Merry Chirstmas 2011

 We decided to pack it up last minute and spend Christmas in the sun of Arizona...it was a good decision!

 Largest Christmas tree ever, Anthem, AZ

 They also had the creepiest Santa ever..hence Sydney's scared expression

 Jane had no problem settling into Grandma's bed and watching Tangled!

 How awesome is a pool party over Christmas break?

 en route to Christmas Eve dinner at aunt Connie's house.  Yep, Danette was riding in the car seat with a bowl of carrots

 Ash and Lynds conspiring on how to get off the naughty list

 bacon wrapped little smokie anyone?

 Wow, Santa did find us.  Sam told the girls that we had Grandma for a backup just in case!

 Jane was overly ecstatic about skating Ken, her little prince and princess collection and of course Flynn Rider

 Putting together some pirates Legos

 My dad reminded me that Santa had better deliver skating Ken and Barbie because Jane was pretty set on them.  She didn't think Santa had come as we walked into the living room, she said "nope Santa didn't come" and then was completely floored that he really came!  I am thinking that she didn't remember last Christmas well...

 Josephina and the barbie house of her dreams...

 Flynn and Rapunzel came to visit..

 Grandma getting down on Ella's guitar!

 Sam found many specimens to inspect with his new microscope

Inspecting her new sewing machine..

 Ethan made one heck of a Lego hall

 and all Danette wanted to do was snuggle in Henry's new blanket

Good thing Ella got an easy bake oven...

 Then the little mac daddy woke up!

 Sydney inherited her Grandma's musical soul

 Henry was super excited about his cars

 Josh decided to put the kids Christmas socks on his feet

 a dip in the pool with Gramps

All ready for church on Christmas day.  They had a great Christmas program at the ward we visited.  The primary kids got up to sing and Jane stood up and walked to the front and said in her super loud Jane voice,  "I'm going to do this, this is going to be awesome!"

 Sydney made a bag with her new sewing machine!

 Ethan and Sam decided to take Henry's new radio flyer into the pool....

 Henry is actually riding the radio flyer in the pool courtesy of E and Sam

 as you can see, we spent lots of time soaking in those AZ rays...

 We went to the movie, I bought a zoo and then visited a wildlife park much like the one in the movie the next day.  The animals like this Rhino pictured were very close.  The kids could feed them and pet most of them.  There were peacocks, monkeys, and tons of animals just wandering around.  Plus an aerial ski lift and train ride

This giraffe's tongue was even longer than mine!  We had an incredibly wonderful time escaping reality, celebrating our savior's birth, and enjoying each other over the holiday.  Merry Christmas All!