Christmas Vacation

Our Christmas Vacation began Monday 22nd when we headed down to the hotel in Salt Lake City. This is my favorite family tradition because it gives me the chance to really enjoy Christmas. In order to leave town we have to be completely ready for Christmas a whole week before. If not, I'd probably spend the extra days finishing up my last minute errands.

Our usual schedule is to stay until Christmas Eve which we spend with Marc's family and then drive straight home to Idaho where we usually roll in around 11pm and throw the kids in bed. This year we decided to stay through Christmas Day so that we could spend the day with my family as that is when they all gather.

We found a great suite at the Homestead Suites by the Gateway Center. We had a living room, kitchenette and 2 bedrooms with their own bathrooms. The hotel had a great breakfast and also provided a dinner during reception hour. We were able to eat dinner at the hotel for free.

When we arrived at the suite Bailee's diaper had exploded which I realised was due to the apple juice we'd given her during the road trip. While I bathed her I asked Marc to get her travel bag and it was then that we realised neither of us had packed it. That meant no diapers, onesies, pj's, clothes, bibs, socks OR matching pajama's which was the only thing that mattered to me. Fortunately, I had one spare outift in the diaper bag that I always carry around. I put her in the pj's and within 10 minutes she exploded again. Thank you apple juice!!!

So, this time we put her in a diaper and one of Brinlee's shirts. We figured we could grab a few things at Deseret Industries to get us by so we ran out to the store. We pulled up to D.I. at 6.02pm and the lady told us they were closed. I pleaded my case of being an out of towner with a naked baby who kept pooping and she pointed me to the baby items. Within 3 minutes we were at the check register with 3 onesies and couple of pj's. They were definately not our favorite pj's but it was better than nothing. She's so darn cute she can even pull off some ugly pj's. ;)

And, then we were able to wash Bailee's clothes and with no more accidents Bailee survived for the next 3 days with just a few outfits. I also found a red Christmas outfit at Walmart so she had some semi-matching pj's for Christmas morning.
After the Bailee fiasco we went to get a Christmas tree. We bought a purple one and decorated it with silver ribbons and baubles. We thought it turned out beautiful.

We spent the next day at the Gateway and took the children to Discovery Gateway where the big kids ALSO had a great time. This is Marc and his mom in the building center. The little kids enjoyed a life size helicopter, movie making, news room and supermarket.

G'ma and G'pa brought cousin Grace along which was fun for the kids to spend time together.

Here's Brinlee and Grace enjoying the snow.

We also visited the BUILD A BEAR workshop which is always a window shopping event each year that we go. However, this year, as I was buying something at Banana Republic daddy took the kids to 'window shop' and ended up with their very own BEAR. They were SO excited and had a wonderful time making their bears. I was just sad that I missed the whole process and didn't get any of it on camera.

Each year at G'ma and G'pa's the children present the nativity. Most years I usually end up organizing it with the help of the sister in laws and we try to pull something together sort of last minute. So, this year I decided to make a 'nativity box' with all of the costumes that we would need each year. We though this would be a perfect gift for G'ma who is a hard person to shop for. Brinlee is the star, Jacob the shepherd in the green headscarf and Kenadee was Joseph this year (in blue). The older cousins sang a song about the nativity as each child entered. It worked out great and the kids were AWESOME!!

We thought it might feel weird to be away from home for Christmas but it wasn't. We really enjoyed our suite and Christmas morning was great. On Christmas Day we headed up to Ogden to spend the day with my family. Here's Nana and G'pa with the children.

So, my mum was giving out gifts and I was the last one. She handed me the bag and as I opened it she said, I hope you like it. I got the smallest one. I thought this was odd as I noticed the tag on the beautiful sweater said 3X. Not wanting to be rude I meekly pointed this out and then as I unfolded it and we saw its actual size we began hysterically laughing. It was definately not a small. So here is my sissy and me in the picture wearing my awesome size 3X gift. We figured we can just wear it together. In my mums defense, she looked on the hanger that said size 4 instead of the actual tag.

We ended up staying over another night because of the terrible storm that was happening up North. We didn't want to risk driving in the dark. So, we went to a movie but after a while we decided the movie wasn't quite what we expected and we decided to leave. Unfortunately I left my brand new black peacoat, which I had searched high and low for, and it took me over 2 months to find one I liked, especially in Pocatello (the land of no stores). I had even got a killer deal on it because I found it at Ross (name brands for less). If you look at my last post of New York, it was that coat. I LOVED it!!!

So, I immediately called the theater as the movie was still in progress and I gave my info and my seat number. They assured me they would go in and get it. Well, It turns out that they couldn't find it and no one turned it in. Someone STOLE my coat!!! I don't usually get upset over material objects but this one got the better of me. I cried for my coat, but only for about 10 minutes, and after Marc consoled me I was done. I just prayed really hard that night that it would show up the next day but no such luck so I went home coatless and I froze today as I went to church without a coat.

And so the search for a new, cute, affordable coat begins again. Wish me luck!!!