Here is our recap.
We spent the first part of our break largely with Brad's family. Bryant (Brad's younger brother) married Rachel (my next-door-neighbor) on December 19th. All things associated with the wedding kept us pretty busy for a few days.
Besides the cold and windy weather, it was a beautiful day. They were sealed by Rachel's grandfather in the Rexburg Temple. It was such a beautiful sealing. Bryant and Rachel were both glowing.
It was an especially fun wedding for me because I know both families so well. Their reception was held in the same place ours was almost three years ago, and it was attended by largely the same people. Brad and I had a little bit of fun remembering our special day as we celebrated with Bryant and Rachel on theirs. Congratulations you two! We're so happy for you!
On a side note, Lainy absolutely loved her red velvet reception dress. She pranced around all night showing people her pretty dress, and pointing out her bows. It was adorable!
After the wedding was over, we had fun relaxing and recovering with Brad's family. Brad and I always love being around Dallin and Leslie. We look up to them so much. And their kids are so much fun. Sarah Jane is so grown up, and David is as cute as ever.
Christmas Eve we headed up to Island Park to spend Christmas in a cabin with my family. It was the perfect getaway. The cabin was secluded and cozy. Outside was a winter wonderland.
We all enjoyed watching Kayt (my niece) and Lainy play together. They were so cute! They danced, played tag, and got into mischief together. I think it was good for Lainy to be around a nice little girl - she's had too many run-ins with mean ones.
Lainy woke up early on Christmas morning. I think she knew it was a special day. Luckily, Santa found us at the cabin. He sent me on a treasure hunt which led me to a new, awesome diaper bag. He sent Brad on a treasure hunt to find this: 
Here is what Santa left Lainy: (the rocking chair was actually made by Brad's Grandpa Boyer. I wonder how Santa got a hold of it...)
Here is what Santa left Lainy: (the rocking chair was actually made by Brad's Grandpa Boyer. I wonder how Santa got a hold of it...)
We were all so spoiled!
In the afternoon our cell phone rang and guess who was on the other end... That's right, my sister Hayley who is on a mission in St. Louis. It was so good to talk to her! She's doing so well! It's a little hard to believe she'll be coming home in April!
All in all, it was a special and relaxing Christmas.
Outside our cabin snow fell steadily, but gently all Christmas day. Here is a picture of our cars when we thought they were getting buried.
And here is a picture of them later that night.
And here is a picture of them later that night.
By the day after Christmas we were completely snowed in. We're talking between four and five feet of snow. But who cared? Not us! We had fun cross-country skiing, jumping off the roof into snow drifts, shaking snow off the trees, launching one another into the deep, fluffy snow, and relaxing in the hot tub. Lainy had fun riding in her new sled with her Daddy. 
We were a little disappointed when the plow came to dig us out because it meant our magical Christmas was over.
The rest of our holiday break was spent dividing our time between our two families. We love them so much. Sometimes it's a little hard to keep things equal with both families in the same town, but we did our best. We had fun with them anyway!
Highlights with the Hansens: playing games with Richelle and Bryce over Skype, laughing at all the brothers when they get together, watching movies on the new couch downstairs, New Years Eve, lunch at Applebees, and Brad going to play games with the Boyers in Firth (Sadly, Lainy and I were too sick to go.)
Highlights with the Smiths: playing games, watching Lainy get braver and braver with my parents two big chocolate labs, Nazareth Night at the cabin, talking with Hayley, church meetings with all three girls dressed alike, dinner at Da Pineapple Grill, playing Smashbrothers on the Wii, and visiting both sets of my grandparents.
I'll say it again because I really mean it, we are so blessed to have such wonderful families. It was a joy to be around them. We love you all!
Happy holidays everyone! We hope you all had a magical Christmas spent with loved ones, and that your New Year is wonderful!
4 comments:
So fun! That snowed in picture is awesome!
Reading all of that kind of makes me cry...we had so much fun with you guys and it makes me sad to think that when we move back you won't be there! But how blessed we were to spend so much of Christmas with you all! We're working with David on being a nice boy and hopefully next time he gets to be with Lainey, he'll be a kinder, gentler cousin! :) Love you guys!!!
Traci-
I love that picture of the snow. We thought we got a lot on Christmas Day here in Rexburg but it looks like you guys got about twice as much! That is so cool, it sounds like you had an awesome holiday break.
Love Heidi
I can sympathize with you when you say it's a little hard to split things equally between two families in the same town. My family and ryan's family only live about 15 min. apart. Then if you throw my dad who lives about 45 mn away into the mix that makes it even harder! But...we do the best we can and hope everyone is happy. Sounds like Christmas break was a blast! I'm jealous of your cabin excursion. :)
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