New Years Eve.

Hannah and Mauri saw some sledding action, thanks to Grandpa, Stan, and Billy-my-hero.

(Note: Bill made a couple of "saves" as the tubers were heading for a nearby building. We joked about how he sacrificed himself, throwing his body between the oncoming speeding tube and the wall.  We later got word that a friend of Mauri's - Bill works with her mom - was in a sledding accident that had landed her in the hospital. She lost a kidney and damaged her spleen. No joking matter.)

We had a plethora of choices for food to satiate our hunger all evening long: 

pizza + all the Costco goodies we could find.

{Shrimp, taquitos, mozzarella sticks}...with a few veggies thrown in for good measure.

Of course there was an Aggravation Tournament.  Taylor and Nate were the big winners. 

Until the big losers, Jill and Stan served them up some humble pie.

Those still in the mood for some gaming (anything but Aggro) played a little you know... UNO.

(Britt and Austin, do U-No something no one else does? You look suspicious.)

We had plenty of the bubbly. Martinelli's style.

A toast to a great 2013. Since I'm not so sure toasting something makes it so, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on wood (and praying my heart out - my very best bet) any chance I get.

Did someone spike the cider? These guys all look really, really happy.

 Rach, Lex, and Shi.

Sam, Lex, and Nate.

(We hadn't seen Sam since he returned from his mission to Denmark, and Nate will be getting his mission call this week. So exciting!!)

Happy New Year!

(I'm not late, am I?)

Utah.

We stayed with Bill's parents while we were in Utah. They were so kind to let us invade: take over their basement... their kitchen... their laundry room...  You would think that with only three old-ish kids left to haul around with us, things would be more quiet. Settled. Peaceful. {NOPE.}

After some discussion, Bill and I decided that it was because we weren't there for a "vacation." In fact, we seldom take "vacations." We travel with a purpose most times, and this was no exception. Bill planned to work a few days, and I was busy trying to get Lex prepared and packed for school.

Because we don't have a lot of extra space in our Pacifica (which we find ourselves often spontaneously referring to as the "minivan" - I thought I would NEVER again in my life drive anything so closely related), our plan was to pick up Britt's collection of college leftovers (which she so kindly held on to per her mother's request), and purchase as much as we could in the bounteous Salt Lake area, knowing the area of Rexburg has far fewer options. Bill's parents were just as busy (yes, Grandparents can have busy lives, too... oh no!).

We did manage a little family time, though.

Christmas gifts were exchanged:

 (Btw, Mom and Dad, WE love that sharpener... our knives have literally never been better.  LOVE that!)

The girls were thrilled to have an extended Christmas.

(Lex has mentioned several times how much she loves this blanket -

it helps her manage those -14 degree days.)

Grandma had several bracelet kits that the girls had fun making.

We colored Lex's hair, shopped for her necessities, sorted, washed, and packed. Fun, right?

We got to spend a little time with our cousin, Marlee, which livened things up for Mar, and while we were taking Lex to ID, Mauri also got to hang out with a few other Syddall cousins.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for letting us come!

Afton.

The day after Christmas we took a long snowy drive to Wyoming to spend a few days with my family at the Barn.  I hadn't been there for several years, and was excited to be there in the dead of winter (for the first time EVER).

Here's the pictorial (and oh-so-brief commentary) of our adventures:

Grandma.

Grandpa.

Dos de mis hermanos, Rob y Marty.

Cousins: Catfish and Ash.

The "after Christmas" white elephant gift game. 

(No such thing as too many white elephant exchange games!)

Our cute cousin, Lincoln, just wasn't getting ANYTHING he wanted, no matter how many times he got to choose.

His save-the-day Dad (mi otro hermano, Matt) even asked for the bubble gum machine so Lincoln could have another pick.

Bill was loving the mittens.  We sent them to school with Lex, who swore she would never wear them. She did. One week in Rexburg was all it took.

 No Goldsberry get-together is complete without a rousing showdown (or two) of Aggravation.

The accommodations were lovely,

 as was the view.

Scones - Goldsberry style - for breakfast. Yum.

Sledding and snow-mobile fun:

 (Yes, that is Bill being pulled up the hill.)

Bill and Shilo.

Grandpa, Marty, and Kim.

 Mauri and Meredith.

Matt and Grandpa.

 Mauri and Bill.

Meredith and Marty.

Grandma and Grandpa.

It was so cold, I was glad Bill's nose didn't turn black from frostbite.

Puzzles (Larkin, Evelyn and Rob),

more Aggro,

and a little after-clean-up Tetherball.

A parting shot of the Barn and the seldom-used pathway Bill shoveled from the side door.

Such awesome company. Such a great place. Such a fun time.