Utah Trip Day One and Two

A couple of days after Christmas we set out on a family road trip to Utah to visit cousins and have some fun. I'll tell you now, we had a GREAT trip! I think it was one of our best. So, I am going to blog in detail (as much as I can remember), so that we'll be able to replicate all the fun we had in the future!

We left home around 6:45 am on Saturday, December 27th. We were not even 2 minutes in when Rachel started crying and whining. She was not happy to be travelling! She cried on and off and finally fell asleep for about 30 minutes around Red Deer. We ended up stopping at the Calgary Ikea after driving for only 2.5 hours. It was worth it though. We walked around for 20 mins or so and then got back in the car. Rachel slept a little more and we made it to Lethbridge where we stopped again to go to the bathroom and eat some lunch in the car. We had to finish all the fruit we brought before we hit the border. Once at the border, both girls asleep, we got randomly selected for a search. We had to pull over and take everyone out while they went through the car and asked us additional questions. The border agent was actually very nice, and I don't think she moved much around in the car. After that we didn't stop again until our destination for the night in Helena, Montana. We stopped first for dinner at a Dairy Queen, and then went to our hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites. We got the hotel on priceline and we were guaranteed an indoor or outdoor pool. I assumed since it was Helena it would be indoor, but it was outdoor! We were pretty bummed, but when we pulled in to check in I noticed a lot of steam coming from the pool. I asked the front desk if it was open, and it was! She told us that it had jets and the temperature was 103 degrees, so it could be called a hot tub. Since Rachel had been sick, her and I opted out, but Chris and Macy went for a swim. It was fun to swim outside in the cold and at night.

 The above picture I took from inside through the window.

 After swimming, the girls had baths and went to bed. Macy started out in a bed to herself and Rachel in the crib. Sometime in the middle of the night I ended up in Macy's bed and Rachel was in the bed with Chris. It was not exactly the best night, but what are you gonna do?!

We woke up and were down for the free hot breakfast which opened at 7 am. Breakfast was great. We all enjoyed waffles. Rachel much preferred waking up and having breakfast first before getting in the car seat. She did a little better in the car this day. We made it about 2 hours to Dillon, Mt before Macy needed to use the bathroom. After a quick bathroom break our next stop was Idaho Falls, Idaho for lunch at Wendy's. The roads were a little dicey at times, but Chris did a great job getting us through safely. After Idaho Falls, both girls had great naps and slept all the way to West Jordon, Utah where we made it to the Lemon's by 3:30 pm. Jill and Matthew were home to greet us and the rest followed shortly. Unfortunately, Macy having just woken up from a nap wasn't the happiest, but after she warmed up she loved being around cousins. We had dinner and a nice night visiting with the Lemon's. Macy slept out in their living room with Matthew and Elizabeth. Chris, Taylor, Jill, and I played some games that night before heading to bed. 

Christmas Day 2014

We had a wonderful Christmas day. It was a Christmas miracle and both the girls slept in, we're talking after 8:30 am, and Rachel not even till 9:00. I consider it their Christmas gift to me, and it was just what I always wanted!

 We did stockings first, and then after we were all dressed we did our reading of Luke 2. After was present opening. We all did pretty good. Highlight gifts: Chris: Nurf gun, games/puzzles, money for new shoes and lift ticket at Snowbasin. Val: Sleeping in, messenger bag, money for clothes, Lindor chocolate balls. Macy: Unicorn head on a stick, Rapunzle dress-up, unicorn toy, books, and games. Rachel: Duplo, Little People Princess music castle, and princess toys.

 Every time she talks about this 'unicorn head on a stick' I get flashbacks of reading Lord of the Flies.

Once we were done gifts we had the traditional Christmas breakfast. We wrapped everything up around 11:30 am, in time for Rachel to nap before going over to Grandma and Grandpa Lamont's.

Rachel was not at her best, so we didn't stay long, but Macy had a sleepover with her grandparents and lots of fun with them. We enjoyed the Christmas day, and visiting on the phone and skype with family. We are grateful for all the blessings that we receive, and of course the blessing of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve

We had a great day Christmas Eve. We cleaned the house in the morning (cause Santa doesn't visit a dirty house) and went ice skating at Millennium Place in the afternoon.

