Christmas in Parrydise

Merry Christmas! It was so fun to be here with my family. Christmas was nice and low-key. Just perfect. We opened presents. Had donut breakfast casserole. Games. Sledding. Some people napped. It was a great day. 

Santa couldn't find eggnog, so Reed's chocolate milk came instead.

Donut casserole

It was delicious

Jorja had Stockton's name for Christmas. She gave him a card. In it was a note one of Stockton's old roommates had written Jorja asking her for a date. It was awkward and Stockton thought it was awesome. He laughed and laughed when he opened it. She also gave him a Garfield alarm clock and we helped her get him some meal plans.

Stockton

Mike and Jorja who started laughing before Stockton even opened the envelope

Preston got a chess clock. Lots of chess was played.

Jorja (and Stockton) got Saranoni Utah State blankets. They are sooooooo soft!

John had Mike's name for Christmas. He gave him Kill Dr. Lucky. We had never heard of this game before, but it was so fun! It's like bizarro clue. All of us are trying to kill the host, Dr. Lucky. None of the other players 'know,' so you can't try to kill him if anyone can see you. Anyway we had a great time.

Mike, Stockton, Maysen, Jorja, Preston

The kids got a laugh out of this card. Trowel in the wine cellar. Edgar Allan Poe style.

Sleepy Porge

Playing Jackbox. Stockton's prompt was to draw me now. Haha Awesome.

Loved today. Christmas with my entire family. Jorja is planning on leaving on a mission in the summer. Enjoying every second of my life right now. My family is everything. I love them so much. Today was a wonderful Christmas.

We Are the Champions

It's Christmas Eve! We had fun playing games. We had a big Mario Party game. I lost. It was past midnight when Stockton, Jorja, Preston and I played a super intense game of Mario baseball. Jorja and I took the W! Haha. It was awesome. I love my family. So great to have Stockton here. All of us together, I love it. What a great day.

Jorja, Mike, Preston, Maysen, Stephanie, Stockton

Jorja thinks it's so funny to take pictures like this

With weird long arms. Silly Porge.

Stephanie & Jorja celebrate the win. Stockton stands in awe of our awesomeness.

Bear too.

Lazy Day

We had a nice relaxing day today. Alyssa left for her home this afternoon. She lives in Mapleton, Utah. We spent most of the day inside playing games and hanging out. I got Stockton to pick out a bunkbed today. That should be delivered the Saturday before school starts. Cutting it close, but it will be great! We still have to order the rest of his furniture, but I really wanted him to have a bed. Glad to have that done. 

Stockton & Alyssa

Visiting Hours

Mike sent me Larkin singing Visiting Hours for part of my Christmas present today! (The other part was a Jazz hoodie) Love Mike having my name for Christmas! Larkin did sooooo good! I can not express how much I love this! Most thoughtful gift ever!

Maysen, Jorja and I got to the cabin today. We stopped at Work Warehouse in Idaho Falls on the way up. Tammi had some boots for Stockton for me. I ordered them last week. Mike has been wearing Stockton's boots while he was on his mission. They wear the same size. This pair is a slightly different color, which will be great. It was also fun to see Tammi for a bit. It feels like it's been forever! I think it's only been since Tamara's baby shower in November though.

The girls and I packed the car late last night. All the Christmas presents. Well, when we arrived the present Stockton wrapped for Alyssa was torn apart. Mike and I went shopping at Broulims and I thought we could find wrapping paper. Nope. I ended up going to the Dollar Store and finding something that would work. Stockton got Alyssa a blanket for Christmas and gave it to her today.

Alyssa

We had fun the rest of the day. Sledding. Night sledding. Games. Jackbox. Movies. Relaxing. We watched Mystery Men in the basement tonight. Pretty great day.

