Christmas Vacation: Part 1

Christmas Break started at Grammie and Trev's this year. After a long day of travel, we arrived in Washington ready for some fun. Of course we had a blast hanging out with family, playing card games, eating yummy food (and way too many peanut M&Ms), watching movies, and talking late into the night :). The kids had a blast with all the entertainment Grammie's has to offer... from balls to horses and dogs... the kids couldn't have been happier.

We love these little scooter cars... so fun!

These two (Adam and Dallin) became quite the buddies. Dallin was in awe of the "awesome tennis player" after a few lessons in the racquetball court. Thanks Adam for entertaining Dallin. He is still playing tennis in the backyard.

The "Big Boys" were able to spend an afternoon on the quads. They were wet and cold, but they had a blast!

String Cheese Buddies

Wrapping presents....

Tea Ring Competition...

Thanks Becca for teaching us the ways in tea ring :).

I can't believe I didn't take any decent picture of our first Christmas morning (which was really Christmas Eve)! Horrible! But you can always refer to this blog (Becca's) for better pics...

Here is what I do have:

Christmas Eve Celebrations: Dinner, White Elephant and Santa... the Traditions Continue On

John and Grandpa enjoying the game.

The Best White Elephant Ever... lol :)

Santa Arrives... We love Santa!

No tears this year... YEAH!!!

And, of course, the evening wasn't complete without Christmas PJs and the Baughman Christmas Book.

It was lots of fun to be with Mom and Trevor and spend some holiday time with them. Thanks guys for making the efforts to make Christmas memorable. We love you! Hopefully next time we are together I will be feeling better :).

Christmas Traditions...

Baking our Favorite Christmas Sugar Cookies and watching the Christmas Devotional with Hot Cocoa... well, this year it was hot apple cidar (we ran out of milk). :)

Love these kiddos.. and their Dad :)

Connor was pretty funny.

Painting the cookies was proving to be challenging for Connor this year. He kept pushing to hard, dripping on everyone's cookies, etc.... so he found something better to do. Roll out the flour :). He kept himself busy for nearly 3o minutes ... just rolling more and more flour :).

Never a Dull Moment

Tonight...

I put a pot of water on the stove to boil... had cut the potatoes... placed the chicken in the pan... when Dallin came running in from outside. Where he had playing on Abigail's scooter. Yes... he had gashed his head. He somehow hit his head on the end of the handle bars - which are exposed metal. Wonderful. Luckily I knew John was on his way home. I called him ... asking... "Where are you right now??" He was in the driveway. He came in took one look and I turned off the pot of boiling water... put the chicken back in the fridge ... loaded up the children and headed out to find the best ER/ Clinic to stitch Dallin's head.

Lucky for us ... we have a great friend who offered to stitch him up for us at home. Thank goodness. So Dallin got his 8 stitches laying on the floor at his "bestest friend's" house. This poor kid is going to have a lot of stories to tell on his forehead. Remember our last adventure with 15 stitches almost two years ago??

Before the Stitches

After

"The culprit"

This is what left the imprint on Dallin's face.

Hopefully we won't have anymore major adventures tonight so that I can finally get the Christmas tree up :).

Thanksgiving Day

The celebrations began early at Doug and Mary Ann's. Mary Ann always makes the best scones! She is so sweet to make them for us all... it is definitely a highlight to the day. This year the temperatures Thanksgiving morning were bitter cold, but the boys couldn't be kept from playing their traditional "Turkey Bowl." However, the game didn't last long this year. Not because it was FREEZING, but because poor Brian tore his hamstring! Ouch! We are hoping that he is healing well and back on his feet soon.

But a little injury never gets this family down. Soon the masses were back inside, enjoying scones and a family playoff of ping-pong! There is never a dull moment with the Wirthlins.... there is fun everywhere!

Busy making scones... Mary Ann and Allison with baby Elle

Best of Friends, Roommates, and practically Sisters - Alexa and Lizzy

Go Mark!

As close to a group shot as I was going to get....

Yummy Scones

Abigail and Christine

Christine, Alexa, Isabella, and Ashley

Mark and Bella

After a great morning at Mary Ann's ... we headed home to get cleaned up and ready for the "Feast" at Brian and Carolyn's. And a feast it was. The food was amazing! Of course, at this point I don't have many pictures, because I was busy in the kitchen :). Or at least trying to be helpful.

Here are the littlest ones in their party hats.

Abigail, Dallin, Aubrey, Connor, Isabella, and Ashley (we were missing a few... Andrew and Christian)

After a meal that was to die for.... it was so good... I was cramming pie down my throat. I was SO full. There were just so many wonderful things to try. Anyway... after the meal... came the program. I love this Thanksgiving Program. It is actually one of my favorite parts to the day. :) The kids get dressed up and we retell the story of the First Thanksgiving. John was a sport and even got in on the dress-up this year. Here are my little indians... and a pilgrim :).

All the actors after having played their parts.

It was a wonderful day surrounded by people we love (the best part of all).

We are truly thankful.

Slumber Party Fun

Wednesday the Moms gathered for cooking and the Dads gathered the children for a fun filled afternoon. After everyone enjoyed themselves (cooking and playing), the kids once again were playing together at Carolyn's. Auntie Carolyn was so sweet to offer to let all the kids have a sleepover at her house. Boy were they excited. Dress-ups, hot tubbing, warm up baths, and just being together were some of the highlights for the kids. But I think one of their favorite parts was waking up on Thanksgiving to celebrate Bella's (cousin) birthday! Everyone was so excited to see her new tortoise. Yes, you read that correctly.. Bella got a turtle for her birthday! What a fun morning... pancakes and a turtle!

These two little rascals (Aubrey and Connor) had to come home with their Mommies. They are still a bit too young for sleepovers. But they still had a great time together and they slept great in their own beds :).

Herriman Adventures

Monday we headed down to visit to Auntie Becca, Uncle Justin and more cousins!! We couldn't wait to get back out in the snow with friends! Abigail and Dallin have been talking about Auntie's "cocomotion" and her special hot chocolate with a candy cane inside for weeks leading up to our trip... so I was thrilled when she offered them some of her "special drink." Thanks Auntie!

John with the "Littles" - those two weren't too excited about the amount of snow.. maybe next year. :)

Not to happy being pulled in a sled... I still think they are cute even though they aren't all happy :).

Abby LOVES sledding

And Dallin too...

Auntie Becca and her Luke ... adorable.

Cute Mylie

Two Little Buddies (Connor and Luke)

After tons of fun in the snow ...

we headed indoors for some yummy warm lunch and more playing time!

Luke was having a blast at lunch.. I think he definitely wins - "Happiest Boy at the Table"

All the munchkins enjoying lunch together

After the kids had naps - John proposed that we all head down to our old campus (BYU) and see the new buildings, explore how things have changed, and eat some my most favorite ice cream - Earnestly Chocolate! It was a bit chilly, but it was fun to see our old stomping grounds and reminisce. I think the kids loved the ice cream part the most... (at least I did) :).

Group shot at the Hinckley Visitors Center (minus Becca - who was taking the photo)

GO COUGARS!

After our BYU adventure we met Justin for dinner and headed back to Becca's for little more play time ... and one last kid group shot.

It is always fun to get together with the Baughmans. The kids are all getting so big! And I was so surprised this time... everyone played SO well... even the little ones :). Hooray!!!

We can't wait to see them again at Christmas!

Thanks for the fun filled Monday Baughmans... we love you!