Christmas Break: Overdue

This is very overdue. Now I am in scramble mode to get caught up on this here blog...which means pic overload

Christmas Break was such a needed one! We were so excited to see all of our families and couldn't wait to get caught up. We woke up at 4:00 am to catch our flight out to Cali. It was the first time flying with kids and we had no clue how either of them would do. Our kids are not the restrained type, they never stop moving.We were so proud that we had no crazy tantrums while on the flight. ;) We got to warm sunshine and 50+ degree weather so I was thrilled (tired but thrilled). We gained two hours so I felt like we couldn't waste a second. We stayed with Ruth and Rande for a few days and had a blast! We went to the ward Christmas party and Braxton had a ball playing on the gym floor. We went and visited Grandma Rosell. What a special lady! We opened Christmas presents (Thanks Ruth and Rande) and just ENJOYED every second of relaxation. Of course we ate to our hearts desires and went shopping.;) 

After a few days in Cali we borrowed Ruth's car and headed on up to Utah. We got to Matt and Becky's and had a wonderful welcome... a soup party! We loved seeing cousins and seeing how much they have grown. Micah and Halie caught us up on all of their school, sports, and dancing. We just soaked every moment up with them. Brock taught Braxton and Millie how to throw a ball and just how to have fun...he has got an arm on him. We got to go to story time at the library with Halie and Brock and other cousins. Halie was such a big helper. After a stop at McDonalds...we dropped Halie off at school and she wanted Braxton to walk her into school. THE CUTEST thing I have ever seen. After a good afternoon in St. George we headed on up to Cedar (as far north as we were going to go) for some Christmas fun!

 Cedar was definitely cold and I was so excited to see my family and have a white christmas! We even had snow on Christmas morning. The best part about the whole stay in Cedar was the opportunity to go through the temple with my little sister. She is such an amazing example to all of us and she was so prepared to go through the temple. She has such a strong testimony and I can't wait for her to have her big adventure in Hong Kong. The people over there are going to be so lucky to have her. We were all able to go through with her (other than Markus...his day will come) and it was the neatest experience God's plan for us in action. I can't imagine how eternity with our families will be if that experience was even 1/1000th of the joy felt in the temple.  After the temple we took family pictures and they turned out so cute! We of course couldn't leave st. george without a stop at Golden Corral. haha That's the place to go when you have 16 people to feed. ;) (I need pictures, family, from the temple...please and thank you! )

Christmas Eve was so fun and we sure enjoyed having the opportunity to share that time with everyone. It was such a special night. My parents did a great job bringing a special spirit to the season. We had multiple nights staying up WAY TOO LATE, laughing our heads off, playing games and catching up. I of course got sick. Boo! I am not a fan of a head cold and especially when you can't taste the good food that comes with the holidays. haha Rush and Ry were also sick. :( It was so sad to see them in so much pain. We still had a lot of fun with them though. Rush pushed Millie around in the toy bin all day. Rush loves Millie. I think it's just because she couldn't walk at the time (couldn't get in his way ;)

Christmas morning was very laid back and chill. We were up at the crack of dawn (of course) our children are not good at the whole sleeping in thing. So we waited until everyone woke up and then the unwrapping began. My kids cared less about what was in the packages but they sure did love the wrapping paper. haha Millie got really good at tearing each piece of paper into the tiniest pieces. I loved seeing Rush and Rylee open their gifts (even though they were sick). They loved every toy and couldn't wait to start playing with them all. Such an amazing time spent in Cedar. Unfortunately everyone was kind of sick so we didn't do everything that was on the agenda but I love just sitting around, chatting, laughing and enjoying everyone. Thanks mom and dad for such an amazing Christmas! We appreciate all you do for us. :)

Brax loved the "girls" tent that santa brought

 After a week in Cedar, we made our wake back down to warmer weather. I love California weather in the winter...perfect! We enjoyed more time with Ruth and Rande and then...The PARTY TRAIN ARRIVED! Everyone showed up on the same day and oh boy was it party time! We had kids running everywhere...adults yelling over each other to tell their version of a childhood story and laughing all around! LOVED IT! We were able to pack so much into just three days together. We all went to church and got a great family picture. It's crazy how much the family has grown from the last family picture.

The highlight of the whole weekend was New Years Eve at Grandma Rosell's...THE GALA! Talk about a PARTY! SO many people packed into one house to celebrate the end of a year well lived and the start of  a new year and all it's possibilities. All the generations in that house...celebrating, dancing, laughing. I couldn't help but look around and see the joy on everyone's face! All the kids, grandkids, great grandkids dancing around the one who started it all...sweet Grandma Rosell. For a moment it was as if heaven and earth came together. I had a perfect picture of Heavenly Father's plan. Eternal Families! The greatest gift we have been given and we were living it. Grandpa and Grandma Rosell had created a little piece of heaven on earth. I love the tradition of the Gala. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have had that experience. I am grateful that my kids were there and even though they won't remember that exact time...I will tell them about it.

We left bright and early on a high. We were the most spoiled family in history. We were spoiled (in every sense of the word!) especially in the fact that we got to see EVERYONE of our family members. We got to spend time with those we love and those who have shaped us to be the people we are. The people that have been there for us no matter what. We are so grateful for Ruth and Rande sacrificing A LOT to help us see all of our family members! Thanks for all that you did and how special you made the trip. We hope to be able to have that opportunity every year. 

Our flight home...a whole other story. haha