Bear Dog

Dog Sleds

I got some fun pictures from Mike today. He got our outside camera working again. Apparently he had unplugged it. Haha. It also looks like we will have a lot of snow over Christmas. Yay! As long as we can get to the cabin safely! Mike also took up the dogsleds he made for Jorja's Amazing Race and turned them into dog sled's behind the 4-wheeler. He says they work, but yikes! They look a little scary. They seemed to have a fun time up at the cabin. Springs, night sledding, movies, games. What could be better? I worked on laundry. Maysen did work and Jorja had a date. Pretty normal day here. 

Mike's dog sleds

It is soooooo pretty up there!

Maysen and I had a bit of a scare. Maysen was looking up something for her flight. We noticed that it says she is flying into Grand Rapids. Ummmm.... that is NOT what we bought! We found a different spot saying she is flying into Columbus, Ohio. That is where she wants to go. So, I hope she is going to Ohio and not Michigan. Guess we will find out! Yikes!

To Grand Rapids!

The correct flight... to Columbus

Mike, Stockton, Preston and Alyssa all went up to the cabin today. Maysen, Jorja and I will go up there on Wednesday. Sherry called me today to ask if Tage's cell phone was at our house. I looked and looked and couldn't find it. Then I saw a jacket that I thought was Alyssa's on the banister. Sure enough, the cell phone was in Tage's jacket pocket. I think it's funny she didn't realize her jacket was missing yet. In December. Haha

Gingerbread Party and the BEST Present

I got the coolest message from my brother Mike. He said, "I asked Larkin to learn and sing a song for you to add to your Christmas present. She only recorded a minute of it so I'll send you a sneak peek. Hope you like it." It was AMAZING! He is having Larkin play the guitar and sing Visiting Hours! I cried and cried when he sent it. It was soooo cool. I absolutely love it and can't wait until he sends me the entire thing! What a nice, thoughtful, awesome gift! Larkin plays and sings beautifully too. I love it!

We had the Smith family gingerbread party today. It was so much fun. It's a lot of work, but I love getting together. Tage never fails to tell me this is her favorite thing of the year. Haha. Lisa and Nathan flew in yesterday, so they were able to be here too. What a great day.

Stephanie~ making frosting. Yes, I used ALL those bags of powdered sugar

We actually had a spot for the food this year. Shannon usually brings pizza and Sherry usually brings salad.

Stephanie again

Stockton invited Alyssa. They were here first and got a head start.

Alyssa & Stockton

Candy

Preston wanted a chocolate house

Matt, Xander, Connor, Erica's head, Miah, Dallin, Tage

Leo, Jacob, Nova's head, Alyssa, Stockton, Preston

Xander, Connor, Miah's elbow, Melissa's head, bit of Tage's face, Derek

Leo, Jacob, Nova's head, Brandon, Maysen's head, Alyssa, Stockton, Preston

Jorja & Michael

Jacob (sleepy Connor, Xander, Brandon)

Jacob & Brandon (Xander & Miah behind)

We hung out in the movie room after decorating. Mike made lots of cotton candy. We had fun throwing in different hard candies. Holy cow jolly ranchers are crazy strong!

Connor

Matt, Miah, Connor

The newlyweds ~ Dallin & Tage

And now... the houses...

Preston's chocolate house

Jorja

Stockton ~ heat miser/cold miser house

Alyssa

Stockton & Alyssa

Maysen

Mike

Tage & Dallin

Miah

Xander & Connor

Sherry & Matt

Brandon (and Steve)

Jacob

Shannon

Michael

Michael made a home in a trailer park

Lisa ~ she was planning on making Snoopy's house, but I didn't get any licorice, or red for the roof.

Melissa & Taylor

Aimee flies here in a few days, but we will be at the cabin. I sent home two houses, frosting and candy for them. Hope they have fun! Too bad we don't get to see baby Jonathan. I missed getting pictures of some houses. Erica, Nova, Leo..... anyway, today was a great day. Alyssa is sleeping in Stockton's room and Stockton is sleeping with Jorja and Preston in Jorja's room. We played Jackbox until it was time to sleep. I'm exhausted, but it was such a great day. Although we did find out one sad thing. The little kid bumper cars at Lagoon burned down. That use to be my favorite ride. Hope they build it back.