Christmas 2009

Back to good ol' SJ for Christmas with the Greer's! Marc and I and the kids all drove down to be with my family for Christmas this year. The drive was so pretty believe it or not! Even on the reservation! BUT, the worst part about it...we had to drive like 30 mph all the way to Monticello (which took 10 hrs) only to find out that the roads were closed. They were saying there were like 80 something accidents between Monticello & Cortez because of the snow! Crazy I know, so we didn't really wanna chance it anyway, so we stayed the night in some cheap hotel for the night, and continued our journey the next morning. We still had to go slow for the first half, but probably a little before Chinle, we were able to pick up the speed.




We were sooooo happy and sooooo ready to be out of the car by the time we finally arrived in SJ!! And now...let the Christmas activities begin!!

EAT, DRINK (soda) & EAT SOME MORE!! Lots of food to be had at this party!


HOT CAULIFLOWER...always a hit with the Greer's
Greg's Prime Rib Roast (SOOOOO GOOD!)
"White Trash" Don't ask, just a recipe someone recommended...

GINGERBREAD HOUSE FOR THE KIDS



GAMES! GAMES! AND MORE GAMES!!
Greg and Kenzi did this game where there were a bunch of presents wrapped inside a bunch of others and we had to put on that lovely hat and a pair of gloves and just unwrap as fast as we could to get to the actual gift (which happened to be a $50.00 gift card). But we had to roll the dice to a 6 and if someone rolled a six they'd steal the gloves and hat and put them on first, then they took a turn at unwrapping! Michael, my cousin won! It was a fight between him & his mom! It was hilarious!!



Greg & Michael fighting for a spoon

AND CHRISTMAS MORNING AT LAST...

Zoey's new stuffed dog & activity train
Finn & Mater (He still loves cars!)
Me & Zoey playing with her new babies

I am so thankful for this time of the year, that we are able to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful for the atoning sacrifice He has made for us! Christmas time really is just a happy time, no matter how bad we think we might have it, it is just a cheerful time and a time that I cannot help but COUNT MY BLESSINGS! We obviously had a lot of fun, and it will definitely be a Christmas I will never forget!

Durango & Silverton

After the Polar Express, we pretty much had nothing else to do the rest of the weekend, but hang out! So Saturday morning, we decided to take the 45 - 60 min. drive up to Silverton. It's such a small little town way up high in the mountains. There was not much going on up there though, everything was closed down for the winter, except one restaurant. So we ate, and then we just drove around and took some more family pics against the backdrop of the old, but bright buildings. It was soooooo cold!! There was a small breeze, but it was like ICE!! We had to hurry the kids in and out of the cars!

My cute parents! - This picture always makes me smile!

My family again!

Marc and I being goofy!

Jeff and Lindsey - cute! cute! cute!

Jeff's family

Greg & Kenzi being dorks as usual!

Greg's family

My cutest littlest brother!

He cracks me up!

We really had a lot of fun up there, but after that, we had to hurry back down the mountain cuz the snow was starting to come down pretty hard, and we really didn't wanna get snowed in up there! That night we just played games with my aunt and uncle. Then when Sunday came, we all had to say our goodbye's...but only for a little while for we would meet again at Christmas!!

December 2010 - "THE POLAR EXPRESS"

So after that fun-filled week with family and friends in San Juan, we, all the Greer's, headed to Durango, Colorado, to ride on the Polar Express! Marc met us there that weekend, and we were so excited to see him after not being able to for a week! The night we got there, Friday, we pretty much just dropped our stuff at the hotel and went straight down to the train station. When the train first pulled up, all of the kids' eyes were just wide OPEN! They were so excited!! So we got on the train and of course, our waitress had had a few, so she was kinda cooky, but other than that, it was good. They told us the story on our way to the "North Pole", and then brought us out a cookie and hot chocolate for the ride. When we got to the North Pole, we saw Santa outside waving (in the cardboard made houses/buildings with a few lights, and the fake reindeer), so we all waved to him, and then the train stopped for a second, then started reversing, but Santa had jumped on! So he came through the train and talked to all the kids and gave them a sleigh bell, we sang Christmas carols, and that was it! Before we knew it we were back where we started. Now for the kids, it was cool I guess, but I was expecting a lot more!! They made it sound way cool on the phone. I thought when we got to the North Pole, we were going to be able to get out and walk around and see a BUNCH of lights, elves, etc., but nope...we saw the whole 20 feet of cardboard houses, and then reversed it back to the beginning! Again, the kids loved it!! And also, when we got back, the kids were able to go sit on Santa's lap and take a picture, which most of them loved as well!

