Christmas 2011

our Christmas this year was action-packed.  we traveled near and far (meaning Utah), and back to back.

and it was worth every second.

we started with bang by heading to Greer, AZ for the NPX, where you got on a trolley with elves, went through a portal to the North Pole, and took a tour through Santa's workshop and helped the elves make toys, had a rocket-gun fight, ate cookies and hot chocolate, went to Elf University (EU), and then visited (the real) Santa.

after traveling back through the portal we ended up at the Molly Butler Lodge where Mrs. Claus read us stories and then we gathered for dinner.  dinner was superb.  best teriyaki salmon ever.  mmmm...I want some right now.

AND THAT WAS ONLY ONE NIGHT!

the rest of the time we went sledding, had snowball fights, played Christmas Minute to Win it and lots of card games, ate great food, stayed in the COOLEST cabin, made snowmen, and the best part?  the weather was warm we played outside in the snow in warmer weather than in Phoenix.  It. was. awesome.
oh!  and I almost forgot about property manager/ country store owner/ road plower/ disciple Ted.  The man, above Santa Claus, these kids looked up to most on this trip.  in fact they made a pact wherein they raised their right arm and swore to try to emulate him in all they did.

thanks Robyn, for putting this all together for us!

After Greer, Cole, Smith, and I drove to Brianhead to meet up with my family for the few days before Christmas Eve.  We made more snowmen, rocketed down a few more sledding hills, went hot tubbing, snowboarding, skiing, and played more cards.  the first night bryan and z called and told us they hit a road closed sign at an avalanche and the next thing we knew they lost service and went missing.  24 hours after leaving Phoenix for their 7 hour drive, Lindsey, Castle, and bryan were united with us again after getting stuck in the snow, hiking over an avalanche 4 miles to find a phone, getting picked up by a sheriff, and then after the sheriff getting stuck also, and picked up by a snowcat.  

but mostly we talked about what we find ourselves fantasizing about almost always.  one family member fantasized about smoking.  for this she/he will never live another day without being the brunt of another joke about it.  pole vaulting was another.  and sipping hot cocoa by the fire.  having a farm and living in a remodeled barnhouse.  killing zombies that are trying to take over earth.

you know, typical fantasies.

and our worst fears.  but we'll leave that conversation at the condo.

thanks mom for putting this all together for us!

and thanks z and bry for living for another Christmas.
and thank you to the Proctors for an AMAZING place to stay!

Now lets talk about Christmas day!  We got back from Brianhead the after noon of Dec 23 and on the 24th were joined by Natalie and her family.  we made gingerbread men and ate a big delicious meal, conversed, watched the new church nativity videos (which are amazing!), and finally got to bed.  I seriously can't believe how much we received.  I thought Cole's flying lessons were pretty sweet, and then my Wicked tickets, and then our Mormon Tabernacle Choir tour tickets, and then my electronic toothbrush, and then money, and then....an IPAD2?!!  what the what what?!?!  seriously.  we are so blessed.  Cole was like a little boy when he saw that little half-eaten apple on the cover.

(way to one-up my flying lessons jim and robyn.)

this was most definitely a Christmas never to be forgotten.