Christmas Dress

Here is Rachel's Christmas Dress for this year.  Scott picked it out. 

She loved it because it was so sparkly.  Needless to say we left glitter everywhere we went and anywhere she sat.  I'm not sure what to do with it to get it to stop leaving glitter everywhere.  I've shaken it off so many times but it still just leaves glitter everywhere.

Christmas Day 2015

Christmas morning Rachel actually woke up at 7:00.  This is the earliest we have ever had to get up for Christmas.  I ended up calling my parents and told them Rachel was awake and to come over.  Once they got there we let Rachel start opening her stocking.

 Family Christmas Portrait

 Letter left from Santa to Rachel thanking her for the cookies and carrots.

 Looking at the snow shoes that Santa left and wondering what they are.

 Opening up her stocking.  She got an Elsa watch, snow socks, mittens, airheads, a bracelet, and hand sanitizer.

 Another Santa gift.  Her guitar.

 Clothes from mom and Dad

 Grandma Tracy and Grandpa Pooh got her a subscription to Ranger Rick and then gave her a coupon code for movie and some money for snacks.

 Pretty wrapping paper by Nema.

 A Lolalaloopsy bead maker ferris wheel.

 She was super excited about it.

 Her look when she opened up her set of Junie B. Jones books.

 A new rag doll and brand new tennis shoes.

 Here is everything she got for Christmas. 

Santa - Elsa Bike, Guitar, Elsa Watch, snow shoes, ear muffs

Mom & Dad - Junie B Jones set of 10 books, Pinkalicious, Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffin books, underwear, Nike socks, new shoes, a lite bright, winter gloves, winter under armor, bathroom paint set, flannel sheets, new puffy vest with leggings and shirt, two more pairs of leggings, two sweatshirts and sweat pants, a new dress, and of course tights.

Grandma & Grandpa Hobbs - 2 Junie B. Jones books

Great Grandma Hobbs - a $2.00 bill

Aunt Carolyn & Donna - pink towels

Grani & Bop gave the whole family money to go do something fun.

 Susan's haul of Christmas gifts:

Santa - Snow shoes

Scott & Rachel - shooting ear muffs, new shoes, indoor dutch oven, Mercy River Christmas CD, Nike socks, fondue warmer, Cinderella the movie, new toothbrush, warm winter socks

Mom & Dad - gave me a new shirt and the new Anita Stansfield book.

Scott's parents - $35.00

Grandma Hobbs - a $2.00 bill

 This was Scott's haul for Christmas:

Santa - Snow Shoes

Susan & Rachel - Quelf, Risk, new shoes, new shirt and tie, shooting ear muffs, a wallet, and of course cordial chocolates

His parents - $35.00

My parents - a bucket of Red Vines

Grandma Hobbs - a $2.00 bill

After we opened all the gifts we had breakfast.  I made french toast bake.  It was yummy.  I even made a gluten free one for Rachel and she loved hers.  Mom and Dad left for awhile and then they came back for dinner.  Before dinner though Paul's family came over and we ended up playing Scott's new game Quelf.  It was boring at the beginning but once people had to start doing funny stuff then it was fun.

I made ham and turkey for dinner and it was delicious.  After we finished eating we got things put away and Paul's family came over again and played Risk with Scott.  I took this time to sit on my bed and just watch some basketball.  I enjoyed doing that since that was my getting to veg out. 

