Cole and Mindy Smith: A Utah Christmas...

So as I said before, we decided it was in our best interest to stay in Denver at home for all of Christmas day, and then the day after, we would drive to Utah! So that is what we did! We packed up mostly the night before so that we could get going pretty early in the morning. The drive was uneventful as always. Our kids are SO awesome at driving! They are very well traveled, and do wonderfully in the car- especially when we have some DVD players to keep them company! haha! We went right to Bountiful so that we could have our gift exchange with my family on the 26th and it was so much fun! It was great to have everyone together, and the kids love to be together with their cousins! They also love to be with their aunts and uncles. They can't ever get enough of each other- that is for sure! Our gift exchange was awesome and we came away with some great stuff- but mostly had the funnest time GIVING presents to each other! I love it! We weren't able to stay for long in Bountiful because we had another gift exchange (the Smith family one!) in Richmond the next day- so we packed up that next morning and headed up to the Smith clan! I tell you what- there is NO where that is more fun to be in the winter time! We went sledding, played in the snow, played with cousins, went sledding, ate LOTS of great food, had a really fun gift exchange, go to go skiing one day! and went sledding! Did I mention we went sledding!? I love sledding in Richmond. It is the funnest ever! Ha!

Before the start of the big ski day at the Beav!

Morgan, Stockton and I went up to give them some moral support! We didn't want to stay the whole day, but we were able to bring them up some lunch and meet with them to eat for a bit- then they went back to the grindstone!

Lincoln is getting to be quite good at skiing! He pretty much does things on his own now!

Paytons still trying to get the hang of things. :)

Morgs had fun playing in the snow and watching her brothers for a minute!

Oh yeah- and we were there too! :)

Riding up the Magic Carpet!

After we'd watched for long enough, we went into the lodge and hung out for a few hours while the boys finished skiing! Morgan picked out a HUGE brownie and some chocolate milk- which she was super excited to share with her brothers when they finished skiing! Such a nice baby girl.

Oakley and Morgan playing with Grandpa. They are so funny!

I seriously LOVE this house! It is so beautiful, and it is in the most gorgeous setting EVER! I can't get enough! Plus- bonus- they are out of the gross smog that you can see down in the distance in the valley! TOTAL bonus!

Here's Cole pulling the kids around in the big black sled- MAN do they have a great time!

See!!!!

How many kids can we pack into the black tub? There were even a few more in there but hopped out and didn't want to take part in the picture.

This kid- Lincoln- would be out in the sled ALL DAY if we'd let him! He LOVES it!

Link lost his other tooth while we were there! Again- didn't care much about the tooth fairy. He never even put his tooth under his pillow!

Cole and I got matching hoodies from Erica and Tara! Man- they got their money's worth out of those! We've been wearing them NON-STOP since we got them! Thanks guys!

We came back down to Bountiful in time for some New Years Eve skiing (for me!) It has been a LONG time since I went skiing, and Cole was SO kind and let me go with Court on New Years Eve while he held down the fort at home! It was SOOOOO much fun! We went to Alta and had the best time ever! It was seriously so much fun. I love my sister. Now all we need is Rachie and it would be a BLAST! Add Mom and Mal and Meg and it would be the party of the century!!! Soon...soon. We came back from skiing and met everyone (both Mini and Midgie Miles included) at Astro Burger in bountiful and had a bounteous feast! The men had taken the kids to Kangaroo Zoo earlier in the day and Mylie Jane took a really hard fall and wasn't feeling very well, but the other kids had a blast! So, we ate dinner and then headed back up to the Derricks for some New Years Festivities! We are seriously such partiers. At 9:00, we rang in the NEw Year with the kids- in the LAUNDRY ROOM! STockton was asleep on one side of the house, and Libby was asleep on the other side, and we didn't want to wake them up, so we partied in the laundry room! The kids screamed as loud as they could for like a minute, and then they went to bed! Ha! Best New Years ever! We had some bubbly and sent them to bed! IT was great. Then the rest of us big guys really partied it up! We aren't much fun when it comes to New Years. We never have been! We did play Mad Gab for a little while, but the rest of the time was spent watching some T.V., and we all went to bed at like 12:03! Party poopers! But it is just fun to be all together hanging out and enjoying each other's company. :) That's what it's all about right?!
So, we needed to get back to Denver so that Cole could get back to the grindstone both with work and church, so we packed up and drove back on the 1st! We had a great trip! We never tire of seeing our wonderful families, and are so glad that we are part of such a wonderful legacy of people!

Oh yeah! I forgot that before we headed to the Derricks, we were able to get together with the Schmidts (Michelle and Jon and their kids) and the Burts (Steve and Jenn-Y and their kids) for some pizza and partying! It was SO wonderful to see everyone. I miss these girls SO bad, and it was so fun to get together even just for a little bit. We sure have had some good times together! I wish we lived closer to each other to hang out more- but someday...someday. Here's Link, Spencer (Michelle's), Payton and Mitchell (Jenn-Y's) eating some lovely pizza and huhemmm....vegetables...NOT!

The girlie table- and Jack as he was running away! Morgan, Abby and Anna (Michelle's) and Jack- (Jenn-y's)

The Men-folk minus Jon

The best shot we got of all the kids! They are so funny. This was a hard one to capture- I tell you what!

Here's the three amigas! I look REALLY funny in this picture- and couldn't figure out why. Then I realized that I TOTALLY forgot to put on my makeup! Whoops! What can ya do eh?! But Michelle and Jenn-Y look really pretty!

We also had the wonderful pleasure of Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Miles! It is always so wonderful to see them. I love them SOOOO much, and am SO blessed to be related to them!