Christmas Vacation!! (part 1)

Well, I just got home today from a week and 2 days in Utah for our wonderfully, busy, crazy, chaotic, so much fun week with the Eastman clan. There's so much that went on this week and so many pictures that were taken, this will probably take a couple different posts. I've been trying to unpack and do laundry for the last 2 hours and there's still too much, I decided to take a break and blog.
Here is a quick run down of our schedule for the week.
Saturday Arrive:
Suncrest Benji
15077 Winged Bluff Lane
Draper, UT 84020
(we rented a house for everyone to stay in for the week, yup all 30 of us in one house for a week!)
Sunday:
Church Meeting times start at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00
Lunch/Dinner
Temple Square
Games
Monday:
Family Photos at 1:00pm
Bridal Shower 4:00pm
Dinner with Mike's Family
Each family will be given food assignments to help out with the meals, especially on Christmas Eve, those going snowboarding will have to make sure they prepare their dish Tuesday night or Wednesday morning before they leave.
Tuesday:
Sealing of A Family, Be at Temple 1:50
Sealing is at 2:20
Mom don't forget your white temple clothing
Afterwards we will meet at the Draper home and have a potluck with Andrew's family
Wednesday Christmas Eve:
Snowboarding Day 10-3pm
Dinner starts at 6:00
Nativity Skit with the cousins & Grandpa (Jen and James in charge, costumes will be provided)
Slide Show
Jared shares a family tradition Passover Meal
Andrew's share a family tradition Silent Night
Gift To The Savior
White Elephant Food Exchange
Open one gift (PJ's)
Stacey read Santa Claus Book (please bring)
Kimber Read a Story to the kids
Eat Treats
Watch Christmas Movie
Thursday Christmas:
Christmas Morning Breakfast
Christmas Gift Exchange among cousins
Christmas Gift Exchange among families
Eastman Family Slide Show
Christmas Activity with everyone (Tubing or whatever)
Lunch Soups and Snacks
Eastman Family Talent Show
Games
Friday:
Snowboard Day
Start getting the house cleaned up
Help make food for Amanda's Wedding
Help Set up at reception hall for Amanda's wedding
Saturday:
We have to be out of the place by noon, help clean up.
Amanda and Mike may want everyone at the SLC temple to take pictures at 2:30-3:00??
Wedding starts at 5:00 and reception goes until 10:00
(thanks Deirdre for all the planning it really was soooo much fun, defenitely a week to remember!)

Tyler was soooo excited to see snow! And Mads didn't know what to think, especially since she couldn't move.

Temple square, it took us forever to walk anywhere cause Tyler had to step in every little pile of snow she saw.

Our attempt at Eastman family pictures. All the guys. Then all the girls - silly

I don't stand out with my blond hair, do I?

Tyler with causin Lilly. Lilly was the favorite causin for both my girls, they loved her!

Me and my baby (she was not very cooperative for pictures, she only wanted to cuddle with me)

Ty in the snow on the balcony, it was a winter wonderland outside. You can't even see all the mountain that are right behind the house.

Whoever was in Utah this week new what CRAZY snow storms they had, we were snowed in for 2 days. (especially in Draper where the winds were 70 mph)

Dave tried to take Ty sledding but she was too cold and just wanted to come home.

All the grandkids stockings Christmas Eve, stuffed and ready for the morning.
(Ty heard bells from Dave's phone (alarm from the day before) at 6:45 Christmas morning and she stood up in our room and yelled "Santa?!!" She totally thought she heard Santa at our house. We said, "yes, he's leaving presents, go back to sleep and then we'll see what he brought you" and she totally said "OK" and laid back down for another 45 minutes. Then she was especially excited when we got to get up.

Mads loved her baby doll she got, and all her candy canes.

Ty got make-up. I think Uncle Stacey enjoyed it just as much as Tyler.

They did the nativity scene and had all the kids dress up. Tyler was an Angel, Lilly was Mary.

Little skater chicks.

That was our trip for now, more to come:)

Santa and Gingerbread House

Don't you love these pictures? So we get all ready to go see Santa Clause and this is how the night started. I thought this was gonna be a preview for how Madix would take the picture sitting on Santa's lap. (I was pleasantly surprised)

Tyler was so excited to sit on Santa's lap and ask for what she wanted.

"Ummmm, I want a popsicle." Yup, that's the first thing she asked for from Santa. If only life could be that simple that you just wanted a popsicle for Christmas. The thing is I don't know if she means popsicle or a lollipop. I guess I'll have to get her both.

Mads actually really liked sitting on Santa's lap, I couldn't believe it, she NEVER goes to strangers! She must've known he was someone special. Then hey did so good with pictures they got a sucker afterwords.

Okay, so this is our first attempt ever putting together a gingerbread house, really how hard can it be? Both of the roof parts were broken, but I just pasted them together with frosting and thought they'de be fine. So it started out looking pretty good.

Both the roofs came tumbling in!! Ahhhh! It was a goner. Madix loved the candy!

The end result, a pile of crap! $10 wasted, and 2 sticky kids.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful, long Thanksgiving weekend. It was busy, busy. Everyday was packed with fun festive activities.

Oh, what better way to start Thanksgiving weekend than a good rain that we love and welcome anytime. Tyler loved standing outside under her umbrella, listening to the rain.







We spent Thanksgiving Day at my Aunt and Uncle's beautiful house with the "whole" Schaub clan. We're talking over 85 people. Yup that's our holiday's (Dave was so overwhelmed the first time he spent the holidays with all my extended family). It was great with lot's of yummy food and fun things for the kids to do. And my sister and her family came from UT. Thanks to my great cousin Megan for the wonderful pictures, to see more go here.

Just ready to go to church in their cute outfits.

Sat. we spent the day at the park with all my family. It was a beautiful day. Playing in the sand with cousins.

Becker and Mads

Madix has got the "cheeeeeeeese" down for the camera. I love her little smile.

Time to get the Christmas stuff out and decorate! They were great helpers, well not really. They would just set the balls on a branch and then they would fall. We had a nice pile of ornaments under our tree.


Tyler got it sometimes. All done, "cheeeeeeeese"!


Tyler just sitting on the couch admiring the tree.

Me and Ty had some fun with the camera. She loves looking at the pictures right after we take them.