We started our Christmas celebrations this year on the 21st of December opening gifts from each other at our house. We ate breakfast for dinner in our PJ's to pretend that it was Christmas morning. Our annual shopping trip to buy gifts for each other is something I look forward to each year. It's always fun to see what they pick for each other.
This is a picture of the girls impatiently awaiting the go ahead to open presents. Two day's later we were headed off to Utah to spend the holiday with family. The girls were so excited to see snow that we packed all the snow gear in hopes of making a snow man. When we got there this is all there was. But of course Abbie couldn't help but run outside and make the best out of what snow was there.
This picture of them in the snow didn't turn out that great, but I think it's funny that Abbie's scarf landed right on her head for the picture. On the day of Christmas Eve we went to see the movie Tangled which was so cute, but Aliza thought it was a bit scary. She spent a lot of the show asking to go home.
Each Christmas Eve we have a fantastic connection with the North Pole because Santa always arrives at the Phillips family Christmas Eve party. All of us young or old get a chance to sit on Santa's lap for one last request before the big night. You can tell Aliza is willing to sit on his lap, but still a little nervous. This is the first Christmas that all of our kids were ready and willing to talk to Santa. Nobody was clinging to me or hiding in the other room. It was nice.
Abbie played a wonderful duet this year for Santa with her cousin Zoee on the violin. They played We Wish You a Merry Christmas with great confidence. Santa enjoyed it so much he asked to hear another carol next year. Can't wait to see what they come up with. If you know Abbie you know she will be literally thinking about it all year to prepare.
Avery was thrilled to get a Barbie doll from Santa on Christmas Eve. Her comment to me was that he really must have read the letter she mailed a few weeks prior. I'm sure he did.
Christmas morning was so much fun this year. Aliza was asking for a new doll and roller skates which he did deliver. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait any longer to break into the skates. She got pretty good at them on the carpet. On a slicker floor is another story.
Our kids must have been really good this year because Santa brought both Abbie and Avery Nintendo DSi's. They have been begging for them for quite some time and they worked out great to keep kids entertained for the long car ride home. Aliza did get a Leapster to keep her entertained.
Later that day we were able to visit with Great Grandma Joy and Grandpa Alvin, then we headed over to my parents for more present opening. We stayed with my parents for a few nights so we could attend our old ward in Saratoga Springs. I still can't put into words the way I felt at our old ward. When we walked in we were greeted with hugs and happy hello's that made it hard to hold back the tears, but I did. Then after the meeting we were able to see so many people we have missed dearly. Abbie made the comment later that evening that it felt like she was a movie star with everyone surrounding her. I thought that was a funny comparison. Oh, how I have missed our old ward and our friends in Saratoga.
This is Aliza Christmas morning wearing her stocking stuffers from Santa. We of course had to try them all on before breakfast. My mom put together a yummy after Christmas lunch Sunday afternoon which was perfect. We were able to visit with my sister and her family that afternoon. Monday morning we headed over to play with friends (the Hacketts) for most of the day. We ended the evening with our dear friends the Bass family to have dinner and walk around temple square. It was a perfect evening other than the fact that absolutely no food area's were open. We tried many places and they were either too busy or closed. After walking around for quite some time we just hit Trax over to the Gateway to grab a bite to eat. It was so fun to be in Utah again. I didn't realize how much I do miss it. We made it home Tuesday mid afternoon with the luck of not hitting a single snow storm going to or from Utah. We are now enjoying our time together before it all starts up again Monday morning. Yuck!
This is a picture of the girls impatiently awaiting the go ahead to open presents. Two day's later we were headed off to Utah to spend the holiday with family. The girls were so excited to see snow that we packed all the snow gear in hopes of making a snow man. When we got there this is all there was. But of course Abbie couldn't help but run outside and make the best out of what snow was there. 
This picture of them in the snow didn't turn out that great, but I think it's funny that Abbie's scarf landed right on her head for the picture. On the day of Christmas Eve we went to see the movie Tangled which was so cute, but Aliza thought it was a bit scary. She spent a lot of the show asking to go home. 
Each Christmas Eve we have a fantastic connection with the North Pole because Santa always arrives at the Phillips family Christmas Eve party. All of us young or old get a chance to sit on Santa's lap for one last request before the big night. You can tell Aliza is willing to sit on his lap, but still a little nervous. This is the first Christmas that all of our kids were ready and willing to talk to Santa. Nobody was clinging to me or hiding in the other room. It was nice.
Abbie played a wonderful duet this year for Santa with her cousin Zoee on the violin. They played We Wish You a Merry Christmas with great confidence. Santa enjoyed it so much he asked to hear another carol next year. Can't wait to see what they come up with. If you know Abbie you know she will be literally thinking about it all year to prepare.
Avery was thrilled to get a Barbie doll from Santa on Christmas Eve. Her comment to me was that he really must have read the letter she mailed a few weeks prior. I'm sure he did.
Christmas morning was so much fun this year. Aliza was asking for a new doll and roller skates which he did deliver. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait any longer to break into the skates. She got pretty good at them on the carpet. On a slicker floor is another story.
Our kids must have been really good this year because Santa brought both Abbie and Avery Nintendo DSi's. They have been begging for them for quite some time and they worked out great to keep kids entertained for the long car ride home. Aliza did get a Leapster to keep her entertained.
Later that day we were able to visit with Great Grandma Joy and Grandpa Alvin, then we headed over to my parents for more present opening. We stayed with my parents for a few nights so we could attend our old ward in Saratoga Springs. I still can't put into words the way I felt at our old ward. When we walked in we were greeted with hugs and happy hello's that made it hard to hold back the tears, but I did. Then after the meeting we were able to see so many people we have missed dearly. Abbie made the comment later that evening that it felt like she was a movie star with everyone surrounding her. I thought that was a funny comparison. Oh, how I have missed our old ward and our friends in Saratoga.
This is Aliza Christmas morning wearing her stocking stuffers from Santa. We of course had to try them all on before breakfast. My mom put together a yummy after Christmas lunch Sunday afternoon which was perfect. We were able to visit with my sister and her family that afternoon. Monday morning we headed over to play with friends (the Hacketts) for most of the day. We ended the evening with our dear friends the Bass family to have dinner and walk around temple square. It was a perfect evening other than the fact that absolutely no food area's were open. We tried many places and they were either too busy or closed. After walking around for quite some time we just hit Trax over to the Gateway to grab a bite to eat. It was so fun to be in Utah again. I didn't realize how much I do miss it. We made it home Tuesday mid afternoon with the luck of not hitting a single snow storm going to or from Utah. We are now enjoying our time together before it all starts up again Monday morning. Yuck!
1 comments:
Yah, the snow has been so crazy this year. We live in a little bubble I think - we just barely got our first snow here in Green River this week! I am not complaining though, because last year was tons of snow and an ice box - it never left!!! Glad you got to visit with family over Christmas. The DS's will be really nice for that drive! We went the Leapster route too, but they just take turns. Maybe next year we'll go for the DS's, it's bound to happen sometime. :)
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