Christmas Break in Utah

My family all got together at Rick & Jodie's house in North Salt Lake for the week between Christmas and New Years. Yes, my brother and sister-in-law are saints for hosting all 34 of us. We are a HUGE crowd with a TON of kids. Thank you thank you thank you Rick and Jodie!!! We love you.

We started off the week with a planning meeting around the breakfast counter. We came up with all sorts of fun outings we would take through out the week.

First up we celebrated Christmas. My parents first shared a Christmas story about Heber J. Grant and told a couple of memories and passed around pics of their childhood Christmases. Then they showed a short video of Liz Lemon Swindle's Christmas art, set to Kenneth Cope's, "The Gift."

It was a great way to get into the spirit of Christmas. 

 

Then all the cousins exchanged gifts. 

Jack got a book from Sam.

Jack gave Londyn an art kit. Addie slept through these festivities but she gifted Becca a tea set and she received darling silver Toms shoes from Luke (ie: Stacy ;)). Now I just can't wait until her feet get big enough to fit into them. They are seriously adorable!

Next up Grandpa donned his light up Santa hat and...

...dolled out piles of crisp 5 dollar bills to each of the grandkids. 

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa! Jack immediately informed me that he wanted to spend his loot on a video game. Surprise surprise. :)

Then we released the kids into the wild (ie: the indoor gym) and the adults got to exchange gifts. I gifted Emily these cute birds from West Elm. I don't seem to have pics of the rest but Jeff received Bucky Balls from Rick and I've never seen him love a gift more. He's addicted to those things. They are pretty amazing. I received a cute scarf from Jodie and Jeff gifted Jedd a hat. 

Then my parents gave us all le creuset pots! I have wanted one forever so I was thrilled to finally get one. Such an awesome gift!

Through out the week there was a lot of basketball being played in the gym.

Addie seemed to find all the slides in the house and would spend hours on them.

Jack, of course, played lots of video games. For the record he did do other things too. 

We enjoyed an evening visit to Temple Square to see the lights.

One evening we left the older kids in charge of the younger kids and the adults got to do a session in the Bountiful Temple. Then another day my Dad and Ryan took the 12 and older kids to do baptisms for the dead. It was both Peter and Jake's 1st time.

We enjoyed the Bountiful rec center pools.

(That would be Addie in the background wearing nothing but a swim diaper and a smile. Somehow I manged to pack Jack's swimming suit but not hers. Whoops!)

The bounce house was a huge hit among the cousins...and parents.

We went to the Natural History Museum of Utah at the U of U. 

Jack ran from exhibit to exhibit finding buttons to push. The kid loves buttons. 

That evening my grandma Stratford and two of my Dad's sisters joined us at the house for dinner and our annual talent show. My aunt snapped some pics of the entire family for us.

Grandma & Grandpa with all their grand kids.  22 of them to be exact, and soon to be 23 with the arrival of our baby in April.

My little family with my Grandma Stratford.

The cousin talent show did not disappoint. There were lots of musical numbers, gymnastics and even Luke doing his Luke Skywalker impression.

All the girls with my grandma and two of my Dad's sisters.

I loved spending time with Blake. He can walk now! That was his talent and is a HUGE accomplishment. He is so responsive and especially loves when you sing songs with him. Here we are singing Mr. Sun. This kid melts my heart. I just love him so much!!!

Addie has taken a liking to men and would randomly choose one of her uncles and go give them hugs. Here she's chosen Jedd.

I don't know who took this picture (probably my Dad) but the expression on my face kills me. What was I looking at Jeff and thinking? Haha

On New Year's Eve Jedd and Missy made us all delicious Italian Sodas.

 

My parents organized a Bingo game for the kids who were old enough to stay up until midnight. They loved winning lots of quarters.

I had to also include this picture. Isn't it cute of Missy's darling kids...oh wait...who is the CREEPER in the background?!!!

We toasted in the new year with some Martinellis and Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve. 

The next day we packed up, cleaned, and headed to Alpine for the evening. I don't have any pictures from Alpine, but it was fun to spend a day with Jeff's family before heading back home.  We had such a wonderful time with family and always LOVE when we can ALL be together!!!

Happy New Year everyone!