Our Goodbyes

We have had a fun holiday vacation in Utah for the last couple of weeks.  I guess it is time to say good-bye and head for home.  That is always difficult!  We will miss these little people (and the big people who the little people live with!)

New Years Eve with Hudson

Papa, Sean, Tanner, and I celebrated New Years Eve while taking care of Hudson.  Ryan and Ashley were enjoying their evening on the beach at Cabo Frio, Brazil.  We think our activities rivaled theirs!  Just take a look.

 LOBSTER AND SHRIMP, yum!!!

Sean, The Nana, and Hudson enjoying Chef Papa's and Chef Tanner's delicious dinner!
Not to mention that the neighbors all lit off fireworks for much of the night!

Kangaroo Zoo with Averi and Elle

We had such a FUN time watching Averi's excitement as she played at the Kangaroo Zoo!  She is a doll.

Thanks, Matt, Katie, Averi, and Elle, for spending the afternoon with Papa and The Nana.

 Averi displays no fear!  She is a thrill-seeker!  Yea!

And this little Elle is an absolute 'angelle'.

Schenk Family at The Village Inn in Challis

These are pictures of us enjoying ourselves at Derris' and Laurie's restaurant, just letting someone feed us and wait on us.  You talk about service!  I don't have any pictures of the other fun activities - making scarves, zumba-ing, watching movies, hot tubbing, etc.  But we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We enjoyed a beautiful, comfortable room and fabulous company.  Thanks, everyone, especially Derris and Laurie!  

Grandpa and Grandma Schenk

Derris, Laurie, Ryan, Jenn, Regan, Chris, Bryce, Braden, Brittany and kids, Angie and kids

Stacy, Leslie, Nichole, Kyle, Kaitlyn

Tom, Sheri and girls

Karen and kids

Michael, Yvett and kids

Lyle and I

 Grandpa Schenk and Derris

 Laurie, Michael, Yvett, Melanie

Bridget, Brittany, and Bryken

 Tom, Sheri, Kyle, Kaitlyn, Nichole, Leslie, Stacy

 Regan

Jenn, Regan, Grandma and Grandpa Schenk, Ryan

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas morning, Sunday morning, we had to wake these little girls up at 8:30 am to get the party started!

It took them a few minutes to get warmed up, but then they jumped into the spirit of things.

After all of the sharing and unwrapping, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast prepared by Ashley.

We went to Sacrament Meeting at one of the Eden Wards.  It was a wonderful service with lots of beautiful music and testimony of Jesus Christ's birth.  

That afternoon we just enjoyed a relaxing time together.

Papa took the girls for another walk.

Dinner and then a little Just Dance 3!

 Brooklyn, Kendyl, and Camryn

 Steff and Nic showing their girls how to be excited about receiving a gift!

 They received artwork from Camryn and Brooklyn.

 The girls have talent!

 The new armoire for their doll clothes

 Brooklyn reading to Hudson and Nixon

 Kendyl and Nixon

 Kendyl, Camryn, Nixon, and Brooklyn

 Too early, Ryan?

 Hudson loves his Elmo book

 Merry Christmas, Sean!

 The Nana and Nixon

 Camryn, Nic, Brooklyn, Nixon, Steff, Kendyl

 The Nana and Hudson

 Just Dance 3 - Tanner, Ashley (arm) Brooklyn, Camryn, Steff, Kendyl

Tanner, Ashley, Brooklyn, Camryn, Steff

Ryan, Sean, and Tanner Rockin'

Ashley, Sean, Tanner, Steff

Christmas Eve 2011 at Wolf Creek

 Kate, Matt, & Averi

 Kendyl, Brooklyn, and Papa

 Kendyl

 Averi, Sean, and Ryan

 Ashley, Brooklyn, & Nic

 Ashley

Steff

Tanner, Kendyl, Brooklyn, and Camryn after a great afternoon sledding!

Kendyl, Grandma Schenk, Averi, Grandpa Schenk, and Brooklyn enjoying each other.

 Ashley brought sugar cookies to frost and decorate.... yea!

Ashley, Brooklyn, Kendyl, Averi, and Camryn.

 Kendyl and Averi enjoying frosting!

 Tanner giving Nixon some pointers.

Why wouldn't we be happy?  Steak, crab, and fun family!

Ashley, Tanner, and Steff - you win!

 Sprinkling the reindeer food.

Brooklyn, Camryn, Ashley, Kendyl, and Steff

 Sean - Joseph, Camryn - the donkey, Hudson - the baby Jesus, Brooklyn - Mary,

Ashley - the star, Kendyl - a sheep, Steff - a shepherd.

 Add Tanner - the wiseman

 A talk of what sort?

Nic, Brooklyn, Camryn, and Kendyl with a plate of goodies!

 Ready for bed and a visit from Santa.

Sean, deep in thought.

Nixon and Elle learning to share - they are adorable!  Let's see who wins.
My real question is - so many toys... why do they always want the same one?

We had a great day together... sledding, reading, running, playing, eating... just being all together!!  We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Eve dinner of steak and crab with all the fixings.
I love Christmas with family!