The rest of 2012 in Utah

Where was I? Oh yes, we left AZ around 6 pm on Christmas night, and with a slightly delayed plane and slightly delayed bag, we finally made it to the Jennings new home in Daybreak around 10 pm. Jackson didn't take a nap that day and I thought we would have been so tired when we got to their house but he was just so excited to see Grandpa, Grandma & the familiar toys at their house! We finally made him go to sleep around 11 and he slept good that night!

Next morning we woke up to snow. And lots of it. It snowed almost every day we were there the whole trip! Much different from last year when we didn't see a single snowflake, not even in Heber or Park City! And it was just freezing and I was totally not ready for it. I didn't even leave their house for the first 36 hours or so... BUT their new house is so great, it's fun knowing this will be the house that my kids will remember as Grandma & Grandpa's house for years to come and so many memories will be made here :)

The view out our bedroom window, yes there is a street in front of that house somewhere.

Norah & Abbie @ 8 months, 1 week apart

That morning was like Christmas morning all over again. Jamie, Ashley, Kristi and their families were all there for present opening! So many present for the grandkids that stocked their new playroom!

5 of the 7 grandkids

One of the biggest surprises was bought with Jackson in mind, a train table! He and his cousins had fun with this and Jackson got to practice sharing :)

 This upstairs loft area is Grand-kid heaven!

 Later that day Travis & Alise's family drove up from St. George. It was quite the snow storm but we're glad they made it up safe and sound. They stayed at the house with us the whole week we were there too.

I got to reconnect with Baby Ellie :)

 Since we weren't doing much outside we spent a good amount of time, dancing to Just Dance using Kinect. OK I didn't so much dance, but the rest of the Jennings family did!

One major outing was up to temple square to see the lights! We hit up City Creek food court and then bundled up to head out in the cold! Abbie wore Jackson's coat from his first Christmas (red works for either, right?) and had sweater, long sleeved onesie, leggings tights hat, and mittens that didn't really stay on. But she looked cute bundled up!

Snow bunny and me

 Last year Jackson refused to wear a hat, gloves, or a jacket - even long sleeves bothered him. Luckily it wasn't as cold last year but it definitely caused some issues. This year he realized that he needs to stay warm but still refused to wear the big parka I bought him. At least he wore this fleece lined sweatshirt that he would never wear last year. And he wore sweaters, hats, and gloves throughout the trip. Much better than last year :)

Ready to head outside!

 Jackson loved seeing all the temples in Utah, but when he saw this one he called it a castle! So now we call it the castle temple.

Brrrr I get cold just looking at this but it was so pretty!

I just realized Tyler's not in this, guess he was taking the picture.

Another outing was to Provo. We visited with Tyler's extended family at the Sowby house.

Giving Great Grandma kisses!

 We drove around BYU and revisited some of our favorite spots such as the creamery, the tanner building and our first apartment.

The crazy part about heading down 9th East to go to the Creamery was to pass my freshman dorm, Robison Hall. It was torn down and now they are buiding this in it's place! I was going to text this to my freshman roomies but forgot til now, so here you go Carly Jill*2, Sarah & Megan if you are reading this! So crazy huh! The creamery is still there and some of the buildings around there but goodbye 126 Robison Hall, you will always be remembered. You served us well :)

This building stands exactly where Robison Hall used to be!

 We then met up with the Nixons and got caught up with them while Jackson took a nap upstairs, thanks again! At the end of the visit Cole woke up so we introduced him to Abbie. They will be in the same freshman class at BYU :)

 

We had a visit with my grandparents one afternoon while Tyler went to a talk downtown and Jackson showed Papa his new book.

On Sunday these two little cousins took a bath together to get ready for church! Oh and Jackson didn't want to miss out on the action so he hopped in too, that is his leg in the bottom left corner. We couldn't get him to take one until a bunch of people were gathered and other kids were doing it, silly kid.

 The girls wore their matching dresses that day and spent lots of time on that rug playing together. Basically staring at each other, grabbing their faces and chewing on eachother's toys but hey, they were "playing".

 That night we had a big dinner at their house with about 25 people in attendance, it was great fun seeing aunts uncles and cousins. Abbie had fun getting Great-Grandpa!

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun with our kids this year. Abbie was super happy and smiley all morning and Jackson was excited about every single thing he opened -other than the clothes, which he stared at and then tossed aside :) Abbie woke up so happy and while she always is smiley, she got the biggest smile on her face as she opened each present. It's like she knew just what she was supposed to do! The kids actually slept in, all babies slept past 8. So us "older kids" got to open our stockings and Santa presents before they woke up.

She didn't care that the wrapper was still on the candy cane :)

Digging in his stocking

 

The one thing he wanted most, a helmet! Santa delivered :)

It was a pirate themed year for Jackson, he loves his looking glass!

His very own Jake Doll.

His big pirate ship!

Abbie was crawling all over that morning trying to check out everyone's loot!

Reading Abbie her new favorite book.

Instead of the traditional apple or orange at the bottom of her stocking, Abbie got baby food - and dug right in :)

Loving her new doll!

Playing hoop in his new pirate ship!

Taking a break for cinnamon roll breakfast!

Jackson helped Baby Will open the present he gave to him

Abbie wanted in on the pirate ship action!

Since his bike and scooter are back in Florida, Jackson tested out his helmet on Ste's new Penny Board.

After a tiring morning opening presents, he takes a break to watch a new movie.

Abbie got dressed and thought this play dough looked yummy...

And then after a fun packed day, we packed our bags and headed up to SLC for more adventures!

Christmas Eve

We had lots of fun on Christmas Eve! In the morning my mom heated up the hot tub and we continued the tradition of swimming! Jackson loved it and Abbie didn't make a fuss for the hour or so she was in there with us!

Then we had our annual sugar cookie decorating extravaganza. This year Michael & Annika totally dominated the competition.

The cookie frosters

Some of the top cookies, Michael's snowy tree on the bottom was the winner :)

One of her favorite chew toys, Jackson's airplane

 In the late afternoon Paige and Ben came back over and we had an amazing Christmas honey baked ham dinner that my mom prepared. (no pictures sadly) And after dinner we had fun with a Christmas Nativity, starring our very own William as baby Jesus

The Nativity Cast

Abbie was cast as the all important Angel, very appropriate :)

Jammie Pyramid!

Jackson refused to wear his matching jammies, but the kids were still cute :)

She was an angel on Christmas Eve, in more ways than one :)