Before Christmas

The day before we left for Thanksgiving, we busted out the tree. Last year, we finally broke down and bought this "big" tree, after 6 years of a 4 ft. one. This year, it seems we're back to a "little" tree, at least from the perspective of our ginormous living room. Honestly, it looked so skinny and sad compared to the vaulted ceiling and shear space it failed to fill. And it wasn't til a couple weeks later that I realized we forgot the ribbon to wrap around it. Next year's goal: spruce up the pine! 

OK, this is both pathetic and monumental.... my first year using address labels!! What a difference it made! Thanks to a good friend, Megan, who taught me how to create and print labels from home, Christmas cards got 80% easier this year! And she even stifled the mocking laughter that I deserved for not even realizing this was a possibility. I thought you had to order them from a company. Ya learn something every day.

I also owe my entire card to Megan. I wasn't going to do one this year. At least, that's what I told myself multiple times over the past several months. In all honesty, our move to Gallup was one of the hardest and most depressing things I've ever done. To be brief, I wasn't "dealing". Life was too much. Add a 3rd kid, baby weight that no one wants documented and no extra time and the card was just going to have to be that superfluous thing that fell by the wayside. I convinced myself that it was all for the best. 

Then I found myself at the Children's Place, throwing a couple extra things in the bag, "just in case" we take family pictures. 

I expressed my non-desire for a card to Megan and listened semi-attentively at her encouragement to just take a quick picture anyway. 

Then one Sunday morning, we woke up to fresh, white snow and I wondered if it wouldn't be the perfect backdrop to a previously non-desired family picture. 

I pushed the thought away, but not far enough to not mention it to Megan. 

She was all for it. 

Of course. :)

So a bit after church we interrupted their Sunday afternoon to clomp through the snow in their backyard and set up some chairs in the wilderness behind their house. The snow was falling gently and I swear.... it didn't even feel cold. Perfect, confusing, conditions. Which worked out great, since poor Olive didn't have a long sleeved dress!

And then Megan worked her Megan magic, and 10 min. later we had our perfect family picture. 

How could I even express my gratitude?! 

(She also formatted and printed them. Given that this is the umpteenth time she's done our pictures/ and or something incredibly nice for us, I believe I owe her my next child or at least a kidney.)

OK, on to more pre-Christmas happenings!

Another viewing of Christmas Vacation... my all time favorite Christmas movie. "It's good, it's good."

Possibly the most money I've ever spent on groceries in one visit! I was making freezer meals for my mom for her gift, we were feeding both sets of missionaries, and doing several other Christmas activities that of course needed treats! No room for kids or carseats on this trip.

We made gingerbread houses with the kids one weekend. I love these pictures that... can you guess???.. Megan took. :)

Us adults, made one too. I know... adorable.

Our ward Christmas party turned out nice. We had a ham and potato dinner and a program, followed by a Santa visit! Score.... no need to go to Bass Pro Shop! Kids saw Santa once. Done!

The primary sang a song for the program. Weston wandered on stage with Collin even though the nursery wasn't included. He probably sang more than Collin did.

The week before Christmas, we had a green, Grinch dinner with the missionaries! It was a lot of work, but pretty fun! Of course, we need our crazy, Who Hair first! Weston face kills me.

We had a yummy salad, Who-Hash potatoes (just cheesy potatoes made with hash browns), a Rare Who Roast Beast, Grinch punch (Sprite and green sherbet), rolls, and Who- Pudding (aka a regular ol' trifle). The boys were so excited and loving all of it... until they had to eat it. Someday, I'm going to have kids that love my food, I swear!

One afternoon, we had Lilly and Rubi over to frost gingerbread cookies and paint Christmas ornaments. 

Again with Weston's face... I mean smile. Priceless.

Nailed it.

Could I love this face more??!!

I love pictures like these! You've got everyone, but one, looking at the camera. Then you get that one. Haha!

Collin's school had a Christmas program one night at the local cathedral.

When we walked in I immediately thought of that scene in Home Alone! 

Weston was very concerned about the Jesus hanging on the cross. He looked at me so concerned and asked if Jesus was hurt. 

This is his latest... grabbing us both by the neck and pulling his in close until we make a Weston sandwich. I love Weston sandwiches.

Our little performers! Looks like they're off to their first school dance. :)

So after LOTS of cleaning, packing, organizing and WORK we were off to Arizona. Travis just worked Friday morning, so we could make it in time for the Lindblom family party at my parent's house that night. All was good until we hit Payson. Oil spill on the road completely closed the Beeline for 2 hours!! Ahhhh!! So frustrating. We basically hung out in a Sonic parking lot for 2 hours with ancy, loud kids and a crying baby until we were cleared to go. So we got into Mesa at 8pm and missed everything except the hayride.

Always a good day when I get to see my seesters! At least a few Lindbloms hung around to visit and the boys got to see their cousins.

On Saturday we were looking for a way to get our exercise in. Trav and I are a week shy of doing 10 weeks of T-25 every morning, so I guess we're on a bit of an exercise kick. The Mesa High track was covered in soccer players, but the Mountain View one was free!

I could eat her up!!

Afterward, we got yummy Yoko, then Marcie and I got our nails done! My first time doing Jellish. 

That night, was the Evans family party at Carrie's stake center. We ate homemade Cafe Rio and had a program. Olive got to help lead the music.

On Sunday, after church, most of the family coincidentally convened at Mom's for lunch. Christopher was cooking up some mean "bean flatties" as Trav's family calls them. Aka, bean quesadillas. "Leave the neck for me, Clark."

(A homeless man wandered in. We asked him to kindly return David.)

That night was the Udall family party at my mom's house. Soup and rolls and sides. This party has my favorite program... a set outline of Christmas songs mingled with scriptures and a gift exchange.

My mom also played the violin! She played all growing up, then gave it up 30 years ago. I haven't heard her play in my entire life. She played a few hours earlier in Relief Society, then again tonight. It was really special to be able to hear her play. Never give up on your talents!

Grandma Ann and Grandpa Jess with all their grands and greats. I don't even know how many there are!

What happens when Jeffy gets a hold of your camera.

After the party cleared out and it was just us Lindbloms left, it was time for... that's right... the AfTeR PaRtY! 

Jeffy starting us out with a few PeeWee Herman moves.

Get your hands in the air! This was seriously so much fun. I LOOOOVE dancing. 

Even my dad was compelled to join in, against his will. :)

You can kind of see Craig, motioning to Casey. Yeah, that didn't happen. Surprise, surprise! ;)

Caught several siblings with my kiddos. It's so fun to be a part of a big family.

My boys LOVE Craig. 

(I caught Collin telling Lilly after school yesterday that we were going to Arizona again and that meant he gets to see CRAIG!)

Monday night we all met at Culver's for burgers, then went down to the temple to see the lights. Madness. Pure madness. You'd think there were a lot of Mormons in Mesa or something.

Tuesday night was Christmas Eve and this was the only picture I got. Finally, one of our kids happens to be the baby at Christmas and scores the role of Jesus... just to scream hysterically through it. She was doing great up until then but it was clearly her bed time. Payton was being such a good Mary too. Collin was pretty stoked to be Joseph. For our part of the program, Wayne played the piano and we sang Christmas time, a song from the Friend in like 1987 or something. It was one of my mom's favorites. Trevor and Gretchen chimed in via Facetime from Cali to do their song. 

Then it was back to my mom's for some last minute gift wrapping and a bit more National Lampoons. I tell you what, I wouldn't trade it for anything, but Christmas is a lot of work!