After Christmas Fun

We packed up and headed out on Dec. 27th for our annual Utah ski vacation.

While traveling through Colorado, we stopped in Durango to take the kids on the Polar Express Train. It ended up being a lot of fun. We definitely will not do it every year in that it is kind of pricey, but we definitely want to do it at least once with each child.

We got hot chocolate and rice krispie treats, then we listened to a reading of "The Polar Express" book. We sang Christmas carols, and Santa came through our car and gave each child a special bell. We also got to see the North Pole. Natalie absolutely loves the book and the movie, so she was in heaven. It was just neat to see her excitement throughout the train ride.

Then we continued on to Utah where we spent about a week with my family, followed by a week with Rob's family in Park City.

I got to meet up with some good friends from high school for a brunch one morning. I hadn't seen them in years, and it was so good to see them again.

The kids got sick, as usually happens when we go to Utah, so that wasn't pleasant. But overall it was a good trip.

Sorry-the pictures are backwards.

VISIT WITH ROB'S FAMILY IN PARK CITY

We did lots of skiing with Rob's family at Deer Valley and of course ate at some really yummy restaurants. They treated us to dinner at The River Horse in Park City one night. One word: AMAZING! We also played lots of games. And, it wouldn't have been complete without the annual Bell ladies' watching of Pride and Prejudice. Love it!

The one day, I skiied with just Rob and his dad; thus, I had to ski like the men ski (scary!) They challenged me to go down a double black diamond with them, and I'm proud to say that I did it! The moguls were never-ending, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

The kids with Grandpa Bell. We missed getting a picture with Grandma Bell :(

sledding with uncle Scott (Rob's brother)

Natalie and aunt Kerri (Rob's brother's wife)

Natalie and aunt Chelsea (Rob's sister)

VISIT WITH MY FAMILY

I had a great time with my family. I got to celebrate New Year's with them. We ate lots of yummy food and watched a movie, and we actually stayed up until midnight!

The kids with Grandma and Grandpa Hales

My high school friends Lacee, Becky, and Liz. We had a yummy brunch together and caught up on years of happenings.

Love these girls! My sisters Catherine and Melissa

Blake and aunt Catherine

Blake with aunt Melissa

Blake with uncle Thomas

Blake and uncle Philip

Aunt Lucy is so fun! She pulled Natalie on the sled for a really long time.

Blake with Grandma Hales

Natalie with aunt Abby and aunt Alice

They had tons of snow!

Thanks for the pink lipstick, Thomas (do you sense the sarcasm?) My brother gave the little girls real pink lipstick for Christmas and every time we thought we'd hidden it where they wouldn't find it, they came out with their faces plastered with it yet again. They were obsessed with it, and of course it got everywhere. Natalie still talks about it. Natalie needs a few make-up applying lessons, but Alice's always looked perfect because she was smart and used a mirror.

Blake and aunt Emmy

Natalie, Alice, Emmy, and Abby (sporting the beautiful pink lipstick again)

THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN