Idaho Trip - Dec 26

Date: 12/26
Location: Blackfoot

December 26th.
The last day of the trip.

It hung over us like a dark cloud that we pretended didn't exist.

The Murrays were still here and we were determined to

make the most of every minute!

The boys were all outside with their guns bright and early.

Within seconds Max shot a bird.

They were so stinking excited!

(picture stolen from Lacie's blog!)

Ryan, Arron and Luke had gone hunting that morning.

So the women and children...and Justin hung out!

Eventually we went down and bombarded Grandma Norma with our chaos!

This remote control chair always seems to be the hit.

Which clearly it's not supposed to be a jungle gym.

But who can resist a chair that lifts up and dumps you out of it?!

Before we left I snapped a pic of my fave cousin and fave grandma!

Love you both!

When we got back to Papa Nolie's house it was time for the Murrays to leave.

It was quite the feat to try to get my kids out of their car!

As little as they see each other they still have so much fun together!

So we waved goodbyes and off they set to West Yellowstone.

Which meant that inevitably we were the next family to have to leave as well! :(

The kids begged and begged to stay in Idaho as long as possible.

I wished it was longer too.

But we had commitments back at home to get back for.

So we decided that we would stay until after dinner and then pull an all nighter drive again.

That night we went out to eat at the only sit down restaurant in Blackfoot!

(ok maybe there's 3 now)

It truly was the Last Supper.

From there we headed to the freeway and on to Arizona.

We made a last minute stop outside Salt Lake to meet up with the 

missionary friend that baptized Ryan.

That was really cool!

Then we figured since the kids hadn't fallen asleep yet that we would pull off 

and drive around Temple Square.

They got the 5 minute bus tour version of all the Church highlights.

Maybe next year we'll have time to actually walk around there!

The kids crashed asleep before we were even back on the freeway.

And the next 10 hours were a blur!

We safely pulled into our house in Anthem at 8am.

The kids woke up in our driveway and were TICKED that we weren't in Idaho.

Me too kiddos. Me too.

They said they were staying in the car until we drove back.

Needless to say we literally had to pry them out of their car seats.

I guess that's the the affirmation that they had a

WONDERFUL IDAHO TRIP!!!

Thanks to all that made it such a great time for us.

We love you forever!!

And P.S. 

it's 77 degrees here is you wanna escape winter and come visit!! :)

Idaho Trip - Dec 25

Date: 12/25
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho Falls

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I had prepped the kids that Santa had already come to Phoenix

but maybe if they were lucky he would bring them a couple small things.

I guess the anticipation wasn't as overwhelming as Phoenix Christmas

because they actually slept in!

So at 8am we were groggy but ready and waiting at the top of the stairs.

Growing up the rule was always that you had to wait for EVERYONE

to be ready so that you could all do downstairs together.

So we waited and waited

and started an UNO game

Guess who won?

Which meant we had to play another one for this kid to try and win too.

Finally we made Dad go down and drag the Gravens out of their sleeping bliss.

I laughed that whether I'm 5 or 50 I'll still be 

waiting for my favorite older sister! :)

Eventually we got the green light and down we went!

Even Elfy and Orangey stuck around for an extra day to watch the kids on Christmas!

They were thrilled about that since I overhead them talking to the Elves

yesterday asking if they wouldn't go back to the North Pole quite yet.

Then Dad went and got cute little Grandma Norma to join the party!

Anden immediately set to work putting together a Lego set

While the men made us breakfast!

I think I heard Dad mumble something like

"blah blah women should be in here"

Which I might have mumbled something back like

"blah blah at least it only takes one woman instead of one male cook and 2 male supervisors" :)

Then we lounged around until it was time to head up to Idaho Falls.

On the road ahead.

Story of our lives when we're in Idaho.

Jeslynn was so excited to show Taylee her new Monster High UNO cards! lol

Like I said, 

UNO was the main event this trip!

Pesky Big Brother tormenting girls already!

Next up: Present Exchange!!

Then Aunt Brookey always hooks up the grand kids!

This year they got Adidas jump suits!

(Kyrrigan was napping and missed the photo op!)

I advised we probably shouldn't put Taylee next to the tree.

Just saying.

Grandma and her grand kids...minus Kyrrigan!

Luke's family had to head to their other relatives' house.

So the rest of us just chilled at Mom's.

We chatted, we ate, we lounged, we ate.

At one point I did find Ryan and Aaron out front wrestling in the snow.

Aaron pinned him! lol

I believe it's a sign of defeat

if you come in holding one of your shoes.

Taylee then found the dress up bucket and thoroughly entertained us with her many styles!

Later that day we headed back to Papa Nolie's house.

Lacie, Justin and their kids were arriving to visit us!!

Anden was beyond thrilled to finally have more boy cousins to play with!!

Taylee was more than thrilled to finally have someone to take him away.

The kids played nonstop and ran the loop inside the house for hours!

The adults chatted and laughed and chatted.

Needless to say it was a late night!

The boys

The girls

At least we still had tomorrow to play before they headed to West Yellowstone

and sadly we headed back to Phoenix.

We hope you all had a very MERRY Christmas

full of family and chaos!

(Hey it goes hand and hand right?! lol)