Merry Christmas!

For Christmas this year, we did something different. Instead of heading down south to warmer weather, we went to colder weather......IDAHO!!! Chad's sister Valerie (who lives in Florida), had this fantastic idea to surprise their parents this year for Christmas and get all of the kids and grandkids together in Idaho. I thought we had it bad for having to drive, but of course those Floridians beat us to that. Bless their hearts! What troopers!!

We left the land of oz and headed towards the west. We started the trip out with success and stopped in Rock Springs, Wyoming for the night. The next morning we headed out about 9 am and woke up with snow on the ground. No problem, right? Chad grew up in Idaho, so he wasn't the least bit worried. UNTIL.............. we went to try to get on the freeway from our hotel and they had CLOSED THE INTERSTATE!!!! Yep! So we made a U-turn and pulled over on the side of the road and waited in line behind some of the other cars until they opened the interstate. 2 1/2 hours later (no, i didn't type that wrong), they opened the interstate.

Here are some pictures I took with my phone of people all lined up and truckers in the parking lots of gas stations, just waiting to get on the road........

Well, AWESOME, we thought. The interstate is now open. We got on the interstate and noticed that the roads were HORRIBLE still (about an inch of ice, mixed with a little snow). There was also a patrol car leading the pack of cars so they didn't go too fast on the interstate in the condition of the roads. So after going about 40 miles an hour for more than 2 hours, we finally made it to a city where the roads were clear enough and the patrol gave everyone the okay by exiting off the freeway. It was a long drive, but we made it fun (although i did think we were going to die a few times).

Finally we arrived in SLC and met up with my sisters at Temple Square. It was fun to take the little chicks around to see the lights and to feel of the Christmas Spirit while we were there. We saw the nativity and got some very warm hot chocolate. It was great.

We also made a surprise visit to our dearest friends home, the Swiss's. The kids had a blast and we sent the men out to get goodies for the kids to decorate gingerbread houses. Thank you to the Swiss family for letting us stop on by!

When we finally made it to Idaho, Linda was oober surprised to see us. Most everyone had already gotten there and we were one of the last to arrive. It was so fun to see the look on her face and to see how overjoyed she was to have all of her children and grandkids there. I'm sure that just made their year!

While we were there, the kids and their cousins did a lot of sledding. My kids LOVED every moment of it. They love winter and they love summer (unlike their mother, who only really enjoys warm weather). BUT, I was a trooper and stayed outside the ENTIRE time they were sledding. GO ME!

Charlie went off this small jump that all the uncles had put together for the kids. I was slightly nervous. But the look on his face afterwards made me feel much more at ease.................

On Christmas Eve, the cousins acted out the Christmas Story.

Charlie was Samuel the Lamanite..........

Rylee and her cousin Ethan played Joseph and Mary.Sophie was an angel............

And here are all the Withers grandchildren (minus a couple).

Opening Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve

All the cousins on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning

Chad's parents are the building coordinators for their ward, so they have keys to the church builing. They thought it was a good idea to have the kids go over and run around in the gym to get some energy out. And it turned out to be a FANTASTIC idea!! They played basketball, rode their scooters, flew the remote control helicopter and just had a blast.

Christmas Sunday

(please forgive rylee's funny faces, we were in goofy moods all during church and afterwards)

=)

We also were able to take a new Withers family picture while we were there. Although it was FREEZING outside, I'm so glad that we were able to get an updated picture of the entire clan!!!

Thank you Travis and Valerie for pulling this all together. What a fantastic idea. We can't wait to get together with all of the family again soon! Luvs to all!