Utah Christmas

 We went to Utah for Christmas. First time EVER for the boys. We haven't been to a Christmas eve with my family in 7 years. SEVEN YEARS. Did you hear that?

My family has a Christmas Eve tradition.  There is a star on the mountain above my parents house. Every Christmas eve for the last long time. I don't remember how long but it has been really long that we have been doing this.  We hike up to the star. Read the Christmas story in the star. Sled or hike down depending on the snow level. This year there was NO snow, so we hiked/walked down. I LOVE it. Did you get that vibe yet?

Saffron, Kyler, Taegen and Strider in the back of the truck ready to drive to the start of the hike.

Seriously cute Kyler smile.

Little Saffron. The boys' only cousin (until March) on my side of the family.)

AWWWWWW. Love me some Ryan and a pretty sunset.

ALL of us. Repeat. ALL of us. Back row: Creed, Ryan, Jake H., Danny, Saffron, Strider, Kyler, Taegen, Shawnee, Sandee, Hayes (not looking at camera). Front row: Krista, Dad, Jake S., Mom, Cassie

Sitting on the rock in the middle of the star.

 After we hike to the star we came home and had a GREAT dinner. Turkey (homegrown by McDowell Family Farm), stuffing, yams, rolls, beans, salad, what am I missing......?  So good. Then my dad has a tradition that started a few years ago. He gives all of us kids a Christmas book. He usually writes us a message in it and then gives us the book he has chosen for that year. We all LOVE this tradition too.  Then we go to bed. In the morning, we did stockings, ate a huge breakfast, and then got ready for church. 

Aunt Shawnee reading Kyler, Strider and Saffie a book before church.

 Then we came home from church and opened presents and had snackies and just hung out all day. It was good.  Tuesday evening me and Ryan took our boys and Creek and Hayes to see Temple Square. It was fun and then we went out to eat at Training Table. (Ryan's favorite)

Six of my favorite boys. Ryan, Taegs, Ky, Hayes, Strider and Creed.

Cute Gage family in front of the temple.

AWWWW.

 Also, while we were in Utah we went sledding. Now mind you, there is NO snow. It was like 50 degrees each day we were there.  However, they have this place called Soldier Hollow that makes their own snow and it's a tubing hill and then you get pulled up on your tube. How fab is that?

We got there at 4 o'clock. They told us we had a half hour to decide if we wanted to stay. So we went down one time and it was so warm and slushy that we had to push ourselves 4 or more times down the hill.  It was awful.  My dad and Kyler called it quits after that. My mom had hurt her leg two days before while playing sharks and minnows in the water. She should have known my husband was WAY to fast for her. Anyways, back to sledding....Me, Hayes, Taegen, Ryan and Strider kept going. It got colder and icy and fast and SO MUCH FUN. We loved it.  Taegen LOVED it. He is all boy. He was going down by himself and trying to jump on the jumps and everything. Strider just sat in his tube the same way the whole time - up and down. He really loved it until he got too cold.

The sledders in the lodge afterwards warming up.

Utah was fabulous. It was so great to see family. Be there for Christmas Parties. Hiking to the star. Swimming. Going on a hot date with Ryan and NOT paying for a sitter. Thanks fam. It was truly fabulous.