Christmas in Utah (part 1)

Our drive to Utah (Saturday Dec. 21st) went so well. Good naps. Minimal stops. Movie watching. Snow watching. We made it in 11 hours.

The strange thing was that it seemed the colder it got outside on the drive. The puffier Garrett's eyes got, and the stronger his cough. He'd had a cold for two weeks prior, but it seemed to be cleared up, until we headed to Utah. Poor guy had 3 really rough nights and coughed on and off the whole trip (and for a couple days after we got home). But he still had so much fun. He's a positive little dude and doesn't complain or let things get him down. Almost every time he had a bad coughing fit, he'd get his throat clear and happily announce, "I feel better now!" Man I love him. 

On Sunday night, G stayed home with Papa, and Paul and I took Addie to temple square to hear my moms choir sing. Addie sat and enjoyed the whole thing (until about the last ten minutes) she loved spotting Mimi on stage. 

We made cookies. Decorated gingerbread house. The uncles helped build a huge snowman. (While Laura took me to get my hair done. I chopped 6 more inches off. That's 14 inches in three months! I think I'll forever be a short hair mom now.) And we had a fun Christmas Eve. 

Hugs for Uncle Dave.

Garrett wanted to take a picture of his gifts. 

The Nativity. Great grandpa read the story from the Bible. 

Remote control helicopter. 

Jammie triplets. 

Sprinkling some reindeer door for Santa's crew. 

Christmas and the rest of the trip, coming soon.

Project 365: 359-365

December 25- Looking through all the pictures I took today to pick one for the photo of the day before I fall asleep. I didn't even realize that my obligatory photo of the Christmas tree, pre-present opening, was mostly of my nephews oxygen tank. I'm feeling so thankful this year that he's alive and with us. And thankful for how far he's come. (He spent his first Christmas last year in the NICU.) I could go on and on about how, although we had a simple Christmas, I'm feeling an even bigger desire to simplify more next year and focus on the really important things. But for now, I'm feeling blessed. Merry Christmas. 

December 26- a chilly fun night at the zoo lights.

December 27- Chinese takeout with the sibs, spouses and kids.

December 28- The long drive home to California. Thankful for leap pads right about now.

December 29-  Christmas with the Whites back in California. The kids got balance bikes! Addie's not so sure. Garrett hopped on and wouldn't get off.

December 30- Sprite. Water. Sprite. Water. Our fridge is still completely empty after a week away. And we accidentally ended up at The Olive Garden tonight instead of the grocery store. It was delicious, but I'm not sure what we'll do for food tomorrow…

December 31- Ringing in the new year with these crazies. And by 'ringing in' I mean, we'll all be asleep by 10 PM and nothin' sounds better! Happy new year!

I did it! A photo a day for a year! Things I learned this time around (I also did this in 2009): 

With smart phones these days, it seems most people take (at least) a photo everyday. 

It's still fun to document it and even journal a bit more about each photo. 

I was much more diligent at keeping up-to-date on my blog in 2009. I still posted all 365 of these photos, just not weekly, so I got more overwhelmed. 

It's funner to do when you have kids. 

A few people have asked, No, I won't be doing this again in 2014. 

BUT, I'm ever so slightly, hesitantly, maybe, kind of thinking of doing #babyCRWeveryday. A photo everyday for the first year of my baby's life. They change so much that first year, I think it would be fun to flip through 365 pictures of the first year of a newborn's life. We'll see. And yes, CRW are #3's initials. (I'm sure someone was going to ask.)

Project 365: 348-358

December 14- "Christmas Eve dinner" at Ricks drive-in. The four of us are having our own little Christmas tomorrow before we travel this weekend.

December 15- We had Christmas today. The kids got Leap pads (and toothbrushes.)

December 16- We rented a boat tonight and took a moonlight ride around Naples Island. So warm and beautiful.

December 17- This is what the kids convinced me to let them get their dad for Christmas. We just got batteries for it about an hour ago, and I'm already ready to put it in the goodwill pile. Silent toys are so underrated. 

December 18- I'm kind of obsessed with all things many. So these "you are here" mini Starbucks mugs from LA were a must-have for stockings this year. We enjoyed a little hot cocoa after our walk today, complete with micromallows. 

December 19- Nighttime tangerine picking. 

December 20- I seen a few people hashtagging "my real home" today. Some challenge about not being afraid to post pictures of messy corners or rooms. Anyway, I'm not joining in on that, but it reminded me of a comment my smart-ass husband made a couple days ago while admiring all of the changes Addie has been making to her dollhouse. He said, "Cute. It looks like Addie is trying to make her dollhouse look like our real house." (Okay, it's kind of funny.) BUT, I don't care, because memory filled homes are better than Martha Stewart homes.

December 21- We made it to Mimi and Papa's house. Christmas in Utah.

December 22- I don't think this poor little guy has ever made it through a trip to Utah without getting sick. So sad it's at the beginning of the trip this time. 

December 23- Uncle Scott was a good distraction to these two today while I got some baking done.

December 24- Cutest little Mary, Joseph and a little shepherd. They looked so darling and were so quiet while their great grandpa read the story of Jesus' birth.

Christmas boat ride

On Monday night my FIL rented a boat and we went on a moonlight ride around Naples Island. We did the same thing last year, and the homes are always really cute and decorated. The kids loved it this year. Last year was a little cooler and Addie wasn't really walking yet and I didn't want her crawling around the boat floor so it was more work to keep her happy. This year they were so excited. It was still about 65 degrees when we got there and we all had a great time. We took dinner and treats on with us and cruised around for about two hours. It was beautiful.