Christmas in Utah 2015

We went to Utah for Christmas again! It's always nice to be able to visit family around the holidays. We didn't get as much time in Utah as we have for past Christmas breaks since I am the choir pianist and the Chrimstas program that I was playing several songs for was December 20th. So we couldn't take off right when Rick finished school on Friday when we have in the past. We left right after sacrament and got to Utah that night. We stayed with my family for the first couple days and with the Stone's for the last couple of days and took off back to Arizona that Saturday. It seemed like a pretty quick trip but it was great! And it was extra special since it was Brenna's 1st Christmas :)

I just uploaded all the pictures we took in Utah during Christmas break... there's a lot! But since I'm so behind in updating the blog I'll just post them all here:

Making gingerbread houses (out of graham crackers).

Kimbri, Nicole, Cody, Garrett

Zonked out. Garrett must have been super tired! They
were just having too much fun Grandma/Grandpa Stone's!

And Kimbri was tired too! She put herself to
bed in the middle of the day for a nap!

He LOVES the remote control
car he got from Gma and Gpa Stone!

Can ya tell he loves it?!

The funny nasty present we got from the sibling gift exchange :) 

Uncle Cody and Kimbri were Joseph and Mary for the
Nativity scene. 

Garrett was a shepherd.

It seemed like deja vu when Brenna was
playing baby Jesus in the Nativity because
Kimbri also did this at about the same age! 

Grandma and Grandpa Haycock with the grandkids! 

Family Christmas picture!

So tired... again! Garrett, Aunt Cosette and Kimbri.

At a gas/potty/feed baby stop.
Brenna's fuzzy little hair is too cute :)

Watching a movie on the long drive to Utah!

Luke and Garrett helping me make cookies!

Getting ready to go swimming! I love her
chubby little legs!

Sister snuggles :)

We of course had to get some snow playing in! These Arizona kids LOVED it! Garrett was a little more unsure than Kimbri but I think he still had tons of fun. They threw snowballs, went down the hill on sleds, made snow angels and got to ride the snow mobiles. It was a blast! And we were grateful that we were able to borrow some winter stuff for the kids. We didn't want to have to buy snow clothes for just a couple times of playing in the snow!

Uncle Nolan and Kimbri

Kimbri and Olivia riding while
Grandpa steered the sled that was
hooked up to the snowmobile. 

Uncle Nolan and Kimbri

Mom and Garrett

Aunt Olivia and Garrett

Daddy-daughter snow mobile ride.

Brenna geting her snuggle time in with dad.

Christmas morning at the Stone's home! 

Later that day, after the morning Christmas festivities, we went over to the Haycock's home and opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa Haycock and did the sibling gift exchange. Nolan and Brooke had our family and they totally outdid themselves! They gave Kimbri an awesome, sparkly, princess-looking hairbrush that she LOVES! They gave Garrett a Thor action figure complete with a cape and hammer and Brenna a Bumbo tray. The kids loved their gifts!

Grandma Haycock and Brenna

Olivia with Kimbri & Brenna

Hadley, Brenna, Ava
(Matching outfits that my Mamaw Sadler gave them)

Hadley, Brenna, Ava
(Matching outfits that Grandma Haycock gave them)

Oakley, Bridger, Luke, Grandpa & Grandam Ava, Hadley
and Brenna, Kimbri and Garrett

Uncle Dawson and Brenna

Olivia with the 3 little girls!
(Hadley, Brenna, Ava)

Haycock Family Christmas picture 2015

 

Glad we got to spend some time in Utah for Christmas! 

Christmas Light Festival at the Riparian Preserve

I know I've posted tons about the Riparian Preserve. But it is just so great that they even have a free Festival of Lights! And since it's Arizona you can just walk around the preserve and look at all the lights. It was a bit nippy out so we made sure Brenna was nice and snuggly but it was good enough weather that the rest of us only needed a light jacket. We got there when it was still a little bit light outside but it took us so long to walk around the whole thing that we still saw plenty of lights. There were also tons of luminarios and a small orchestra playing beautiful music along the bridge across the lake. It was such a beautiful night and just a really fun, family-friendly event. 

Our Christmas Angel

This Christmas season will always be such a dear and tender memory in my heart. We had an anonymous "Christmas Angel" send us a package in the mail, sent for Marietta, Georgia. When a big package ended up on our porch and Rick and I opened it, tears were flowing. I couldn't believe someone could be so generous to basically give our kids a Christmas. Medical school is hard on families, financially, and so to receive such a generous gift from someone we don't even know... we were just so grateful! They sent us all the gifts in the picture plus a note with a $150 Visa gift card stating to go out and get some things that we've been needing and a $25 Olive Garden gift card saying that this money was for a date night. I just couldn't believe it. Wow. I really am in so much shock that someone was willing to do this for our family. I can't wait until we have an income someday and can pay it forward! 

And the wrapped gift had Paw Patrol cars in it that Garrett
absolutely LOVES!!! It's his new obsession.

Preschool Christmas Program

Kimbri did so great in her preschool Christmas program! I can't believe how grown up she looked up there, participating in their little program. They sang Christmas songs and recited their "Chubby Snowman" poem they had been working on during preschool. They did a little presentation with all the letters spelling out "Christmas" and ended with giving their parents a special little Christmas tree ornament with a picture of them in the center. Is it silly that I was just so proud of her?! Maybe it's because this is my first time experiencing a child getting older and becoming more independent. I don't know and I can't put my finger on it but I sure do love Kimbri and the amazing little girl she is turning out to be! 

Kimbri and her preschool friend, Jack.

The Riparian Preserve.... Again

I know I just posted about the Riparian Preserve but I found pictures from another trip we took in December. We pack a lunch this time around and ate at the picnic tables that they have over by the Dino Dig. We also took bread to feed the ducks, as always. 

There was one duck in particular that was NOT scared of us in the slightest bit. It was getting way too close for comfort and started chasing us on the bridge. Usually the ducks are in the water but for some reason a few were on the bridge and it was scaring Garrett to death. We literally had to run away from it because it was trying to snatch up the bread out of the kids hands!!

But even with the crazy duck trying to get us, we still had a wonderful time at the Riparian!

The big duck in this pic was the one that chased us!

The ridiculous duck... again.
It would not leave us alone!!

Kimbri got up in the tree and said, "Mom,
this is the perfect place for a picture!" 

One of their favorite areas to throw rocks in the water
and climb the big tree. 

"Fishing" with a broken stick that looked like
a fishing pole to her :)

Our picnic lunch! 

The Riparian Preserve

The Riparian Preserve is one of our all time favorite places... especially during the winter when the weather is fantastic!  The one thing I have fallen in love with here in Arizona is the winter weather. It is so amazing!!! Yes, the heat in the summer is the most terrible thing, but the incredible winter months make up for it!

Anyway... can you tell I like AZ winters? We seriously love that the Riparian Preserve is so close to our house (about 2 miles) and it is also right next to the library which is nice. The Riparian is so beautiful and there is so much to do there. They have a fun "Dino Dig" in a big sand pit where you can dig for dinosaur bones. Garrett loves it.  They also have a playground area and of course feeding the ducks is always a hit. 

Brenna is a such a chill baby too so it has makes trips like this usually pretty good. Not always easy since I'm pretty outnumbered now but she is usually the easiest one when we are out and about. Haha :)

Brenna snoozing in the carrier/pack thing.

At the little cactus walkway. They were being
so silly. 

Yes, Kimbri wanted 3 ponytails.. why not?!