Christmas in Utah 2025

We were able to drive to Utah to spend Christmas with the C side of the family.

Saw gas for $1.75 a gallon in Nevada!

The girls got right to playing with their cousin Caroline! And Nana had bought them matching sweater dresses!

Family pictures after church.

Nana and Papa and the grandkids.

Us!

Us plus my aunt Julie, who joined us for the day.

Kaden and Emma.

Olivia, Caroline, and Brandon.

Alex needed some buddies in his picture, so these are the "X-Men" (ie they all have X's in their names)

The grandkids.

The matching girls.

Margot is ONE!!!!!!!

Close-up of the cutest face!

We went to aunt Susan's for a extended C family dessert, and sang to Margot for her birthday.

Quick fingers got a handful of whipped cream, haha.

Margot and GiGi.

Margot with her new doll.

The girls played so nicely!

Gingerbread houses with friend Drake.

Brandon and Olivia helping the girls.

We went to the Christmas lights at the Hogle Zoo.

Ivy and Margot in matching jammies.

Margot's favorite spot.

We went on a hike (it was pleasantly warmer than normal) with the R great-grandparents.

Ivy convinced Nana to give her a piggy back ride for a lot of the hike.

Ivy also sweet-talked Papa into a shoulder ride!

Caroline preferred walking, over using her hiking backpack.

Ivy and Caroline snuck into Scout's sleeping area one morning. Scout enjoyed the attention.

Every day, Nana did Ivy and Caroline's hair, helped by Ms. Rachel on the ipad.

Working out with Papa.

Cookie decorating.

Gary and Rhonda hosted the R side of the family for Christmas Eve.

Gingerbread house competition.

Uncle Gary, the baby whisperer.

The kids put on a Nativity Scene. Ivy and Felix were Mary and Joseph, and Ivy took it so seriously. Pink Baby was baby Jesus. Ivy kept the "manger" next to her bed the rest of the nights we were there, so Pink Baby could sleep in it.

Margot was the Star/Angel.

Jeff pitched in as a Wise Man, since we needed one more (Axel was a wiseman too).

Pepper and Margot giving kisses.

Reading Christmas Eve stories.

Opening Christmas Eve presents.

Santa came! Stockings filled to the brim!

The kids are ready to see their presents!

Opening stockings.

Margot opened one present and then went down for a nap, haha. So she missed the main part of opening presents. 

Ivy so excited to wear her Elsa costume accessories.

Caroline and Ivy matching

We took the girls to the park to get some energy out.

We visited GiGi's new house, and she showed the kids some of her family history treasures.

It did snow a bit overnight one night, so we drove closer to the mountain where there would be more snow and we able to play in it!

Then the kids destroyed the snowmen.

Ring around the Rosie.

With the R great-grandparents.

Ping pong tournament.

The next several are pictures by Ivy, haha.

Pretty hair.

Axel's birthday!

Happy 13th birthday Axel! I can't believe I have a teenager!

My uncle Joel and aunt Staci were visiting Julie so we were able to meet up for lunch.

Science experiments with Nana.

Grandma J sent some little toys so we let the kids play with them in the car on the way home. It kept them very entertained.

Posing outside a gas station, haha. Ivy was cold and wearing Mommy's sweater.

We had a super great Christmas in Utah!