For the Holidays

We decided to head back to Arizona for a couple of weeks over the Christmas Holiday. It was a busy and a fun filled trip and made us miss "home" a lot. We were much wiser this time around and stayed one night each way on the road. The kids did really well for being in the car for two days straight but Tilly had them all beat for best behaviour, she did amazing.

We tried to squeeze as many visits in as possible and are sad to have missed any we didn't see. The first week we were in town we headed north and spent some time with our good friends, the Thorhills, and got to share in the annual Christmas party. We then headed further north and stayed with my parents for a couple of days and had a fabulous time. The weather was absolutely freezing and so we didn't do much more than sit around the fireplace and visit. We then headed back to Tempe on Friday and stopped to celebrate Caitlin's (my sister in law) graduation from ASU.

Great Grandma Brady reading to Olivia

Roasting mellows over the gas stove, it was freezing and raining outside.

Party in Grandpa Miller's truck with
my kids and Ben and Caitlin's nieces.

(If you ask Ryley these are her cousins, which technically they are by marriage but she assumes it is no different than the other cousins she has, she adores them!)

My brother Ben, his cute wife, Caitlin, her sister, Sarah and little Chloe.

The kids helped Grandma decorate the real tree.

We were so excited to be able to take part in the traditional Christmas Eve program with Grandpa Bill. Christmas morning was crazy! We had six grand kids, five years and under all opening presents. We then headed to St. David, where Ralph (Kev's dad) is from to visit with his dad, Grandpa Jim. It has been so fun for my kids to have their great grandpas around because on my side I never had any grandpas growing up, so we tend to savor these moments. We also got to talk to Uncle Scott (Kev's younger brother) who is serving a mission in New Jersey.

The children got to act out the Nativity.

(Ryley was the angel, Olivia was an extra and Ben was being quiet in the bedroom watching Walle)

New PJ's on Christmas Eve

Grandpa Jim and posterity

We headed back to Texas the Sunday after Christmas and were extremely sad to leave. We made it home safe and sound and needless to say where glad to be back in our own beds. Kevin still had the rest of the week off so we made the most of our time with him. New Year's Eve day we headed to Sea World for one last visit before our passes expired. Then the next night we headed down to the River Walk and caught the Holiday lights and took a ride on a river boat.

Kevin was asked to be part of the pre-show.



Ryley is finally tall enough for a big kid ride.

(Her and Kevin are in the very front,far left, she's behind the head)

Ben got to ride in the little kid area.



The night on the River Walk.

The kids LOVED spending so much time with Kevin and he was so patient and loving with them. The previous four months we're a little rough on the kids, only getting to see him three nights a week for about an hour. We enjoyed the time off but are now back in the full swing of things and trying to get ready for this new baby to come.