12/29/2011

Date: Thursday 12/29
Location:  Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Mesa, ANTHEM!!!

For once,

Allegiant didn't fail us!

(and yes that really is a picture from when they slid off the runway in Idaho Falls years ago!)

(this is how we do it here in Idaho! lol)

Our flight was on time,

no major harrassment through Security ,

(that's a miracle in itself)

no drama with the kids escaping my clutches,

and they checked my non paid bags for free again!!

So we easily made our way back to Mesa.

Paid our exhorbitant $90 parking fee

and made the hour trek back to good ole Anthem!!

Ahhhh

Home Sweet Home!

(and all the christmas messes that we left 2 wks ago!)

12/28/2011

Date: Wednesday, 12/28
Location: Blackfoot & Idaho Falls

Today was Beauty day!!

And it was much needed!

Lyndsay & I pawned off the kids to Dad & Aaron

and headed to Idaho Falls to Melanie's salon.

Before, After

Then we rushed back home with our new pretty hair,

relaxed for 45 mins

& then rushed back to Idaho Falls for our "final" dinner.

We played, said our final good byes & headed back

to Blackfoot to pack up an over abundance of suitcases & gifts.

Yes, it was a LONG night.

12/27/2011

Date: Tuesday, 12/27
Location: Blackfoot

Today we chilled in Blackfoot all day.

We hit up Walmart for the After Christmas selections.

I made an ultra wise decision

and bought 2 of these for the kids.

As they were both belting out separate Christmas songs simultaneously on the drive home

while in "elf mode",

Lyndsay wanted to kill me. lol

"You didn't think your kids were loud enough before?!"

OK OK so it seemed like a good idea in the store! lol

Then we assembled a new picnic table for the kids.

Yes Taylee never stops moving and therefore is ALWAYS a blur!

We played dangerous games on the stairs

And then they decided to go together.

Bruise #31

Later at bedtime, Taylee wanted me to make a movie of her.

And with that, night night!

12/26/2011

Date: Monday, 12/26
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

We played to the fullest all morning.

Before Justin & Lacie made their way on up to Yellowstone.

Best Buddies!

They had SO much fun playing together!

Then we sadly said our goodbyes

as we watched in jealousy while they drove away to play in REAL SNOW!

Later that day we loaded up and headed to Idaho Falls.

Family dinner and games at Luke's house!

Back in the car again

They were so excited to see each other again!

They sat like this for 10 minutes! lol 

The boys played Xbox

while the kids did all sorts of concerts, fashion shows, toy fights, etc.

Finally we kicked the boys off the Xbox

and we all played Just Dance on the wii..

So funny!

And yes the blurry phone pics truly tell the story!

And yes it's a dangerous game!

Watch out for flying Controllers

(of course it was Taylee that got smacked in the head! Bruise #29)

The big boys couldn't handle their Xbox rejection

and snuck away to the stairs hallway to play games on their phones! 

When sweet Taylee started to have a massive meltdown,

I excused myself to sit in the car with her.

That was quickly the clue that it was indeed time to head home to bed! lol

12/25/2011

Date: CHRISTMAS!
Location: Blackfoot & Idaho Falls

The REAL DEAL finally made it!

It's kind of an afterthought for the Harbecks though.

Since Santa finds us mid December!

But it's still exciting nonetheless!

(early am fuzzy phone pics!)

Waiting at the top of the same stairs that I did as a kid!

Checking on Baby Jesus

Snaggin his candy while he's not looking

Dig In!!

Scraping an melted appendage of Anden's off the fireplace

We tore through those presents and then we played!

I walked into the kitchen and found this.

I don't know which one is the sidekick.

And of course Taylee was sneaking candy while we were distracted 

I don't know what my kids have against standing on the floor.

But this was pretty much the theme of this trip.

Taylee climbing the counters sneaking candy.

Anden sneaking my phone and playing video games.

Finally we got dressed and went down the road to visit Grandma Norma.

Making ourselves at home

Inspecting the gifts

Inspecting the decorations...which now will become toys

Even Great Aunt Elvira was there

Abusing Grandma's electric chair

(that smirk of his should have tipped me off to what was next)

 

And of course 1/2 second after this picture they both fell out of the chair

except their arms were still intertwined.

Meaning Taylee fell flat on her face.

Good Times.

Add that to the other 27 bruises/scrapes on them from this trip.

Finally after we wore out (or stressed out) Grandma Norma,

we headed back home for naps.

Next up, Idaho Falls visit!

Grandkid Present Time First!

Then mass chaos ensued with the family gift exchange!

After that, play time!!

And then the kids made complete transformations

of themselves!

Taylee....and Taylee

They followed that up with cousin pedicures.

Taylee was double fisting it she was laughing so hard! 

After one last round of video games, off we ventured!

Justin, Lacie & their kids were already in Blackfoot awaiting our return!!

We did present time with them as well.

Dad was with Anita's family.

So we did the modern family bonding...over the speakerphone.

And then we stayed up laughing all night at Justin's professional story telling

while the kids happily ran around like sensory overloaded maniacs.

I hope you all had a fabulous action packed Christmas as well!