If I don't keep up keeping up, I'm gonna get too far behind to remember anything. My life is really pretty simple right now, but IT'S SO BUSY. I have grand plans to work on a project or two, but my days are sucked up in the day-to-day living. Every night as we hit the hay, Bill says, "We're one day closer to being in our home." This is true, but it doesn't mean much considering we don't even have a hole dug yet. Once that happens, I think I'll buy into it more ;-)
Let's go back to the end of December and the beginning of a {hopeful} new year.
Since it was the year for a Syddall Christmas Extravaganza, and since Bill and I are in a little apartment (not to mention it's been a whacked out year anyway), I scoured vrbo and airbnb for a place that we could gather... and that wouldn't break the bank. We ended up in St. George. We were sad that Jason, Lex and fam couldn't join us, though. We are hoping we can all get together for Thanksgiving in 2021!
Monday, Dec 28
It was a crazy drive FOR EVERYONE. The 9.5 hour drive took those of us from CO 12.5 hours. Let's just say it was bad weather from the Price exit on. I kept thinking it would clear up the closer we got to St. George, but it was bad up until the last 15 minutes of the drive. The good news it that we all made it there alive and without body damage to vehicles.
Once we had all arrived, we opened our Christmas jammies :-)
I couldn't resist these cute tricot nightgowns for the girls. I actually planned the rest of the jammies around them (it was a struggle this year... I took several sets back as I tried to make everything coordinate. Not sure it was a "win" - only time will tell - but it was sufficient).
Tuesday, Dec 29
I think we were all wiped out by the drive the day before, so we pretty much spent the day shopping for food and chilling.
Nora Jane likes to nap in her high chair.
That night we actually all put ON the jammies, and snapped some pics.
We exchanged gifts (the adults had drawn names), and had a delayed mini Christmas party.
I had worked like crazy throughout the pandemic {and down to the wire} to complete quiet books for Evie, Ellis, and Emmett.
**Funny side note - I had purchased a Dowdle puzzle for Scarlett, and when we got it out to put it together, the puzzle was different than what was on the box. Very strange.**
Wednesday, Dec 30
We stopped and grabbed lunch before heading to the "Dinosaur Park." I should mention that we anticipated slightly warmer weather in Southern Utah, however, in reality, it was probably warmer in Castle Rock, CO during this time :-) It was BRISK.
Shi and Kody didn't stay long since it was chilly and Cal just wasn't that into it haha. The rest of the kids braved the cold and played to their hearts content. Nora Jane enjoyed it until... she got cold and hungry, after which she spent some quality time in the car with her momma.
That evening we had a movie night. The kids made the poster announcing the show.
Thursday, Dec 31
Naptime for Nora :-)
Some of the family went to the Rec Center for a swim.
(I took a nap along with Nae and Nora, Shi, Kody, and Callum. For whatever reason, I had not slept much the night before, and that little nap did wonders.)
(Bill and Tay made a quick run to the local Big 5 to find matching swimsuits... at the prodding of myself, since they neglected to bring them, and their adult supervision was needed.)
After swimming, everyone came home and cleaned up for our New Year's Eve festivities.
Shi and Kody had given us this fun puzzle for Christmas, which was assembled in between getting people and food ready.
I neglected to take a good pic of the food before everyone dug into it. We basically had pre-made easy food courtesy of Costco and Walmart (and we had to make a run to Albertson's for some candy, since Walmart was wiped. out.).
We played games and ate. A lot.
We may have celebrated the New Year with the kids a couple of hours early ;-)
After they had celebrated {and been put to bed}, the adults played more games. We enjoyed trying out our new Aggravation board that my dad made for us... 8 PLAYER.
Then we played a few rounds of Jackbox tv.
We celebrated the New Year in OUR time zone, snapped a couple more pics, then hit the hay.
Friday, Jan 1
Most of the fam went to the Children's Museum, which the kids loved.
Kody, Shi, Callum and I went shopping. I was collecting some items for Mar's birthday package that we wanted to drop off on our way back to CO. It's fun to shop with Shi and Kody because they both like shopping. We were disappointed that Nothing Bundt Cake was CLOSED for the holiday.
We made our "Christmas dinner" - I had purchased a ribeye roast for Christmas (we were going to go to Robyn's house on Christmas Eve for our big dinner, but... you know... the covid got us). This was the perfect time to cook it up.
Saturday, Jan 2
Our final few hours before making the journey home.
(Nora's wave is the sweetest)
The drive home was much more relaxed and pleasant than the drive there. Tender mercy.
It was perhaps a not-so-extravagant Extravaganza, but it was such a good time. Worth the effort. Worth the time. Worth the drive. I love my family and look forward to many more family events in the future.
2021, be good to us!
