Christmas 2009

Steve and I spent Christmas with the Pickerings this year. Everyone was able to make it, so it was a full house. It was so wonderful to be with everyone. It was my first Christmas away from my side of the family, but I felt like I was home. Eric and LaDawna have a wonderful home, and I couldn't ask for better in-laws!!!

For Christmas Eve, we ate a yummy dinner and popped Poppers (an English tradition).

Then PJ Elf came (see post below), and Erica and Eric read to us some Christmas stories.

Christmas morning we woke up bright and early so Latara could open presents with us before she went to work. Trace didn't like the thought of waking up until he saw all the present Santa brought him!

That afternoon, we went to Royd and Natalie's house to have Christmas dinner with their family and Grandma Darrington. Later on, we played Rock Band.

We had an amazing Christmas!!! Hope you all did too!

P.J. Elf

P.J. Elf came on Christmas Eve, and what did he leave?

Brian Head

On Christmas Eve, the Pickering siblings and their significant others snowboarded at Brian Head. Latara is working at the resort as an instructor, so we weren't sure if she would have a class or not. Luckily, she got to play with us. There were parts in the day where we splitted up into groups, but we got to snowboard together for a bit. Our noses were red and runny, our fingers and butts were cold, but we all had so much fun!!!

It was Jeremy's first time snowboarding. He caught on quick, and we were all impressed!

Kenni coming down the hill with her cute new headband!

The soon-to-be-married couple, Erica and Nick

Jenny and Jeremy

L-R: Kenni, Jenny, Matt, Latara, and Jeremy

Sand Dunes

For Christmas break, Steve and I went to Enterprise. The Wednesday before Christmas, the Pickerings took all the bikes and four-wheelers out to the sand dunes. It was so fun having everyone there (except Latara b/c she had to work, which was sad). There was a blanket laid out for the kids and those who didn't ride the whole time. Whether if we were riding or playing in the sand with Trace, we all had a blast!!!

Dad's Christmas Present

Steve had Dad's name for Christmas this year (again), and we had a tough time trying to figure out what to get him. Steve came up with the idea to give him Jazz tickets. So we bought two for us and two for Mom & Dad, and we met up with them in Salt Lake City. We did some shopping, ate at Rodizio's Brasilian Grill (which I highly recommend if you LOVE meat), and walked about Temple Square to see the lights. We rode the tracks to get from place to place, and we stayed at a cute hotel called Little America.

At the Jazz game!

The next morning we woke up to SNOW! Can you imagine trying to drive downtown SLC with all this white stuff!?!

Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and spending time with us. We had a blast!

O Christmas Tree

Our first Christmas tree is so cute!!! I love it! It took us about 2 hours to find "the tree", and after looking at a good half a dozen, we concluded that one of the first trees we saw would do fine. Much to our dismay, (especially when Steve was putting it in the tree stand) we realized we should not have chosen a double stumped tree. But, with many "four-lettered words" j/k, Steve got our tree up. We trimmed the tree and it looks absolutely festive! We are enjoying the Christmas decor all around the front room, especially when it gets dark, and the lights are twinkling.

Have you ever seen "Christmas Vacation?"

Our first Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we went up to Malta to celebrate Thanksgiving and my mom's 50th birthday. There were so many pictures, I put them on an album on Facebook. We took family pictures in Rigby, ate dinner with grandparents, target shooting, traditional Thanksgiving dinner, soccer games, arm wrestling championships, Christmas party with the Johnson side, and just enjoying ourselves.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165323&id=636902358&l=46d687228c