2015 Christmas Eve

We headed down to Montpelier for Christmas Eve this year.  It had snowed the day before so we were okay with going knowing that the roads should be cleaned off.  We got down there around 1:30.  We stopped in Soda to grab lunch at Arctic Circle.  When we got to Montpelier we stopped at Scott's parents house.  We were there only a little bit when Jamie called and said they were heading over to green acres to play on the 4 wheeler and tubes.  So I took Rachel over there.  I was going to just drop her and go back to the house but stayed and watched what was happening.  Jamie then talked me into going on the tube with her.  I hurried to get my winter clothes on.  We jumped on the tub and the rope wasn't strong enough to hold both me and Jamie.  We were laughing uncontrollably about it though because it was funny.  After the kids were complaining about being cold I took Rachel and Karlee over to Jamie's house so they could play.  I then went back to Scott's parents house and helped with getting dinner ready to go.  Scott had left and I was sitting on the couch when all the sudden I heard Scott's mom yell and say oh no it cracked.  She cracked her crockpot pot while it was on the stove getting the chocolate melted for the hot chocolate she was making.  We were trying to figure out how to get the chocolate out when Brad grabbed the top and the whole bottom broke out.  We had hot chocolate everywhere.  We had to vacuum and clean the floor and vacuum and clean the floor some more.  It was so sticky.  Finally we got to eat dinner.  It was a little bit later then Scott's mom wanted but I was like I think we are all fine getting this cleaned up first.  Dinner was nice and then we played a left and right pass the present game.  We then let Rachel open up her one present. 

 She got gluten free corn dogs.  No just kidding it was the only box that we had that could fit the pajama's we had bought for her.

 Opening up the bag.  

 She got a Sophia the 1st night gown, and two frozen long sleeve long pant PJ's.

I couldn't decide which one to give her and since all her PJ's are getting to small we decided to buy several for her.

This is the one she picked out to wear.

After we did the PJ's we got loaded up and headed home.  We got home around 9:00 and sent Rachel off to bed after she put out her cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer.

Elf Adventures

 So I didn't get pictures of everywhere the elf hid this year.  Some days she had trouble not moving to new spots.  Rachel was always like oh no.  I just told her it was because Snowflake must have fallen asleep.  She can report to Santa tonight.  It was good to have a bigger house this year where there were more places to hide.  

Friends with Mr. Grinch

Watching over Rachel in her room.

 This day she actually got to comfortable and forgot to move.  OOPS!

 I love that she made a snow man.

Snow Angel in Sugar

Playing in mom's candy jars.

Hanging around on the light fixtures.

Winners

So I had gone to the gluten free bread store this month and bought some donuts for Rachel.  She had been wanting some so I got her some.  I entered our name into the drawing and we ended up getting a call saying that we won the basket this month.  I was like rock on.  I had Rachel go with me to pick it up.

 This is the picture they took of us at the store that is on their Facebook page.

Rachel at home was happy happy happy.

Closer look of what was inside. (Granola, pancake mix, pumpkin hot chocolate, cake mix in a mug).

Salt Lake Fun & Grandma Hobbs' Christmas Party

We decided that we wanted to go down to SLC to see the lights on Temple Square.  So we had free entree's at Tuscano's so I called to make reservations and they only had them for 9:00  pm or later.  We decided that would be fine.  We meet up with Damian's family at our hotel.  We then headed downtown.  We couldn't find any free parking and so we finally talked him into going to the parking garage.  We headed to the tracks and found that we had just missed the train.  It was 15 minutes before it was heading back again.  We decided to go back to see how long the wait would be at Tuscano's.  Damian had already walked to the other side of the tracks and we were still hanging out when the train showed up. Like literally three minutes after we were headed to the other side of the street.  Damian was totally frustrated but I was like that's fine we will be fine.  I had to take a picture of Rachel because this was so cute.

She's looking for the trains.

We headed back to Tuscano's and they said the earliest we could get in would be 9:30.  We said okay we will just keep our reservations at 9:00.  We just walked around the Gateway for a little bit.  Finally we went inside to the food court and hung out.  The kids played on the coin operating machines while we waited.  We then headed back to Tuscano's.  We actually got seated about 9:15.  The food was yummy.  Rachel eat so much meat I couldn't believe it.  She did good.  She also found some mushrooms that she really liked.  After eating we headed to the tracks to catch the train up to Temple Square.  

 The girls being silly.  This was Rachel's first time riding the train.  She loved it.

