Utah

We were able to spend almost three weeks in Utah with our families. The kids and I flew into Utah December 14 and spent a week with family while Ben had finals. Ellie and I did a lot of shopping and Cole did a lot of playing.

Maryn and her girls took Cole sledding for the very first time! (We didn't bring his snow clothes so he had to borrow them from his girl cousins, hence the pink and purple attire):

Ben finally joined us on December 19. We had a party with the entire green family that night...all 34 of us! It was a full house and a lot of fun. Since this was the only time we would all be together for Christmas, the kids got to open their cousin gifts. Cole was excited to get a garbage truck from Tessa! And Ellie got adorable huggalugs and a bow from Emersyn.

The next day, December 20, both of our families got together for Ellie's blessing and a dinner:

The next day, December 21, was the Santa Lucia party with the Coombs fam:

We had "Christmas Eve" with the Coombs fam on December 23. We ate prime rib, acted out the nativity (Cole was a shephard and wouldn't take his costume off the whole night), opened a present from the Swedish Santa, and sang songs:

Christmas Eve with the Green fam was the usual: dinner and chocolate fountain, Grandpa told a story, acted out nativity (Cole was a wiseman this time and wore his costume the rest of the night again, and Ellie was baby Jesus), "The game" otherwise known as "Rip, stick and roll", and new jammies for the kiddos. And as usual, Cole was sporting a few bandaids. This time he had one big owie on each cheek so he looked like a football player:

The new additions to the Green Christmas Eve was Dan the Man returned for some singing, we saw Santa's sleigh in the sky, and we had drunk carolers at 11 pm. It was an eventful night!

Christmas morning we opened presents at GG and Grandpa Greens. Cole and Ellie both got quite the stash:

After breakfast we packed up all of our loot and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Coombs house, where we got spoiled with a ton more presents. Cole was worn out from Christmas Eve and took a LONG nap through opening presents, so he got to open his later all at once:

Once all the celebrations were over we did a lot of sleeping and hanging out with family and friends:

Cole snuck in at least one bubble bath a day in Grandmas fun jet tub:

We couldn't miss the carousel at the mall:

Maryn did a photoshoot for us. It started out as a photoshoot for Ellie in her blessing dress, but ended up being a family one. Thanks Mar!

Our last party was New Years Eve at the Coombs. We had family pictures, ate a ton, and played ping pong and Band Hero. It was a fun way to end our vacation...and somehow the camera disappeared in the diaper bag and was lost for a week so we didn't get any pics. Go figure.

We had to fly home on a busy New Years Day, but we had Ben with us this time so things went smoothly. We had a great time in Utah with our family and friends. We love you all!! But now it's time to unpack and get back to real life in Iowa.