 Macy has her own skates passed down from our generous neighbors.

 Learning to skate. She would skate for little, then take a little break, then skate more, then break. 

 Having fun!

 The best part is that Rachel gets to ride around in one of these (and when I push her I don't fall!).

 I think she liked it!

 After skating Grandma and Grandpa Lamont came over for dinner. We had porcupines, tray buns, broccoli and bacon salad, cranberry juice, and nanaimo bars for dessert. Then we got a family present from Frosty, How to Train Your Dragon 2 the movie.

 After the movie we said good night to Grandma and Grandpa. The girls had baths and got ready for bed. We left cookies for Santa, and they both went straight to sleep. I don't think Macy came out once!

Holiday Fun 2014!

We had a great Holiday season this year. We started early, mid November, and went strong through the New Year. This family likes to party!

 Chris and Macy kicked it off at the Community Lighting of the Trees Festival. The community center was packed with Christmas trees, Santa, face paint, crafts, and more. Outside was a petting zoo and sleigh rides.

 Macy loved getting her hair done. Pink and black was her request!

 Later in November we visited Santa at the Sherwood Park Mall. Going early in the season is great, no lines! I think this was Macy's first year talking to Santa and not being shy. Rachel did pretty good letting him hold her, but they had previously bonded when she was just 3 weeks old.

 We put up the tree and lights and Christmas decorations near the end of November, in time for our American Thanksgiving celebration.

 Classic plate shot. It was so good!

 This year we had a family from our ward over, the Fixen's. It was a fun night.

 Not pictured was our sleigh ride down Whyte Ave. It was great. We went on probably the warmest Saturday of the month, and Santa was even on our sleigh. The horse pulled sleigh was right on the public roads with the rest of the traffic. It was lots of fun and something we would do again.

 We decorated cookies and ate WAY too much. Generous neighbours and friends supplied us with even more goodies. We were never hungry during this season.

 I did some Christmas crafts. The girls hand prints! I love how they turned out!

 And of course lots of dancing!

It was great to spend lots of time as a family and making holiday memories!

Candy House!

A few days before Christmas we did our annual family candy house.

 Everyone was excited!

"mmm, candy!"

 "I don't know if I'm ready for the sugar rush!"

 The finished product. We had a little difficulty with this year's model. Halfway through I quit and went for decorating sugar cookies instead. I think we will probably take a break from candy houses and just do decorating cookies instead. The same goodies, but less work/mess and they actually get eaten!

A Cleaning Resolution

So this is my New Years cleaning resolution. I found this online and my goal is to try to follow it all year. What I like most about it is that the bathroom tasks are split up, they always seem like such a daunting task, and there is no major cleaning on the weekend! I'm only on my second day, but I'm hoping since I've posted about it I will stick to it. So feel free to ask how it is going and here's to a cleaner new year!

First Birthday!

It's hard to believe it's been over a year since Rachel joined our family! We celebrated her birthday, November 7th, with a low key family day. We checked out an indoor playground in Ardrossan and Rachel loved the slide! Then we had a simple dinner with strawberry cupcakes for the birthday girl. She loved the icing!

 She got a pretty good haul. The unwrapped gifts were actually Macy's old toys that had  been in storage. Quite honestly I think they were Rachel's favorites!

 We got a great video of us singing to her, she loved every bit of it, too bad it is too large to post.

 Yummy cake!

 I just love that happy smile!

Rachel is now 13 months and still such a joy to have around. She loves laughing, and will just laugh and laugh at nothing really at all. She is cruising along the furniture, and climbing stairs, and I think walking is close. She still scoots around, but gets everywhere she wants and gets there fast! She is a curious monkey and loves to check out what is in all the cupboards and drawers, and loves to have a taste of anything. Speaking of tastes, she is a great eater and eats whatever we do. She eats the same, if not more than Macy, but she is in the 95th percentile for weight!

Happy Birthday Rachel! We're all excited for another years of firsts, and fun, and laughter with you!