Here it comes!



Santa on the train "HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas!!"

All of us at the Durango Station

The Original SIX

Brothers and Sister

Papa Jeff singing Christmas Carols!

Our family's first few minutes on the Polar Express...

Jeff & Lindsey's Family on the Polar Express

Greg & Kenzi's Family waiting for the Polar Express

Me and Jared hangin' out on the train





So there you have it...The Polar Express experience! The best part for me was being with my family, and watching the kids! Those alone made it all worth it! It is a trip I will never forget!

December 2010

December is always such a fun and exciting time of the year, and for us, it was nothing less! It was definitely busy, but it was absolutely worth it! I was able to take Finn and Zoey to St. Johns and stay for about a week with my parents. Finn loved every second he was outside...with the chickens and dogs, and JAYTON! He was so happy to see his best friend/cousin again! Zoey was still so little, but she was able to get to know grandma and grandpa a little better, and she warmed right up! Jamie Hammond and her two kids drove us up to St. Johns, and actually stayed the week with us, while her hubby was out hunting! We had so much fun! The kids just did what kids do best...PLAYED, and PLAYED, and PLAYED!!! We took them to Snowflake for Kenady Davis' birthday, and then to see Santa with Jaymi & Dallas' family, where we then stayed for the night! Jamie and I took long long walks around midnight to Circle K and back a bunch of time trading in winning lottery tickets! And I KNOW, I KNOW, but it was so much fun!! We swung into Round Valley one day to take pictures and let the kids play with their cousins! But most of the time it was just fun to reminisce about old times and get caught up on the new! Here are a few pics from that week...

Finn & Jayts OUT for the COUNT!!

Kenady blowing out her THREE candles!

The kids waiting for the cake...

Waiting in line to see Santa, but we didn't make it...way too cold!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Kennedy's was actually spent with the Arvidson's! Thanks Blake and Aubry for inviting us. We went to Aubry's parents and had seriously one of the best meals ever! And there was a ton! I probably would've eaten way more if I didn't feel like everyone would think I was a pig, but it's ok, at least I didn't gain those extra pounds! (or lose any for that matter)!
So around 2 or 3 A.M., I actually went out on my first black friday adventure. I went with Blake and Aubry, and it was crazy! Those guys are troopers, I couldn't have gone through all the stuff they were telling me they went through! I found some good deals though. We got games...snowboots...movies...a salsa chopper...etc. Saved lots of money, can't wait til next year!!!

Falling Leaves!! Halloween!! Family & Friends!! Don't you just love the fall??

I just have to say we love living here in Utah! Especially the fall. The weather was just RIGHT!!! I love the changing colors of leaves! It is always just a very comforting season for me!

Finn, Jordan, London, Sydney, & Austin on a "hay" ride at Wheeler Farms (with no hay!)

Finn and London playing...



He had so much fun playing in those leaves!

Hay maze at Wheeler Farm...

My model child!


This was our first Halloween to actually take Finn trick-or-treating! Not only was he too little before, but we lived IN Show Low, on a DEAD END street, with NO NEIGHBORS!! So it was actually a lot of fun taking him and Zoey around the neighborhood. He would even say "trick-or-treat" when the doors were answered, it was so cute. We went with a couple of families/friends from our ward and had a lot of fun watching all the kids! They were all so cute dressed up. Here's a few of the pics!
My cutest little pink bunny!

And my sweet little pirate! ARRRRRRGGHH!

Halloween cookies we made...

Zoey got soooooo tired...

and Finn got a ton of candy!!



If you look closely you can see two quarters on Marc's shirt - FIFTY CENT...

What a smooth Hippie!!

The Pirate and the Princess....Finn and Anabelle trick-or-treating

What better way to end the night...It's chow time!

These next two pictures are of my bunco group! These girls are so much fun! We all dressed up bunco night, and this is what we came up with!



Kandy and Chari...nice tights!! ha! Now those are real women!