Christmas 2018

If we didn't love coming to town for Christmas, we wouldn't do it. We love it. and we are very blessed that we have two awesome families to celebrate with. But it is a WHIRLWIND trying to do everything with both our families!

Christmas Eve Breakfast @ Sue's
Sometime Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, both families usually go to a movie. We sat holiday movies out this year.
Christmas Eve Afternoon- Grandma Cook's Christmas Party
Christmas Eve Night- Grandma Jane's Christmas Party
Christmas Eve later @ Night- Open sibling gifts at my parents house
Christmas Eve Late- Gavin & I always open gifts to & from each other
Christmas morning- open our little family's Christmas gifts from Santa
Christmas morning- go to my parents to open gifts from Santa
Christmas morning- every year Gavin's Aunt Lorean hosts a Christmas morning breakfast. This was the first year we missed it.
Christmas afternoon- Gavin's family's Christmas celebration, dinner, & gifts.

Phew! 
Here's some pictures...

Both my boys got ear infections the day we left for Utah. Owen got over his really fast, but J was miserable for a couple weeks, despite shots and antibiotics. Poor baby! If you can't tell in these pictures- his face is all swollen and runny.

My parents always get us matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. It's such a fun tradition! Usually we get pajamas that we love and will wear again and again. No offense mom, but these ones aren't getting worn all too often!

Funny stories about the pajamas-

• At first, Owen REFUSED to put the pajamas on. Gavin said he'd never been so proud in his life. Eventually we got him to put the pajamas on by convincing him that he'd be able to run extra fast in these pajamas because he wasn't wearing pants.
• Because everyone looked the same, people were getting each other mixed up. At one point, I handed Trace my phone, thinking he was Gavin. The funniest is when Hailey came up behind Jake, wrapped her arm in his, and laid her head on his shoulder. Jake let her sit like that for about a whole minute until someone else noticed what was going on.
• Megan's friend from the singles ward came over to my parent's house while we were all there opening presents. It was a little bit awkward. Jake texted the family "why is this guy here?" After the guy left, Jake said "I went to high school with him! Do you know how embarrassing that was?!"

Santa left a bike for Owen at our apartment in Texas. Owen looked over this picture again and again, and examined every inch of the bike. He told everyone he got a bike with a water bottle!

Soo spoiled!

One fun gift my sisters and I all got- tickets to see Wicked in Salt Lake in February! So, Owen and I got a bonus present of plane tickets to come back to Utah, so that I can see Wicked with my family!

A Visit from Family and Magnolia Market

Sue, Shaylee, and Blakelyn suprised Owen and showed up at our door on his birthday! Owen answered the door and said "oh hi."

The next day, we went to Waco to do the Fixer Upper fan thing. I've been a few times but this was definitely the best experience we've had. Magnolia happened to be having a pop up sale that day!

PLUS, we were able to eat at Magnolia Table!

 PLUS Magnolia Market had all their Christmas decor out!

PLUS the weather was amazing so we were able to just sit on the lawn and enjoy ourselves!

With family in town, we did two other obvious things: a trip to the Arboretum, and multiple trips to Steel City Pops!

We love having visitors!

Scott's Springtime Surprise

In February, Sue let me know that her and Rick wanted to come visit soon. We found a good time and didn't tell anyone! 
They got here on a Wednesday, the last week of March, and came with me to pick up Owen from preschool. It took Owen a minute to register what was going on, but he was all smiles the rest of the day and kept saying "this is the best surprise!"
I told Gavin I had a dinner and wanted him to come with me. When I went to pick him up for the said "dinner," his parents were with me. Because it's busy season, Gavin couldn't really take time off work to hang out with them, but it was fun to take him to dinner before he started working again. It totally caught him off guard!
While Rick and Sue were here, we...

went to Torchy's of course. This was right after they surprised Owen... he was so cute and happy!

Went to Little Elm Beach. It was too cold to completely swim, but hanging out on the beach, building sand castles, and riding in the kayak was fun!

 We went to the Frontiers of Flight museum. I chose this activity because I thought Rick would like it. I was surprised by how much we all enjoyed it! We lucked out and went on a day where they flew in old war planes and let us climb through them.

It was bluebonnet season, which is a big deal in Texas. So we went on a drive through the country to see the bluebonnets. It's like the equivalent of going for a drive to see the fall leaves in Utah.

And because this required us to drive through downtown on a Saturday, we had to stop at the Farmer's Market for pudding and pickles. I think that means we can be considered locals!

It was a quick trip for them but we're glad they came! We love visitors!