Christmas Festivities

1/13: Added a few more pictures at the bottom!

Christmas is just a little different, a little more magical, when there are little ones around. It was so fun to be there Christmas morning with my siblings. Brad and I were a little confused when we woke up at 7:30 and they were all still sound asleep! So we were the ones waking them up (I know, weird huh?) Christmas morning. No worries though, they quickly snapped out of their grumpy-half-asleep phase when they remembered what day it was.
Santa brought the whole family a Wii... but just try telling Luke that. He is convinced that it's just for him. Well, he certainly has logged more hours on it than all of us combined, but sorry Luke it is still a family gift.
Grant got a new-to-him electric guitar to continue his newfound love of the guitar. He is completely self taught so far, and really talented. Keep it up Grant!
Princess Taryn got a dollhouse. She loved it and couldn't wait for Dad & Brad to assemble it for her. She's still trying to convince my parents that they should paint it pink... but I don't see her winning that battle.

(Aren't my siblings adorable? Sorry, no pictures of Ross on Christmas morning, but rest assured he was there. Check out their equally adorable Christmas Eve performances here!)


The best gift of the day was saved for last. This was the "mystery gift" that had sat unmarked under the tree for a few weeks. The kids were each SURE it was for them. It was actually for my Dad. It was a framed picture of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail that my dad had fallen in love with last year on their trip to Nauvoo, IL. With some stealth moves on my mom's and my part, we were able to get the artist to personalize a message and sign the print. My dad said it was the best gift he's ever gotten. (Dad, I guess that Donny Osmond CD I got you is 2nd-best now?!)

The day after Christmas, Brad, Taryn, and I drove up to visit my Dad's parents in Sun City. It was good to spend a few hours with them. Taryn had fun playing with the cats, and Brad had fun listening to all of Grandpa's stories and dusting Grandma's fan. What a guy!


We had quite a few lunch/dinner dates while in Escondido. One night we were getting ready to eat dinner with my family, and Luke asked, "Aren't you guys going out to dinner?" He just assumed we went out for all meals! We were able to get together with two of my best friends and their husbands, as well as our good friends The Andrews, and Brad's former coworkers Ricky & Maggie.
It was great to see Janelle & Tonya (and Mike & Adam). This was the first time all 6 of us had ever been together. I'm already looking forward to the next get together. I'm not sure when that will be, with us living in 3 different states... but it will happen! Maybe a spring trip to San Francisco? What do you think girls?

I can't wait to see the pictures Whitney has from our visit with their cute family of four. :)

Other highlights from the trip include:
*Temple trip with my parents and dinner to Pat & Oscars. I miss those breadsticks already!
*Talking to Bryant on Christmas. He's home in 7 months!
*Family birthday party for Grandpa Fox's 81st B-day
*Anniversary getaway to San Diego (see post here)
*Holiday Bowl parade
*San Diego International Auto Show
*Holiday Bowl party at Full Swing Golf. What's better than 4 hours of football? Playing golf on a wall size simulator while watching football.
*Family movie day, which had the older boys seeing Invictus, and the girls+Luke seeing Princess & Frog.
*New Years Eve, which included spirited games of Twister, free hair stylings by Taryn, and sparklers at midnight.
*Football... lots of football.
*Nintendo Wii.
*Lots of laughs and memories!

It was a great trip, and hard to leave, but real life called. We are looking forward to the upcoming long weekend and Ross's trip to visit us in sunny San Fran!