Christmas!

Christmas was in Mapleton this year, so we began the long voyage on Thursday, Dec. 23rd.  Thank goodness we can stop in St. George on the way.  It was the perfect rest stop.  We spent the night, relaxed a bit, and then headed up north on Christmas Eve.  

We had pizza and milkshakes for dinner (a tradition Jeff's family had while growing up which I think is so fun).  Yum!  It doesn't get any better than that!  And then Poppa read us a Christmas story.  Oh yes, and we set out cookies and milk for Santa.

Here's the cute, little group of kiddos on Christmas Eve in their new Christmas jammies.  

Christmas morning the girls woke up at their regular time, 7am.  We had to wake everyone else up!  Sorry, Landon!  And then, once we woke up, we had to wait... and wait a little bit more until everyone was ready to head downstairs... the girls were very patient.  Luckily, the stairs provided the perfect waiting place. :)

Santa came to Grammie's house!  He left Maylee a bike with training wheels (just what she had been talking about for months!) and a Let's Rock Elmo for Brooklyn (it coordinates with her cute new jammies from grandma and grandpa)!

Even though it was cold outside that didn't stop Maylee from getting on her NEW bike (she made laps around the house)

The rest of the morning was spent opening up the rest of the gifts and then hanging out until it was time for church.

I absolutely LOVED that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year!  I think it is the perfect way to celebrate.  We still do the presents and the whole magic of Santa, but then we get to go to church to hear about Christ and the true reason for the season.

Our little cuties!

Christmas a little early

We celebrated Christmas with my family the Monday before Christmas.  We started the big night with some pizza, had a friendly gingerbread house contest, and then opened presents.  The girls were going nonstop from one present to the next!  They were in heaven!

Zoolights!

Christmas festivities...

With Christmas approaching, our playdates were spent frosting and decorating... and in Brooklyn's case- eating!

 our cute cookies makers!

 I love this picture.  Maylee is hard working on getting the frosting exactly where she wants it on her gingerbread house and Brooklyn is working hard on eating as much candy as she can sneak in front of me! ;)  She was all about decorating and then eating it immediately. 

Thanksgiving Part 2

Thanksgiving Day was spent at my Grandpa Dearden's house with my mom's whole family.  I haven't seen my mom's side of the famliy for a really long time, so it was so fun to see them again.  

Here are the cute girlies at their own special table!

Oh, the mountains!  Seeing them in all their majesty made me miss them.  

Thursday was all about eating lots (and lots) of yummy food.  Friday was family picture day at the Odgen Railroad Station.  That place was cool!    

Then, of course, we needed to check out the temple lights!  We stopped by Crown Burger and then walked around.  I think we went on one of the coldest nights!  We were all freezing (but maybe that is because we are wimpy Arizonians!)  And then we were able to meet up with my dad's side of the family.  They had a talent show with the kiddos and Maylee even got up with Robert and Cailin to preform their talents- hula hooping!  It was hilarious! :)

And this is the main reason we went up to Utah for Thanksgiving... for this great man!  It was my Grandpa's 80TH BIRTHDAY!  His party was on Saturday.  I'm happy we were able to be there for his special day.  Unfortunately, by the time this picture was taken the girls weren't wanting to sit down and smile! :)  But don't let the picture fool you, they sure had a blast being with all the cousins and family at Grandpa Ralph's house.  

Thanksgiving Part 1

Our holidays were spent in Utah this last year.  Fortunately, we were able to fly up for Thanksgiving!  Maylee was thrilled to be on a plane.  She even took Daddy's window seat!  It was both her and Brooklyn's second time on an airplane.  

Seeing Grandma Jones was our first stop once we arrived in Utah.  She is such an amazing woman!  She had a delicious lunch all prepared for us as we visited.

Since we flew up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed a couple of days after, we had a lot of time to play at Grammie's!  It was the first time the girls got to see the Mapleton house.  We love the Mapleton house!  It has the best location ever!

Even though we were bummed that there wasn't any snow, the girls still found lots of things to keep themselves entertained.  One of those things was throwing apples down the hill for the deer.   

And walking through the orchard...

And playing on the wagon...

And watching the deer eat the apples and rest...

And throwing rocks off the bridge...

And walking down the canyon trail...

We were so lucky that we were able to spend so much time with Jeff's family while being up in Utah!  We had a great time!