CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas 2011!!!

This year on Christmas EVE~EVE, we drove up to Little Cottonwood Canyon for our traditional Vandersteen party! (mom's side) We always have a BIG EAT and have lots of visiting with lots of great cousins.

Aaron just couldn't take these pictures seriously! Silly boy!
All the adults visited in one room.....
While some of the kids watched movies!
The dogs even were a big hit!
But Grandpa Chickensteen is the biggest hit of all! Love him!
Christmas EVE!!! The McClellan side of the family always celebrates together for Christmas eve. We also have a BIG EAT....and this year we played a KILLER game of FAMILY FEUD!

The Tony McClellan family against...
The Walter Fiefia family!
Cody and Katie were the HOSTS!
FEUDING!

The Lee Family combined with the Jaggi Family~ against the Kent McClellan family and the Aaron McClellan clan!

And who won TEN 100 GRAND candy bars??? (equaling it to a MILLION!!??!)

THE AARON/KENT McClellan FAMILIES!!! YAY!

A very fun and festive Christmas EVE with family!

That very night.....SANTA came and visited our home!
A kiss under the mistletoe as well..... ;)

CHRISTMAS DAY 2011~!!!!!!

Santa did indeed stop by a few gifts!! The boys were soooooo EXCITED!!

Davin was most excited about his CANDY CANE in his stocking! The only thing he asked Santa for this year! :) What a sweet little boy.
What could this be? TATE was quite the speed unwrapper this year.
Candy cane in mouth while opening packages! SILLY!
Finally towards the end....TATE got what he has been wanting and asking for.......
.......MR. ROBOT!!!
All morning he was a HIT~! Thank goodness!
With DAVIN as well!
Davin got a SUPER fun RACETRACK that was a hit all morning as well!
Daddy prepped a MEAN Christmas breakfast! YUM!!
It was then time to pack up and drive down south to NATHAN TYLER'S baby blessing! He looked so sweet in his little outfit along side uncle Tom! We ate some snacks, but not too much.....
......cuz then it was time for the THOMAS SMITH family Christmas dinner!

Lovely Christmas ham with the fam!!!
The kid table...
We then packed up and drove home just in time for some needed rest! The Christmas season is super BUSY going here and there....and EVERYWHERE it seems....but so worth it to be with those we love! FAMILY!!

Three days after Christmas we had the Brent Barfuss Christmas party! The only time in the holiday season to get all the family together. Believe it or not...I forgot the camera! I never do! We had a lovely dinner, had a testimony meeting, fish pond....gift giving! Super fun!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Baby it's 'COLD' outside!!!

Thermo Fisher this week had a SKI night up at the BEAV! We took advantage of going to that BEAUTIFUL place! It was so pretty and peaceful. Something about night boarding up in the mountains with a clear sky with tons of stars...ahhh....it was awesome! We dressed warm, so we were nice and toasty! It couldn't have been more fun!

Aaron is all suited up and ready to strap on the board for the first time in a couple years for him! It has been about 6 years or so since I have...and I was a bit nervous!


This little yellow number of mine needed BIG time to be dusted off. It was great to take her out again! I was rusty that is for sure, but got the hang of it again by the end of the night. Why does it have to be so expensive?
Up Up and AWAY!!! First time on the NEW ski lift!
Excited and SCARED!! For reals...
RELAXED! Figures.....
After a few good rides down the mountain, we went in the lodge for some GRUB! They had some yummy treats and goodies/fruits for us to munch on.
It felt so nice and cozy in there! What a great night Boarding on the BEAV! ie: Beaver Mountain

Third time to go and see SANTA is the charm! This time was in the local CV mall! Super cute backdrop and surroundings! (The kids even haven't notice at all that Santa looks different each time either.) They have just enjoyed it and that is all that matters! ;)

Davin chatting away!

Tate making sure Santa understands EXACTLY in detail what he wants! (What it is, what it does.....and so forth! Thank goodness there wasn't a line!)
So cute!
I just want shoes...that is all! ;) Is that so hard?
Play time on the cupcakes....as we call them! Germ fest all around! Oh well, they had fun with their little friends!


Side note to blog about for the memories later: I got this super SWEET looking NUTCRACKER named "ELTON" in the mail the other day! (Elton as in Elton John, as in sequins and bright! HA!) Funny thing is, it is the doctors office decoration that I work for! It is kinda an inside joke, (I will spare you) but this little dude has traveled far and wide. Funny FUNNY work mates of mine I tell ya!

"Staycation"

This weekend we enjoyed a fun filled HOLIDAY "out of the valley"...but in the same state..."STAYCATION!!!" We were super excited for weeks to go, but the BOYS were going NUTS!!

Aaron's cousin works for "Hilton" and got us SUPER DUPER cheap tickets for the weekend.

The boys were soooo excited once we got in our ROOM! They were excited for the indoor POOL too!
They had a hard time deciding which bed was best for them.

Our view of the big downtown SLC!
We then met up with some family for some good ol ICE SKATING at the Gallivan's center!

What a SIGHT!! So pretty to skate around with all of the pretty Christmas lights.
FREEZING....but FUN!
Tate and Daddy showing off their "stuff!"

Davin decided that he wasn't into it much this time. He stayed on the side lines with Grandma and Grandpa!
Tate felt more comfortable by the walls! (I don't blame him....)

Cute GUYS!!
Staying warm and toasty!

Uncle Cody takes Davin on a "SHOE" ride! (he hated the skates!)

Watching the Zamboni cleaning up the ice.
Studs muffs!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeezing family! Time to hit some grub!
Every place in town had a two hour wait or more.....probably due to our group being 20 people....so we hit DENNY'S!!

We warmed up and had a great time with family and friends! Kids eat FREE too, can't beat that deal!!!

We were warmed up just in time to go back out in the cold. All bundled up, we hit the TEMPLE SQUARE LIGHTS!!! Oh, what a sight!!
The boys couldn't hardly move they were bundled up so much. It was worth it though!
Some of our gang! FUN TIMES and WONDERFUL VIEWS!
Ry and Ree all cozy!
Ree and Ree!
Co-D & K8E!

Charee and Aaron! We LOVED this tree!
After warming up a bit in the JSB....we went up top to check out the view~!
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!!!!
Tate is in LOVE with nutcrackers at the moment....and he LOVED this large one!! So cute!
The nativities are always a HUGE highlight at temple square, especially this one!
G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!!
To top off the night....we got on the local (2) news! I have ALWAYS wanted to be one of those pesky background people! WHAT A HOOT!! LOVED IT!

DID you see me? I was the Eskimo!
Then it was BEDTIME! Never has it been so EASY to get the kids to go to bed! They LOVED their "new home!!"
Of course HOTEL'S are super fun for their ELEVATORS!! Tate calls them 'Alligators'!! Ha Ha
Swimming time! One of the BIGGEST highlights of the trip for the boys!!

The 'cousin' train!!
The Hot tub....was ohhh so NICE on these old bones!

SLC is always fun for the GATEWAY of course. The boys visited SANTA! He was a super cool santa too! They wouldn't let me take a picture of him...but I took a picture the Coloring book he gave each of the kids!
The Clark Planetarium is always a Super fun for the kids!
Ahhhhh, sooo COOL!
Moon walking...
Mars walking.....

Fun times always are HAD at CHRISTMAS TIME!


And....out of total randomness..here is my latest work of ART with candy canes!! YOU like? Ha ha