Truly a White Christmas!

With George not caring for snow like he does, it is amazing that Utah got "dumped on" with the most snow they have had at once the entire season exactly the week we were there. However, the kids tried to get us bundled up and with the fun company we were with, we had a great time!
George even had to try his hand at the snow blower! Look! No gloves or hat!


Lauren and her singing group sang at one of the BYU stake's Christmas programs on Sunday, so we all went to watch her perform. The Sacrament meeting was beautiful and, of course, Lauren just beamed as she sang.
We ate lunch at Chuck-a-Rama, our favorite family place to eat in Utah.

We then went downtown Salt Lake to Eagle Gate. It was so freezing, but oh so fun! Some of the kids tried running through the fountains even in that weather. Had they been caught by the water, they would have frozen to little ice blocks!








We then took the Trax train to Temple Square to see all the lights. It was just breath-taking!

On Monday, George and I, along with the parents, took 9 of the 10 grandkids (Taylor went snowboarding) shopping to find out what they wanted for Christmas. It is just too difficult to carry it all out from Florida in suitcases, and besides, we have lot more fun this way. We all had lunch together, and then the dads take the kids home while the moms and George and I get the shopping done. It is a marathon day, but so great! Once we got home, I had some major present wrapping to be done.

Tuesday morning, the adults went to the Jordan River Temple. It is always so special to be in such a sacred place with your children. George and I always look forward to that.

Kent and Natalie opened their gifts from Grandpa George and Grandma Laura that evening because they left the next day for Logan to spend some time with Natalie's family. Ella opening her Caribbean doll.Ethan

Natalie
Look how the doggie made Ella smile!


Wednesday was Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful dinner at Kyle and Kim's that Kim had prepared.

Then we read the Christmas story from the Bible, and the kids were dressed up so appropriately, thanks to Alison. She had sent a whole box of clothing from China with a family coming to the U.S. Thanks so much, Alison! We had such a great time portraying the Christmas story!
Connor as Joseph and Jenna as Mary.

Lauren as the angel and Brady as the shepherd.

We didn't have any sheep, but Koda cooperated very well as a little lamb. And Brady insisted on wearing a wisemen crown even though he was a shepherd, but it all turned out great!!

Taylor, Kade, and Carter were the Three Wisemen.

Then, everyone got to open their gifts from Grandpa George and Grandma Laura. I think I saw big smiles on most everyone's faces! Brady never let his present go from his side the whole night. Thank goodness he was the first to open his!


Hannah Jenna Lauren
Hannah, Lauren, & Jenna with their Caribbean dolls I brought them back from the cruise with my Rigby family.
Kade Carter - Sadly his item he wanted wasn't in, so he just asked for a gift card.
Connor

Taylor

Lauren and Hanna in their Christmas pajamas their parents gave them.

Kyle and Kim
Kevin & Angie and Koda.

Christmas morning was beautiful! We had spent the night at Kyle and Kim's, so we got to see their family open their gifts.




A wonderful big brother helping a little brother.


After opening the gifts, we went to Kevin and Angie's where Angie had a fantastic breakfast with homemade scones, eggs, bacon, etc. It was great!
Grandpa George sitting at the kids' table.


The kids played and had fun together, then the rest of the day we went to movies together. The kids loved "Bedtime Stories," and some of the adults saw "Seven Pounds" and "Benjamin Button." When we came out of the last show at 11:00 p.m., there was so much snow and it was blowing so hard that the streets were drifting, the police were keeping everyone off the main road which was how we were going to get back to Kyle and Kim's where all of our suitcases were. Well, Kevin meandered on this street and that until we got to Kevin and Angie's house. They gave us some sleeping clothes and new toothbrushes and we stayed there for the night. It was truly a whiteout! You couldn't even tell where the street started and stopped!

Friday, all the adults and Taylor went to the after-Christmas sales and had lunch together. Then that evening, Kyle had tickets in a suite for the Jazz-Dallas game. Not only did the guys see a winning game for the Jazz, they got to eat prime rib and shrimp. Not a bad combination! But the girls and kids had a great night, too. We just sat around and talked while the kids played.

Saturday morning, 6:15 a.m., Kyle took George and I and Kent to the airport. Kent needed to get back to work. Natalie was staying another week. The week in Utah was so fun--we hated to see it end. It went waaaaay too fast, but now we look forward to spending the next week in Florida with Jeff and Amy, their kids, and Craig and Cassie. Warm weather, here we come!