Aren't these cookies adorable? My neighbor brought them over for us!
A few days later, we were lucky enough to have some other visitors from out west. Grandma & Grandpa Avery came out to be here for Saroya's Baptism. They were such a help in getting the final preparations underway. 
So after the busy weekend and many hugs and goodbyes, we took the Grandparents back to the airport (I think they had seen enough snow to last them a lifetime!! :) and wished them well on their next adventure on a mission in Texas!
After we dropped them off, we headed over to Grandma Old Ears to decorate for Christmas. I think it is something we all look forward to. 
Grandma wasn't too sure about the "pink flowers" in the tree and we took bets on whether she was taking them off as soon as we left, but when we went back after Christmas they were still there. :)
After Grandma's we scooped up Sunny and Hyrum and took them home with us for the rest of the week! We had lots of books read by Sunny...
and we saw lots of sleepy baby yawns.
and we were CRAZY busy as always, but we LOVED having them here.
The next week was spent quickly making and shopping for last minute gifts. The weather just got worse and worse- lots of watching this at night
and this during the day. Even got the last day before Christmas break off for a snow day!
Then the BIG DAY!! We got Derek back from Utah and we were ready to party!
Could you just eat this kid up??
We made sure to keep to tradition by doing the Christmas Caroling we all love!
But we also stopped for some service snow shoveling along the way-
and then helping ourselves up a driveway we got stuck in (we couldn't skip that house you know!)
We did finally make it back, just in time for a reading of the REAL Christmas story from a kids book this time, and then a quick visit from St. Nick before he headed out for the night. So nice of him...
The kids ran downstairs and spent the next little while like this...
Before long the next party had arrived ready for our traditional Christmas breakfast and more present exchanging.
We went ice skating too but those pictures are on Ethan's new camera (!!) and we haven't downloaded them yet. It was fun and funny all rolled up in one freezing cold night!
There were of course other family and friend parties which are so good to connect with everyone you haven't seen in so long.
The party that we have with my Dad's family is always a rousing "White Elephant" type game with nice presents instead of silly ones. This year was no exception! 
We ended the night watching a DVD my cousin put together of pictures of my sweet Grandma Nellie in her younger years and even had her singing "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" (I think it was). Such a treasure! Thanks Andy! You did awesome!
6 comments:
Awesome marathon post. I got tired just reading it. I can't believe you haven't just collapsed into a ball. I would have. Sorry we didn't make it to your house for Christmas. I thought no one would be there or else we would have dropped by.
Seriously- wow. You did it! that must have been painful to not include more details and pictures, but you are caught up.. or at least more caught up as me.
How is it that I recognize so few people at the Wadsworth party?! Everyone's all grown up and some even married.
I love the pictures you chose.. esp Hyrum's big blue eyes in his Christmas sweater. That one needs to be submitted to Gap's cutest baby contest- or at least framed for Sunny and his grandparents.
Nathan appears to be smiling in the caroling picture!!
I like the picture of your tv screen but if you could just turn around and show me the OTHER WALL!!!!
(Is my comment too long yet? Too bad, I have more to say.)
Great family history picture at Grandma's house. Did you use a timer or was Dad there? Did you really bring tree decorations for her tree? The pink flowers go perfect with her decor.
That picture of Nathan's dad is SO FUNNY!! (Probably because I got to witness what happened next) Good timing.
And one last thing- I really want to eat those sugar cookies. I am hungry!
Ok, done for now.
Whoa. I'm a little tired...did you need a serious nap after the festivities all died down? Because I do, just reading that!
At the same time, how great that you could see so much of your family over the holidays. THOSE are the times you'll remember.
Hyrum is pretty sweet - I can only think of one cuter baby boy...but I am a little biased :)
Wow, indeed.
Nik, the picture of the Wadsworth party with Aunt Linda in the center (camera in hand) shows Mike Sheneman's daughter Clarissa, and his wife Sheri and then son Charlie. In the foreground is Aunt Kim (you'll recognize her) and behind her is Molly and her new husband Will. There was about 35 people there in all and it was so nice of Andy & Amy to host us this year.
Let me guess...the neighbor who brought you cookies was the one with all the cute country decorations in her yard right?
Love how Michael tried to be sneaky by covering up his face during the carroling picture!
Sounds like Christmas was very busy, yet super fun and memory filled for the Averys :)
Just got your entry on my blog. Nice to meet you. We just got back from interviewing at a school in SC for CRNA. We are trying a few schools out this time but next year I think we will have better luck with them. My hubby as a business degree and a ASN and his currently working in ICU. Next year he will have his BSN so that will be a big help. We are mainly trying to go south. We live in Indiana and most of his family are south so we would like to move there if all is possible. It is a hard and scarey thing going into CRNA school. My hubby and I have always owned a home but we are planning on renting until he is done. So, we are getting ready to place our home for sale. The finaincial part is scarey on how we will make it but his brother is a CRNA and knowing how he did it mainly on studnet loans I think we will be able to survive decent. HA! It is so very much worth the struggle to have a decent job and good paying one at that when it's all done and over with. Good luck in your adventures. Keep in touch. Have you applied anywhere yet?
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