Christmas Vacation: Southern Utah

It rained and rained and rained in St. George.  But, no matter, we had lots of things to do inside.  The girls spent a day swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool (indoor, phew) and we played a lot of games.  

I had to snap these pictures of Chutes and Ladders with Grandpa D because a)he never likes to play games, b)he somehow was talked into playing a game, but not just any game, c)it's Chutes and Ladders!  How old are they anyway?  In fact, they were so into the game that they were late to buy tickets to a movie and had to see the next showing.  Funny.

 

The girls went to see Tangled with their grandparents while King and I went on a date and did some last minute Christmas Shopping. We went to Cafe Rio, which you have to go to at least once when you visit Utah, or you can't claim being a Utah native.  

We spent plenty of hours baking and decorating sugar cookies, a tradition we've missed the last few years.

 The hours of work were worth the reward!

 

Christmas Eve, we had the traditional opening of the new pajamas (does anyone's family not do this?  I love it!)   Emily and Patrick joined us for dinner and festivities. 

Christmas morning, we had our breakfast of cinnamon pull-aparts, read the Christmas story in Luke, and eventually got around to opening some presents.  It was a nice day.  We played some more games, and, it must be said, that Patrick is one sneaky quick writer and I can roll some dice with the best of them.  Or better than the rest of them, I should say.  :)

Sunday morning we went to church with my parents and it was nice.  How blessed we are to have family to spend Christmas with.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us.  He makes my life complete.  I love this time of year when everyone focuses on His birth and life.  It was a great Christmas!