What a week . . . What a year!

I know I say this every year. . . we love the holidays, but phew! It's time to relax.
Our festivities started early this year when my sister Kelsie and her husband ("Uncle Camera" as Andi calls him) came in to town on the 19th. My parents got everyone Disneyland tickets for Christmas and we decided to go on the 22nd, but of course the weather wouldn't cooperate and the grapevine was closed. We found that out after we had woken Andi up "extra extra early" and had to tell her that we couldn't go that day. She was so sad and kept telling me that we could go a different way and she would show us how to get there. We hit up Rosemary's that night to try and make it up to the kids, and Thankfully the next morning the roads were open again.
We got Andi on a lot more rides this time. It's amazing what peer pressure can do.

Here are a few of us outside "the Beautiful Christmas Castle" Andi's words.


These two were so excited and did really well all day

Inside the animal cage of Casey Juniors Railroad


This is her nervous face, trying to be excited about splash mountain. I let her watch the big drop and told her it was like the water slide in Ashlynns pool. Total lie, but it got her on the ride.

And here is Andi after the big splash.
This is the only ride she freaked out on, and it came after the haunted house, and pirates, so she was about done with mommy's rides. We went to the pooh bear ride right after this ;)

I don't know how well you can see this, but look at the white tea cup in the center with the teal trim. That would be Thad and my two little brothers stretching before the ride began. They were serious about trying to set some sort of record for the number of rotations. Don't worry, afterwords none of them could walk straight and they were all complaining of headaches.

Andi and I made it to Pixie Hollow this time and she got to meet Tink and some other pixies. The weird part is when we got to the tinkerbell part there was this dude fairy with her. Andi was a little nervous about him and asked me who he was, I had no idea. We found out later that in the newest tinkerbell movie, she's got a boyfriend and his name starts with a T but I can't remember. So here is Andi with Tinkerbell and her boyfriend.


And this is us in line for It's a small world right after they lit it up. She was seriously that excited all day.

My siblings and my little family in line for Star Tours. Andi did not love that one either.

The next day was Christmas Eve and we had our traditional dinner and program at Thad's parent house. Andi, Sammy, and Paige were the only little ones around this year so it seemed kinda quiet. But Andi loved being able to drag in the Santa bag and listen to the Santa letter. Don't worry, we didn't take a single picture, and I haven't got the ones from anyone elses cameras yet either, but I did steal these from Tenille's blog.

The next morning we had to wake Andi up at 7:30. I know she was exited for Christmas, but it had been a long couple of days for her and what can I say, she enjoys her sleep. Sammy was actually the first one to the tree this year. This is him looking at is from the hallway.

And this is the happy face he makes when he's excited. If the face weren't awesome enough, there is a funny little noise that goes with it.

Andi with her new games, that we play everyday.

By the time we got to my parent's house for more tree and breakfast Andi had woken up, but was so busy running around with little Walter that we really didn't get many good pictures of them. Too busy enjoying herself. Sammy on the other hand was ready for a nap and though he really was enjoying his new Tonka truck from Kels and Cam this was about all the excitement he could muster for the camera.

Yes, he is riding in the back of the truck.
After naps we headed over to Thad's parents for a little while, then back home for another nap for Sammy and then back to my parent's for dinner.
The next day All of my moms family, and some of my dads came in to town for dinner and another tree session. There were so many of us though that we had to move the dinner to the church building because we couldn't all fit at my parent's house!
Sunday the kids were sporting their new Church outfits from Grandma.
Ignore Sammy's wild hair. After Church we had Thads family over at our house for dinner and Aunt Tenille gave Sammy his first hair cut.
It's funny how much a little trim made him look like such a big boy. I have to point out Sammy's sunday afternoon outfit, I love it. The new basketball shorts and the shirt you can't see is what we made all the boys in my family for Christmas. It's a Nerf Wars Shirt. Here is the back view.


Things to mention that do not have pictures. The Sunday before Christmas Bobby and I sang in Sacrament meeting. And the Friday before that Thad and I celebrated our 6th anniversary with dinner and some last minute Christmas shopping. Romantic, I know. I got a fabulous new sewing machine for Christmas along with the H2O Ultra stem mop. Don't laugh, I really wanted it, what can I say the infomercial totally sold me, and I love it! Thad and the boys have had 3 nerf war battles at the church building sporting their new shirts. And Sammy has been sick since monday. All the coming and going and people and chaos was too much for the poor little guy.
All in all it's been a fabulous couple of weeks, but we are exhausted! We are doing nothing this weekend, just because we can.