Stewartopia: Catch up! - Trip to Utah wrap-up

Hello, Blogger Readers!

Well, the kids are back in school, and I'm finding myself with two seconds to rub together, and lots of pictures to catch up on.

Back in November 22nd, Adam and I spent the day at Solitude skiing with Whitney, Lizzie and Eli. Finally, after years of teaching the kids, we reap the rewards of skiing together. It was true Skiing Bliss! No crowds, fresh powder, great company. Also noteworthy is that Whitney taught us the song "Hot Cup of Cocoa" which went on to be the theme song of our trip, as well as a new favorite for the CCC Christmas parade in December...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The next day was our 12th Anniversary! We seem to attract snowstorms this year, and we certainly did that night. But we braved the icy weather for a French dinner at Franck's as the snow fell outside. Beautiful!

Oliver was making the rounds to get to know lots of family members. Here he is at the Eastman's house, happy, rosy, and chubby as can be.

The night before Thanksgiving, there was a cooking party at the Eastmans, and with the looming pie contest the next day, we made ourselves useful creating this amazing masterpiece. I love me some lemon meringue!

And don't think our Turkey bullies forgot us this year just because we traveled out of state to avoid them! This year, instead of a turkey, we got a warning. It was terrifying, it was shocking. I've just barely recovered enough to write about it. It was...

A RUBBER CHICKEN!!! Do you see the fear on my children's faces? Oh, make it stop!

Well, the big day finally arrived, cold and snowy, and filled with delicious food and lots of family! We spent the day with Adam's family, who were all there - Vickie, Alan, Lloyd, James, Jennie, Tom, Megan, Jason, and Jack the Dog. We had quite a group! We took lots of family pictures that morning, so I must have been pictured-out, because the only pictures I have of that wonderful day are this:

...which makes it look like we served toast for Thanksgiving... And this cute one of Megan and Jason:

And here we are helping the older generation with their texting. Where is Whitney when we need her?

The next day we visited some museums in downtown Salt Lake. Here we are doing anti-gravity stunts on the moon: (sorry your cool pose was obstructed by my arm, Whit-whan!)

...learning how to fly a helicopter,

And I had to include this picture to show you what Ivy wore that day. If you can't quite realize its whole glory, I will go ahead and describe to you: Electric lime colored leggings under a red and black plaid pleated school-girl skirt, a shaggy brown sweater under her favorite super-colorful t-shirt that reads "Friends are Forever". Wow.

Oliver! Don't touch that Dial!

We sang Christmas songs around the piano, and Ivy was her usual shy self. No wait, she wasn't.

The day after Thanksgiving is the first day the Christmas lights are turned on at Temple Square. We had primo seats and got to see them turn on that night!