Christmas AGAIN-Bass Family is Here!

It was the Sunday after Christmas and the Bass family finally arrived. We are very lucky that Grammie has so many flyer miles because we get to see Alli's family about 4 times a year. Those weeks are cherished and the cousins can't get enough of each other. We were greeted with hugs and smiles from all the kids. Our second wave of Christmas parties will now begin. Grammie has many things planned for the week ahead.
We all arrived for Sunday dinner and Grammie had a pinata. The Nelson family use to do a pinata every Christmas Eve. So Grammie wanted to remember that tradition and bought one for the kids to do that night. Kaden wasn't sure what to do. Everyone thought he was going to go at it. It took him a couple tries before he warmed up and took a real swing.

Adri is a princess. She could barely swing the bat. Grammie was crazy. Jordy held the pinata on a pole and sat at the top of the ladder raising it up and down. The kids had to be blind folded because the room was so small. We did this in Grammie's basement. We cleared furniture and made do with the space. It turned out to be tons of fun. The grandkids enjoyed it.

Abby took to it like a pro. She made a leg fall off. Grammie then pulled out the duct tape and started taping where Abby made a hole. She wanted everyone to have a turn. We were all laughing. She pulled out the duct tape a couple of times before it was over.

Alex thought she was all that and she was taking the pinata down. She almost did but Chelsea got a chance afterall. It goes youngest to oldest to hit the pinata. After Chelsea was done, Abby got the last swing because it was kind of a b-day celebration for her. All the kids scrambled for the goods after Abby broke it open. They all got a pair of mittens and some candy. Thanks Grammie. That was fun and entertaining.

Abby did the honors and busted it open without a blind fold.

We then bundled up and headed for Temple Square. What a beautiful and warm night. It couldn't have been nicer. We barely needed hats or mittens on. Our family and the Bass family were the only ones that wanted to venture downtown. Jordan says he doesn't go down town anymore because he is use to small towns. Grandma Nelson wanted to come, but needed a partner. We had fun with our two families. It's me and all the kids with the temple in the background.

Isn't this pretty with the temple in the background. I tried to get the kids in it but it was too dark. It's so fun to keep the Christmas spirit going after Christmas.

The kids would not quit playing in the snow so Renn and I took a picture. He has a nice smile and my eyse look awesome. Alli's kids do not see snow often. They were having fun throwing it and walking in it. It was fun to watch them.

We listened and watched as the nativity was recited. The kids loved being at Temple Square and mostly together. It's always fun to go to Temple Square and feel the spirit there.

The next day Alli had to go to lunch with a friend. My kids were so sad. We went to Cafe Rio with Jordy and Heather and then the kids came over to play. They did make-up downstairs while Alli and I uploaded pictures to my mom's digital frame for her b-day. Emma is putting make-up on Adri. That's what girls do best.

My kids were happy when the Bass family arrived that afternoon. Abby is doing make-up on Lexi.

That night we went to Desert Star. Kaden, Jay, and Brenna stayed home with sitters. We were front row Joes. It was not the best play this year, but they had fun with their treats. Emma blurted out a couple funny parts and she stole the show. Everyone was laughing and she had such a cute little accent.

Grandpa and Grandpa Nelson come every year along with David's family, Jordy's family, Alli's family, my family, Aunt Sandy and Uncle Bobby, Grammie and Papa, and usually Matthew. Matthew and Ashley have been having a hard time with Ashley healing and so they stayed home. We miss them. The Robisons are usually pretty outspoken, but tonight it was just Emma.

Alli and I try to go skiing when she is here in the winter. This is a beautiful view of Heber. We were at Brighton and could see over. Skiing is something my dad taught all of us to do growing up. We didn't go very often. We usually went once a year to Solitude on the HBA ski day. We always looked forward to it. So now Alli and I go together when we get a chance. It's a fun day. Grammie and Jay watched the kids. Grammie took the kids on a field trip to Dino land, McDonalds and Gardner Village to see the Elfs. She is a fun Grammie.

Aren't we cute ski bunnies. It's just relaxing and we get to eat out lunch with no kids except Alex came this year. She is good enough to keep up with us and she wanted to come. It's so fun having a child that you can do things with. Alli's legs were shaking so bad by the end of the day and Alex was exhausted. I could have stayed longer because it was so warm and sunny. It was the perfect day to go skiing. It felt like spring skiing, but the snow was still nice.

Me and my buddy. I love Alex getting older. We can go to movies, shopping, lunch and now skiing together. She is very enjoyable and easy to be around. She gets a little lippy sometimes, but I try to ignore that. It was a fun girls ski day.

The cousins got together many more times. They had sleep overs, went to a movie with Uncle Davy, went to Classic Skating, sledding, and just hung out and played. What a fun week. We never got bored during Christmas break and I never had time to get sick of the kids. I wish it would keep on going. It's hard to return to real life after so much fun.