Snowy Visit in Utah

Joe had to work the week after Christmas so the kids and I decided to head up to Utah to play with cousins before we all went back to school.  The plan was to leave on the 26th but due to a crazy snowstorm, we left on the 27th.  We stayed with Matt and Carrie for a couple of days and had a blast.  When we arrived on Thursday's late afternoon, Carrie had planned a get-together for dinner.  Uncle Joe, Jason, Val, the Allreds, and the Simkins all came over for yummy soups, salads, rolls, and cookies.  It was so fun to see everyone and the kids played and played in the rec room and downstairs.  When dinner was over, we gathered in the theater room to look at the pictures of Shelly and Carrie's trip to Ukraine to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  It looked like a wonderful trip!

 Driving up to Utah--Light flurries through Cedar City, Beaver, Fillmore and Nephi.  Nothing was sticking to the roads so we were able to drive safely and at a good pace.

 

Carlee, Owen, Megan, Eli, and Isaac

 Alyssa, Jayne, McKell, Katelyn

 Nate, Jacob, John, Clark, and Zach

FRIDAY
After breakfast, the kids couldn't wait to get dressed in our snow gear and went outside to sled down Matt and Carrie's mountain.  Utah has gotten a lot of snow this winter so we were excited and had so much fun playing in it.

 Megan and Carlee just loved sledding down the driveway

 

 John blew up the big tube that they pull behind the boat but it didn't slide very well.  He, McKell, and Katelyn jumped on and it slid slowly down the steep part and completely stopped.  They tried to scoot it along but it wouldn't budge.

 Here come the boys!

 John and Zach hit the jump!  Clark and Jake hit the snow!

When we were done with the snow, we came in for hot chocolate and lunch, got cleaned up, and just played all afternoon.

 The boys played soccer, dodge ball, and video games on their minis.

 The girls colored, played girly games, and gave Carrie and me pedicures.

 That evening we got delicious steak hoagies, fries with fry sauce, and lime rickeys from Maddox Drive-In and watched Hachi: A Dog's Tale in their theater room.  It was such a sad movie!  Terrible!

SATURDAY
Today is my birthday, December 29th!  Carrie made my favorite breakfast of French Toast and then Matt and I took the older kids snowmobiling in Mantua for a few hours.  Carrie stayed with Megan and Carlee (who slept in until 11:00) and started packing away her Christmas decorations while we were enjoying the sun and snow.  Thanks, Carrie!

It was a gorgeous morning and not very busy when we got to Mantua.  I haven't been snowmobiling in years--since the last time Matt took us out and I was excited to go again.  It is so fun!

 

Zach and Clark rode together and Jake and John rode together on a different snowmobile.

Kate and McKell

 Kate rode with me while McKell rode with her dad

After riding for about 2 hours, we headed back to clean up, pack our stuff, and meet my family down in Salt Lake City.  On our way south, we stopped to visit the brand new Brigham City temple.

 The Brigham City Tabernacle is directly across the street from the temple.  Such beautiful buildings.

We met my family at the new City Creek Center in Salt Lake to check it out and visit Temple Square.  It was bitterly cold that night.  We were all bundled up but my legs were freezing through my jeans and my hands were cold through my gloves.  We didn't stay too long looking at the lights because everyone was cold and starving.  I really wanted Zupa's for my birthday dinner but we settled for the Lion House Cafe instead.  It was still tasty and nice to get warm.

Someone is tired . . .

This is such a pretty mall.

Finally met up with cousins!

My family with Grandma and Grandpa

After dinner, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's to open up our Christmas gifts from the Holt side of the family and have some birthday cake.

Magnetic paper dolls and Old Navy gift cards from Grandma and Grandpa for Carlee's birthday and a Slurpee machine from Brooklyn for Christmas.  It was "just what she always wanted"!

Marshmallow guns for all the kids from Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandpa teased Jake by wrapping his gift completely in packaging tape.  It took him a long time trying to unwrap it.   When Grandpa finally put a time limit on it or he would lose it forever, Jake used his muscles and tore through the tape and wrapping.  Yay!

I brought up some gifts from Steph and Cath.  Dad got some shirts and a vest from Pendleton that he was excited about and Mom got a cute magnetic calendar that she has been eyeing in Steph's house. 

I was surprised to find a special delivery at my mom and dad's.  Joe sent me some birthday flowers and this is my raspberry cheesecake ice cream cake!  Delicious!  Happy Birthday to me!

SUNDAY
On Sunday we went to church and then made the rounds visiting Kyle and Jenn and Jay and Cath.  On our way to Eagle Mountain, we saw a herd of antelope running alongside the road.  We stopped to watch as they raced back and forth.  When we got to the McKnights, we played with Braden and Hailee and the boys opened their gifts from those cousins--books and video games!

 

 This girl just wants to hold babies all day long.  She always tells me that she can't wait to have a baby and be a mom!  Luckily, Hailee was happy to be jostled about.

Then on to the Willes home for football and wrestling!

That evening we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's for bed.  Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and we have a fun party planned!