december

catching up:

this christmas we were in SJ. the first time we have been at my parents house for christmas in the 3 years we have been married. it was a special christmas too because andrew came home from his mission just weeks before. it was so great to get to see him and have him around again.

christmas eve was where the festivities began. we had a delicious meal (thanks mom) and grandama lee joined us. then afterward the kids put on the christmas nativity. it was a four star performance as you can imagine...max was baby Jesus and 'no crying he made', mary took her part very seriously, joseph wasn't wearing pants, there were some disgruntled wise men and angles, and if this picture had sound, you would be able to hear carter screaming the whole time andrew read the account from the bible. classic:)

after the nativity and a few talents, santa showed up. carter was willing to take the present from this stranger, but not willing to sit on his lap.

we all got up early christmas morning and opened presents. carter got trucks and tools and he LOVES them.
true to tradition we all got together and had toast and gravy with breakfast steaks christmas morning. we got together with extended family, and as always it was great to see everyone!

the sunday after christmas andrew reported his mission and we blessed baby max. ty did a great job but forgot to mention the priesthood. so after sacrament meeting he had to go to the bishop's office and bless him again. except that time, he forgot to give him a name. but don't worry, the third time was the charm:)

and of all the christmas activities, i would say that just dance on the wii, was one of the funnest!

we left our camera in sj so unfortunatly the rest of the trip has no pictures. but we traveled all over az. first we went to mesa to see collette and steve (the weather was beautiful and we enjoyed a day at the park). we stayed with them and also got to see my grandpa smith in phoenix (who took us to lunch at chipotle....delicious). then we went down to tucson to see melanie and shawn (where tyrell and shawn had a very heated game of monopoly). then over to pima for the new year (thanks andy and michelle for feeding us, and luke and tianna for the new years party, and of course leroy and suzie for housing us and babysitting so we could play). i got to go up the mountain for the first time after it had snowed and it was a battle to see who could make it the furthest. tyrell claims he was the winner, but brian might tell a different story.

it was really great to see everyone and we are grateful to everyone for their hospitality. but it was a lot of traveling. our boys did pretty well considering the circumstances (ie sleeping at a new house every night). they liked seeing cousins and grandparents and we came away with only mild illnesses. so all in ,it was a very successful trip to az. and we even made it home in one piece.