 Tyler loved riding the train.  Look at that grin.

Unfortunately we saw the lights as we were on the train but when we got off they had turned off.  They turn them off at 10:30.  We were so mad.  I couldn't believe it.  So we just walked around what we could while we were down there. 

 Trying to take a serious picture in front of the temple with the reflection pool behind but they weren't having it.  Tyler just liked the water and the girls just wanted to be goofy.

 Rachel still won't give me a good picture.  

She's peeking out her two fingers in this picture.

 Look they are smiling good while they stand next to the statue of Joseph Smith.

After looking around the Lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building we decided to go look at Macy's and see if we can find the candy display.  It was a Charlie Brown theme this year with the 50 year celebration of Charlie Brown Christmas.

 Snoopy

 You can't forget the Charlie Brown Tree.

 Everyone was on this one.

 Linus and his really cool piano.

 Lucy's Psychiatrist booth.

This was the last one.  After that we jumped on the tracks again and headed back to our cars and our hotel.  The next day we got up and headed to the Brain Balance Center.  We did a primitive recheck.  We were hoping for her primitives to be gone but no such luck.  She lost one but gained back rooting reflex.  So they told us just to keep doing all of them. We had to hurry to Preston because it was Grandma Hobbs' Christmas party.  Mom was there this time because her and dad brought Derek's girls to the party.  We ended up doing the Christmas story and then everyone did their talent.  Paul, Kaylene, Scott, Ashley and myself ended up singing a song acapella.  We did good for never practicing.  After that there was the passing of the presents right and left.  I ended up getting gloves I gave to Rachel.  Scott got a knit hat.  Rachel got a little racing car.  We eat some cookies and some little snacks and then cleaned up and headed home. On Sunday we had two little racing cars and Rachel and I raced them on my living room floor.  We never have cars at our house so it was fun and a new adventure for Rachel.

Fun Friday - Pajama Day

Rachel's class decided they wanted to have their fun Friday as a Pajama Party day.  I thought Rachel would be way to hot in her PJ's she chose but she wasn't she said.  Here is her after I picked her up from school in her Pj's.

And yes she loves those cowgirl boots.

Kaylene's Graduation Party

Paul wanted to give Kaylene a graduation party for graduating from RN school at CSI.  So he took her out on a date and I went over to help the kids decorate.

 The kids were super excited and wanted it just right for Kaylene.

 Some of the people there.  Paul was hoping for more but it was okay.

Calico Christmas Party

This year Kristin went out all for our Christmas Party.  We went up to McCall and went snowshoeing into a yurt.  It was really fun.  This is us getting ready to start snowshoeing.

 Kristin getting ready.  She was carrying the drinks.

 Martha and myself waiting to go.

Laura and myself in the yurt.

 This was the left side of my table. (Heather, a new teacher, Katie)

 Right side of my table (Morgan, Laura, Hope)

Kristin's table was across the way.  We really should have taken pictures of everything we had because it was pretty fancy.  Most of the stuff I would have never eaten if I had seen it on a menu but it actually was all really good.  There was nothing that I totally hated.  We were at the yurt for about three hours.  We snowshoed back to the cars and then headed back to Donnelly to Heather's parents cabin.  There we ended up doing the stocking contest, the dessert contest and white elephant exchange.  It was alot of fun. It was close to 2:00 when everyone started to head to bed.  I slept on the couch in the living room with Kristin, Meridian, and Martha.  The next day we got up and eat bagels, fruit, granola bars etc.  We cleaned up everything and was finally on the road around 10:30.  We headed to a hot springs in Idaho City.  We soaked there for about two hours and then it was time to head back to Boise.  It was close to 4:00 when we got back to the office.  I packed up all my stuff and talked with Kristin for a few minutes and then I went to check on our house.  Everything looked pretty good so I headed home.  I grabbed a quick bite to eat on the way out of town.  It was an awesome experience.