LIFE IS GREAT: 2010 Holidays

Temple Square

It was almost Christmas and we hadn't made a trip to Temple Square yet to see the lights. So we called up our friends the Fulton's and headed over after some delicious Smashburgers. It was a freezing cold night so we didn't stay really long but long enough for Drake to make his way under the chains and almost to the nearest sheep in the Nativity scene that is set up by the north Visitors Center. Oh the memories he is helping to create. Anyway it was beautiful and I glad we made it this year.

The reflection pool with some lights and fog

One Happy COLD family

Christmas in Santa Clara

This year after four years of marriage we were finally able to go to Santa Clara for Christmas. Since Dan works for UPS he works Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas so up until this year it has been impossible for us to come home for the holidays. Dan still had to work the Monday following Christmas so he went home by himself and the boys and I got to stay and play. This year all my siblings were in town for Christmas. Angie & Nate and their 4 kids came in from Hawaii, Eric & Heidi and baby Kinley came in from Oregon, Sarah & Miah and their 5 kids came down from Springville, and of course Dan & I with our 2 from SLC. It was a full house. When it came to sleeping Angie and Sarah's families went to Angie's house(they still have their house cuz they were only going to be gone for 2 yrs) a couple of blocks away, and Eric and I at my moms. It was late nights and craziness, but totally worth it.

Like I mentioned Dan works Christmas Eve and this year he finally had a good shift. He was getting off at 3pm but at 915am he called and said they were going to be letting people off early! I hurried and packed the car and at 1030am he was off and we were on the road. We made it in time for a wonderful Christmas Dinner and lots a fun with all of the Drakes(22 people), Grandma & Grandpa Beatty, and my moms brother Mark his wife and three kids. They kids put on a great Nativity with baby Kinley as baby Jesus and the production managers, Mom and Sarah, helping to get the kids on stage for their parts. After the Nativity we opened the traditional Christmas jammies and then headed to our places of sleep. The next morning at 6am the Staheli house people showed up and we woke the other kids to come roaring down the stairs to see what Santa had brought and open gifts. It was so fun to have so many people opening gifts. Drake I think got every thing a 2 yr old boy could want: trains, airplanes, tractors, dump trucks, music or should I say noise makers. Logan was more interested in balls he got a lot of stuff but his favorite was a little baseball tee with a bat. He had a great time. Dan and I had fun too!! It was an awesome Christmas.

After getting all our gifts open we headed to my dad's brother's, Doug, for the Drake family breakfast. It was fun to see all the cousins and eat tuffies.

We also had a family party with Dan's family but all those pictures are on his phone so unfortunately there are none currently available.