A Portland Christmas

This day after Christmas, we were up and at 'em at the crack of dawn to head to the airport for our flight to Portland.  It was about as chaotic as you would expect for a family of four to leave for 5 days to an area where the weather is completely different, the day after Christmas exploded all over the house.  But, we made it and it really was so worth it!

We had a great week, spending time with the grandparents, the cousins, and we even got to see David's grandma who was in Portland.  It was only the second time for Olivia to meet her {she was 5 months the first time} and it was the first time for Sydney.  We stuffed ourselves senseless with Irma's amazing food, David and I got to go on a date in Portland to a restaurant straight out of Portlandia, we met up with friends we hadn't seen in a few years and met their little boy, spent an afternoon at the OMSI, and even managed to have a pretty enough day {I didn't necessarily say warm enough} to have Marissa take some family pictures for us {stay tuned for those}! And, how could I forget that Olivia lost her first tooth while we were there, annnnnddd, our flight home was oversold so we got an extra few hours with Grandma and Poppa and ended up flying home first class!  It was a full trip, and we were fully exhausted by the time we came home.  Isn't that how all great trips are?

Ready to see some pictures?  Thought so!

➹ This is their new thing.  Sitting in the cockpit of our flights!  Lucky girls.  ➹

➹ Grandma's gorgeous tree. ➹

➹ The OMSI ➹

➹ Manis and Pedis with Grandma and Mommy ➹

➹ Tractor ride with Poppa ➹

➹ Chit chatting with her great grandma! ➹

➹ Playing pretend with cousin Noah ➹

➹ In the cockpit on the way home! ➹

➹ Bringing sass to first class! ➹

➹ Warm nuts really are better. ➹

➹ Oh my word.  If we are ever let back in first class on any plane it will be a miracle! ➹

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas Cards

Whomp Whomp.  We're at Christmas Day, y'all!!!  

I didn't take a whole bunch of pictures on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, for that matter.  It was sort of nice to just enjoy watching the girls open presents without watching it happen from behind a camera lens.  {Also, I think I subconsciously knew I was behind on blogging.}

We promised each other that we were going to cut back on the presents for the girls {and for each other} and I think we did a pretty good job of it.  David may think differently, but I think we stuck to our word.  Their stockings may have still been overflowing, but hey, that's Santa's department.

➹ Best picture I could get of the girls on Christmas Eve at my parents' house. ➹

After opening presents there, we went over to our friend Sheri's house for her Christmas Eve Open House.  We showed up right after everyone left, but we were able to wish them a Merry Christmas right before bed.  It was the one and only time that Olivia wanted to leave shortly after we arrived because we had been tracking Santa on our iPhones and she was worried that she wouldn't be in bed by the time he got to Arizona. 

David put both girls to bed while I got everything ready for Santa, and then he fell asleep in there with them.  

The one thing on Olivia's wish list for Santa was an American Girl doll.  She got the Target version and is none the wiser.  :)  She LOVES that doll.  She spent all of Christmas day in her room dressing her and putting her to bed and packing her clothes.  It was so cute.  Santa also gave her a used digital camera and she was obsessed with taking pictures of everything she saw. 

Sydney's one request was a unicorn.  First it was a unicorn that was real and could live in her backyard.  Then it was a unicorn that could walk and crawl up her and give her a kiss.  I had no idea where to find one, but WalMart to the rescue.  She ended up getting like 5 unicorns in her stocking!

➹My Sharpies, not hers. ➹

I'm thinking Santa didn't want Poppy taking over his job, so he gave him a pair of elf jammies like the girls have!  Love this picture of them.

Christmas Day went from chaotic in the morning, to relaxing in the afternoon, and back to chaotic in the evening as we were finishing packing for a week in Portland.  Flying out the day after Christmas is crazy, no two ways around it.  {Portland blog post in the queue.}

And, as promised, this year's Christmas card.  It's the first year that David and I didn't make an appearance, but most people just want to see the girls {and Magnum} anyway.  :)

And, that was Christmas in a nutshell. 

Polar Express 2014

Oh yeah, it's February and I am stillllll blogging about Christmas.  But, come on, the Christmas spirit should last the whole year through, right?

So, if you remember, we went to the Polar Express last year {2013} with the girls and had such a fantastic weekend up in Flagstaff that we knew we had to do it again.  This year, my parents wanted to join us, as well as Riley's family, and I'm so glad we had a whole crew doing it together.

Sheri is such a creative little genius, and she came up with the great idea to give the girls a note from Santa inviting them to join him on the Polar Express as well as an ornament and a golden ticket!  The Sunday before our trip, right before church with Riley, we gave the girls their goodies along with a pair of Christmas pajamas and a kit for hot chocolate.  They were SO excited!

The day we left was also the day of Liv's class party {that I was helping with}.  It was also the day of the Gingerbread Run at her school and a family picnic.  Talk about chaotic! But, we managed to do it all without any meltdowns.  {Or if there were, I can't remember them a month and a half later, so....}

➹ At the family picnic! ➹

We left Liv's school with the car all packed up right after the party ended and made it up to Williams with enough time to get changed and walk around some.  The girls were all so excited to be there.  I didn't want to hassle with taking my big camera on the train this time and looking back at the pictures from the year before, I'm sort of wishing I had.  My cell phone did not do a great job of taking pictures, but they will have to do.

➹ She loves her Baby Reese ➹

➹ The conductor stamped their initial into the golden ticket.  And then we had Santa sign it at the train station! ➹

We normally don't spring for Santa pictures {see our previous post on Bass Pro pictures}, but decided to this year with all three girls!

The next morning, we went back to the place where we had gone sledding the year before.  This year we were prepared with the good sleds and good snow boots.  But, why oh why, do we always forget snow gloves?!  Honestly, this was one of my favorite experiences with the girls.  We all had a blast sledding {Sydney is SO brave} and building a snowman and snow woman.  

➹ My favorite picture of Sydney.  Thanks to Sheri for editing out the giant snot rocket coming out of her right nostril.  :) ➹

After a morning of sledding, we knew we had to make a pit stop at Mama Burger.  It is by far the best burger I've ever had.  We got a little bit of everything and stuffed ourselves senseless.  

We stayed at the hotel that evening and had a game night after scarfing down their free appetizers.  Drury Inn for the win!  The next morning, we got up and walked around Flagstaff for a bit and did a little Christmas shopping.  Flagstaff is just the coolest town.  Even with the snow, I think I would live there.

The girls both slept on the way back....hallelujah!  It was such a peaceful drive home.  And, when we got there, my parents and brother were there to surprise the girls with an early Christmas gift!  Talk about excited!

Phewwwwww.  We are almost caught up to Christmas.  :)