Christmas time is here. My life is always so busy around Christmas time because I ended up having a lot of life events during the month of December. Steve and I were married on the 16th, and we really try to do something special each year for our anniversary. As I said before, we went to Boston this year, which was really fun, but it cuts into getting ready for Christmas. So I crammed everything into the weeks following our anniversary.
Steve and I both had the same idea. We bought Christmas gifts for each other, and asked Steve Jr. to wrap them for us. If you look at the picture, the gift in his left hand has 4 separate items, and the gift in his right hand has closer to 7 or 8 items. We decided if we want something done right, do it ourselves. Honestly, Steve Jr is usually a perfectionist, I was so surprised that this is how he wraps gifts.
Another life event we had was that our daughter, Jessica was born on the 22nd. Having a birthday right at Christmas time is not the best idea. Your birthday gifts tend to be lumped into your Christmas gifts. I try really hard to keep them separate for her, but it really is hard. This year, we realized we wouldn't even see Jessica until Christmas Day, so I mailed her gift to her. She received it on Dec 20th. This is a project I worked on for about 2 months. Jessica chose the pattern she wanted, and I made it.
I think she was happy with her birthday gift.
It's a Collings family tradition to go to Grandma Collings house on Christmas Eve and have a nativity, and dinner. Then we open a few gifts. This year Grandma specifically called Steve Jr and Conner to be in the nativity. It's always been the younger kids that participate in the nativity, but Grandma wanted the older kids involved too. Steve was the angel Gabriel, we couldn't find a white costume, so he's a little dark... and Conner was the star. We didn't actually get to a part where it talked about the star, so Conner ended up sitting on the stairs in the back ground. If you look really close, you can see his face in the back ground.
We also listened to some of the cousins sing Christmas songs, it's amazing how all these kids are growing up. they are all so talented and cute. We have a fun family.
After the nativity, we went in for dinner. The tradition is Clam chowder with home made french bread, but over the years it has changed a bit to include other types of soup and simpler foods for the young kids. This year Caity made lasagna soup, which was incredible. Denise made clam chowder, which was also really good (yes, I had both!) And of course we had the french bread.
This year for gifts, Grandma bought all of the grandchildren a nerf gun, and one for her and Grandpa. They all opened their gifts at the same time, and had a nerf war. The only rule was don't shoot in the face. Uncle Kenney got a nerf bullet to the eye, and he was out for the rest of the war. At least 3 others were also hit right around the eyes, but no real damage. Lots of fun. It was CRAZY!! The kids had an absolute blast with their grandparents.
On Christmas Day, I was so excited because I would at least get to talk to all of my kiddos. It's been a long time since we were all together. Kaylea is on a mission to Ventura, California. And she was able to call home at 11:00 Christmas morning. Jessica was on her way to our house, and we were worried that she wouldn't make it in time to talk to her sister, but when Kaylea called, we added Jessica to the line like a conference call, and were all able to talk together. Kaylea sounded so good! She's really happy, really being stretched and humbled, and really working hard.
So Conner and Steve both got long boards for Christmas, and after Jessica arrived, we all went outside to watch the boys test them out. Conner just came home from Boston on December 22nd, and he looks so good! He has grown so tall, and is really filling out. He's passed his brother!
I decided to take a couple of pictures of my good looking kids! I'm so proud of them all, it's really neat to see them all growing up, and making good choices in their lives.
Avery sat on the long board and let Conner push her around, she really liked it, but would not hold still long enough for pictures. When I went to snap this picture, she stood up and walked over and gave me a big hug. I think that was the best picture all day. I love this little lady!!
That afternoon we had a turkey dinner, and really just relaxed the whole day. It was so fun to just hang out and not worry about anything. I love Christmas!!
These pictures are of me and the kids being silly. On the couch, and under the Christmas tree.
The main gift that Conner got came the next day. He and Steve went out shopping for a vehicle. Conner wanted something clean. That was the only stipulation. We had a price that we wanted to stay under, and ended up finding this Chevy Blazer. Conner's so excited to get it. He will keep it through high school and then will be able to sell it to help pay a portion of his mission in a few years.
That night Steve and I took Conner and Steve Jr to Ruth's Chris for dinner. We had amazing steaks and yummy desserts, and it was a perfect way to end our Christmas holiday.
The day after Christmas at 11:45 at night, I picked up my parents from the train and we drove to Southern Utah for a Wright family reunion. We rented a cabin in Alton, Utah. It had enough beds and rooms for my entire family. There was my parents and 6 of us siblings with all of our kids. There were almost 40 of us. The cabin had a game room with foozeball, pool, ping pong, basketball, and a hot tub. Outside there was about a foot of snow and all the sleds we would need for sledding, and a zip line. There were 2 1/2 kitchens, 2 fire places, 3 TV's, and lots of space to play games.
The zip line went from a tree house next to the cabin, across this huge field, to another pine tree. I'm standing at the end of the zip line to take this picture. It was such a blast. We went on it every day. I think our California cousins had the most fun though. They spent hours playing in the snow, and sledding. Snow is very exciting when you don't see it very often. Most of us were content to stay inside beside the fire or in the hot tub.
We went to Bryce canyon one evening just as the sun was setting. The views were gorgeous! This was only about 1/2 hour away from our cabin. I actually had to leave on Monday, but on Tuesday morning, the family went up to see the sunrise, which was really beautiful, and they took up all of the grandchildren. It looked like a lot of fun.
These pictures are a little bit out of order, but on Friday afternoon, Uncle Dave and his family were traveling up from California. Those of us who were already at the cabin decided it would be fun to go meet them. We drove South through Zion's national park, while Dave's family drove North. We met at the visitor's center and drove caravan style through the park.
We stopped at this cool rock formation and the uncles played "cops and robbers" with the cousins. They all had a great time.
Jessica brought Avery, Steve and Conner up Saturday and they spent the night and went home Sunday evening. It was so fun to have them all there. Avery was such a cutie, but did have a really rough night. She went to bed fine, but woke up around midnight, and didn't fall back to sleep until 4:30am. Cried most of the night. The boys watched football, and had fun with their cousins. Conner stayed with me until Monday, and right before we left he convinced Grandma to go with him on the zip line. I didn't think she'd go at all, but because Conner challenged her, she did. They really had fun together.
For New Year's Eve, I am at a patient's house. When fireworks were going off outside, I was giving medications and suctioning trachs. Conner and Steve Jr are celebrating with friends. Jessica and Chris are celebrating with goodies at their house, and my poor husband is home alone tonight...
Happy New Year my dear!!
