The Big Day Finally Arrived....

Christmas 2010...we spent it in Utah. Ryan, Brittany, and Brittany's sister Mellany met us at the home of my parents. Six stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

Before I write more, I want to give the smallest bit of background.

Since my children were small, they always slept in the same room together on Christmas Eve. This tradition goes back to my own family with my brothers and sisters. I remember straining to hear any possible jingle bell or boot on the roof...and then trying to convince younger siblings that I had heard something. It was always a long night, but very exciting.

Anyway, a few years ago my own kids started making up strange songs to go with Christmas morning, while they waited for the long night to pass. The one that immediately comes to mind is, "Gotta get up, gotta get going...I'm gonna see some presents of mine."  This is from an old Winnie the Pooh cartoon theme.  The kids would come into our room, and surround our bed and sing the song they made up in the night.  Of course they were anxious to get into the living room.  They weren't allowed to go in until we were up.  I know there were other songs, but I can't remember any of them right this minute.

In recent years, my mother in law has spent most Christmas Eves sleeping at our house.  Did they have to surround her bed and wake her up?  No, she would come in with them to wake us up!  She even took pictures of us as we were just waking up sometimes.  Those are really attractive.  We invited her to come to Utah with us this year, but she turned us down.  I guess she has had enough cold weather Christmases.

Christmas morning 2010, the kids did not wake us up.  I was up.  I was excited for the day.  Jeff and I were sleeping upstairs.  I started texting Kaitie before 6:00 am to see if the kids were up and ready to run up the stairs.  They were having a hard time convincing Ryan and Brittany to get up.  Funny!  The girls couldn't believe that their brother who used to make up the songs and wake everyone up wasn't anxious to get into his stocking in the predawn.

Ryan did come up with a song for them.  "You're a mean one, Ryan Snow......I wanna smack you with a 39 1/2 foot pole....etc."  Awesome!

Before 6:30, the kids were all at the bottom of the basement stairs ready to run up.

They were not all excited for their pictures to be taken!  This is so much cuter than the ones that have been taken of me when I wasn't ready to get up though....

And they're off!

We had such a nice time checking stockings and opening gifts.  Riley was the "elf" who handed out the gifts, and we actually opened one at a time, while every one else watched.  We always mean to do that, but it doesn't always work out that way. 

And then, I had to pace, stew and be distracted by others until it came.  Until what came, you ask?  The phone call from Ally, of course.  We didn't have a prearranged time.  We knew she had arrived in California on the 21st, but we didn't know much that was going on with her.  We were anxious to hear details.  This was her first Christmas away from home. 

Finally about 2:00 in the afternoon my cell phone rang.  We put her on speaker for a little while, and then passed the phone for everyone to have a short conversation with her.  We only spent about a total of 40 minutes.  It was so good to speak to her.  She sounded good, and that was the most important thing.

After The Call, we headed for the snow.  Emilee had been so anxious for some snow and there wasn't any in town.  My dad was determined to find some for her.

We found some.  My mom took this picture of the rest of us.  I was wearing my first beanie.  I don't like beanies on anyone, especially myself.  Ally got us scarves, beanies and mittens for Christmas before she left and made me promise to wear mine and take a picture.  I had no choice.

Here is my cute mom and dad.  They took such good care of us on this trip.  I told them I especially enjoy visiting them, because it is the only time I still feel like a kid.  

The next picture is pretty scary, but I am putting it in to illustrate the point I just made.  I was cold.  My dad took his beanie off, and put it on my head.  He took his extra vest off, and put it on me.  I felt so taken care of......

....and I looked like a gnome.  

That tall beanie, and that vest that made me look like I had no neck.....not a beautiful combination.  But I felt warm inside and out.

The kids played a lot.

You knew this had to happen.....

Aren't these two just the cutest?

And these two think they are cute too.  Even when my mom, dad, Ryan and Brittany had left, and the rest of us were wet and freezing in the car, Jeff and Emilee kept playing.  They built a snowman, and posed in this their traditional triumphant pose.

The kids were still in good spirits on Monday when we drove home.  This is not always the prevailing car mood.  The girls played Riley's new game of Hedbanz (as seen on ICarly.)  I played too, part of the time, until my neck hurt from turning around too much.

Ryan, Brittany and Mellany left the same day we did.  They were glad for the short trip back to their new place in Utah.  I thought my mom and dad would sleep for a couple of days after the long holiday weekend with company, but they got on the road too.  They keep pretty busy.  We all appreciate those two so much for all they do for us!!