.
This is my brother Tyson who is almost 18 and good old St. Nick. Luckily Tyson didn't get a lump of coal this Christmas.
Matthew and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. He was a little nervous but felt a little better with a candy cane in his hand. As soon as he got his present he was out of there!

This is my cute sister Kenzie who is not quite a teenager but wants to be!
Miss Brinley with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. She was the last one to be called up but was so patient and cute. She said she wanted a baby that pees! Go figure....I tried to get her to pick that out last year from Grandma K but she wanted a baby that cried.
Matthew my sugar shark. He discovered a new love for candy canes. He sure is a determined and focused little guy when he wants something.