Alaska Part Three

 Nothing better than Christmas Eve with my favorite people.

We went to my Aunt Carols for a party. Another one of my Favorite Christmas past times.

We ate delicious food, played games, and enjoyed family time.

Christmas morning was so much fun. I love seeing my kids faces. Christmas is really magical.

Ryan surprised me with tickets to visit Tara. I can't wait!!!

Us kids gave my mom a purse and wallet, and boy did she need it! So glad she loved it.

Merry Christmas!!!

We were invited to a sledding party and my kids loved it. 

There were a ton of kids, lots of sleds and delicious hot chocolate.

Afterwards we went back to my moms and the kids had a little Wii party. Some major dancing went down!

It was priceless. I wish I would have gotten a video of these cute kids.

Alaska Part Two

 What I love most about going home for Christmas is all the fun family traditions that I was used to growing up. One of my all time favorites is making gingerbread houses at my grannies.

We attended my parents ward Christmas party, and I got to snuggle on this little love.

 My best friend Chauri's little guy. He's so tiny and adorable! I definitely got my baby snuggles in!

Once Ryan got into town we went up to Alyeska and went skiing. I hadn't been in 8 years.... and it definitely showed! LOL!!

It still was a ton of fun, and I'm glad I went.

Brandon had so much fun with his cousins, and is in love with his cousin Lila.

He toted her around, even though she's almost as big as him:)

Alaska Part One

 We headed to Alaska for the Holidays! We couldn't have been more excited!!!

Brooke and Kenadie were so excited to be together again. Best little cousin friends ever.

My Aunt Bonnie had a party for all the little cousins and us big kids too.

We had a delicious lunch, and then a bowling party.

The kids had a blast.

Other than Brooke, my kids don't have cousins there age, so they love getting together with my cousins kids. They have so much fun! I love that our families are so close, that my kids can have cousins:)

Cute little Cousins.

 Friday after the neighborhood party, we headed down to Logan.

Saturday we were taking family pictures with the whole Ellis clan!

These two are cute little friends.

The pictures seemed to go well!

As soon as I get them I will post them!

Home Again.

 We got back from the cruise Saturday night, so we stayed at Hanna and Sandy's.

Holly was in town with her inlaws, and Jenny was in town for a funeral, so we were able to all get together. Before they came over, my mom and I headed up to see Hanna.

She is just cruising through her transplant stay with very minimal side effects. She is amazing!

 I felt so bad leaving her there, while the rest of the family was all getting together to hang out at her house:(

I haven't seen Holly's little girl Lila since she was 2 months old!

It was so fun to see them again!

The baby cousins:

That is one precious face.

The three cousins the same age.

Notice how my child is the oldest, yet the smallest. Yep she's a pipsqueak!

All the Willardson grand kids together since the babies were born!

Grandma got in on the picture taking with her grandkids.

These were the best shots. Literally.

Me, Holly, Joey, and his girl, Jessica.

Family time is so fun!

And Holly almost two years is way too long to go without seeing each other. Never again.

IF Visit.

Monday we decided to keep the family get together's going!

Sadie and Annie stayed behind Sunday to spend the night with Tessa, while the rest of us came back to Idaho Falls. So the next day they came to town and brought Tami with them.

Violet and Sullivan came down from Rexburg so we could have some more family fun!

The kids had so much fun playing. 

And we couldn't part without a cousin picture.

Add in a character picture as well.

Poor Sully was surrounded by too many girls I think!

Gotta love family. 

And I feel so blessed to live so close to them again!

Cokeville Cousins.

 Sunday we headed up to Cokeville to spend some more family time, with MORE family.

I didn't get too many pictures of our visit, but rest assured there was a lot of talking, a lot of eating delicious food, and a lot of kiddos running around.

My kids, other than Brooke, don't have any cousins their age, so it's always fun for me when I get together with my cousins and our kids play. Now that I live closer to some, I need to make an effort to get together often, so my kiddos have some relative friends.

Caden and Connor very much into a game on the Ipad...

Brooke and Myriah finding some toys!

Kylee, Mylie, and Brandon were very busy running around playing outside.

I truly enjoy every visit I make to Cokeville.

More Cousin Time.

After a few days in Logan, I headed up to Cokeville sans kids to welcome home my cousin Sullivan from his two year mission.

He was speaking in church, and being as close as I was, I didn't want to miss it!

He did such a good job. I wish my boys could have been there to listen to him. What a good example!

We had a delicious lunch after, and enjoyed some time catching up.

Living in Idaho has been so much fun when it comes to getting to see my family.

A Special Day.

 While in Logan, we were able to go to the sealing of cute little Clyde to his family, the Luffs.

 While it was a short ceremony, it was beautiful. I was so happy for Lori and Rich. What an amazing thing an eternal family is!

And how fun that I got to kiss on this cute face?!

Brooke having a good time with some cousins!

Kylee was excited to play with Avery again!

Congratulations Luffs. We love you!

Cousins.

Even thought Thanksgiving has passed, I feel the need to continue being thankful on my blog. It is the holiday season after all. And even into Christmas, we can be thankful for all that we have!

 Today I am so grateful for the blessing I have to come from two amazing families. I am grateful for the cousins that I have on both sides, and that we have remained close, even if it's been awhile since we have physically seen each other.

I am so glad that my mother and her sisters did such a good job of making sure that we had good relationships with our cousins.

Some of the Oberg girls are missing from this picture, taken a few years ago, but definitely not forgotten. There are so many memories of having so many girls so close in age!

 Growing up I spent a lot of time with my cousins on my dads side. When we moved to Alaska, those visits became few and far between. But that didn't lessen our bond, the times we have seen each other has made it all the more special:

 

My freshmen year of college, I was able to go to school with Heather. I had so much fun, and I am so glad that I got to experience that with her!

  

The next year was twice the fun as four of us roomed together! You can never escape girl drama, even when you are family, but I wouldn't have traded that year with those 3 girls for anything! What better roommates than family?!

 

  Even as we have grown up and started our own families, we've made sure to always stay close. Even if that means we drive a few hours to see them!

Or they pass through for a visit and we throw in some fun!

 One of the best things about going home for the holidays is spending time with cousins!

 I feel lucky that I married someone that lives so close to some of my family, that I get to see those that don't live in Alaska just as much.

 I feel lucky that I have 3 cousins my age, and that I was fortunate enough to go through high school with Amy! She is an amazing person, and one of my best friends.

I truly am blessed to have such an amazing family, and such amazing cousins.

Thank you all for being a part of my life.

Lil' Cousins.

These two are so much fun. And they totally love each other. They are known to each other as Kennews, and Bwookie.

They are sassy little toots.
Their latest endeavors include scaring their moms half to death by wondering away from the back yard.(we had literally checked on them 2 min before). After a good 5 minute scare, we found them frolicking in the ditch between the two soccer fields. My daughter sans pants. Yep she's stylin!(we never found those dang pants) They tried this little escapade yet again, but we were smarter this time, and foiled their get away.
As you can see they had the time of their lives having a little bath time together. Kenadie discovered splashing. Brooke thought it was hilarious. And I was soaked.
They truly are little best friends.
Brooke is going to miss her Kennews.