Christmas Post Number 1

I know it’s been a while since Christmas, but I’ve been really sick since we got home. So, here’s the first part of our Christmas Adventure!

The first half of December this year was probably the busiest few weeks of my life! By the time we headed out for our vacation, I NEEDED it.

We left Oregon on the 15th and headed up to Washington just long enough to say “hi” to my family. We flew out of SeaTac Airport early on the morning of the 16th. It was really nice being able to leave our car with my parents, so we didn’t have to pay for parking. We made it through security without incident- no body scans, or pat-downs, or air blowing up our shirts. They even let me carry Nathan, who was really sick, through with me. I’m so thankful that white noise puts that kid to sleep so fast. He slept most of the way to Arizona.

Ryan’s parents live in Mesa and his sister, Janelle, and her family live just a few minutes away. Janelle’s kid’s are Nathan’s only cousins.

We spent our first few days in Arizona just relaxing and soaking up the sunshine. We visited Janelle’s house and took turns riding on their plasma car.

We even got Ryan’s mom to ride it!

On Sunday, before church, we attempted to take a family picture in front of the Christmas tree.

Nathan would NOT let that waffle go. So, it’s in all our family pictures too.

That night, we had our traditional Savior Supper. When I was growing up, my family always did our Savior Supper for dinner on Christmas Eve. Ryan’s birthday is Christmas Eve, so now he and I do our Supper on the Sunday before Christmas. We have a lot of fun dressing up but we also enjoy the sweet, simple spirit that comes when we remember what life was like for our Savior.

One of our favorite things to do while in Arizona was to play outside. Without coats. Grandma and Grandpa have a great covered porch out back with a toy kitchen and Nathan spent a lot of time out there pretending to wash his hands. I would hear him out there all the time saying to himself, “wash,wash . . . soat (soap). wash, wash . . .soat.” Funny kid.

He decided on his own, that the little phone holder on the side is a soap dispenser.

He also enjoyed tasting all the toy food. Mmmm. Tastes like dirt!

“PEAS!!”

Nathan’s cousin Avery came over that day and they had fun fixing the back wall together. Actually, I think Nathan was just doing whatever “Ay-wee” did.

Grandma had an extra set of Christmas beads that she used for decorating and Nathan thought they were very pretty. He constantly carried them around and begged us to drape them on him. Then he would strut proudly saying “I pretty! I pretty!”

I wonder who he got he idea from?!

It must run in the family, because Nathan insisted that Grandpa have the opportunity to be pretty too, and he didn’t even put up a fight. OR maybe Nathan just has him wrapped around his little finger!

More to come!