*Picture note: Adam and I both think this picture is so hilarious because Steven is posing and doing everything the exact same way as me, but he looks nothing like me. He looks just like Adam!!!
First of all, we consider ourselves really lucky because our parents live within about ten minutes of each other, so we get to see both families when we go home for the holidays. (Yes, we still call Southern California "home"--we probably always will.) We started out at the Kings' and then went to the Halls' the day after Christmas. We so loved getting to see everyone and be down there for over two weeks!!! It was such an awesome vacation. Here are some highlights:
I decided to attempt to make spud nuts--homemade donuts that my grandmother Mutti used to make. Thank goodness I had my awesome nieces Karlie and Eliza to help me!!! They used cookie cutters to make USA and heart shaped donuts, and they were so good at rolling out the dough. Aunt Trisha gave the baby boys the cutest matching sweaters and I found little Santa hats for them, so they were little twinners when our family did our caroling. They were so adorable the whole time!
My brother Nathan dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve and had a present for each child. It was so cute! Everyone loved it!!!
For their big gift, my parents took our entire family to see "The Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral. All three babies were so quiet (thankfully, since we were in the first row), and all of the kids especially loved watching the angels fly over our heads. From live camels and donkeys to an awesome ballet number to the angels, the evening was spectacular. We decided to make a day out of it and go to a late lunch/early dinner, too. It was Adam's and my anniversary, so my mom let us have a big say in where we ate. We had been wanting to eat at the Cheescake Factory, and there was one right by the cathedral, so it worked out great! We had had a special breakfast that morning at Mimi's Cafe, too. It was a perfect day.We were able to go to the Halls' for a bit on Christmas day. We loved having their traditional breakfast of "fruit cup" and creamed turkey with waffles--ooohhh, sooo good! We also got to take part in Peter's first call home from his mission. He is loving being in London, and it was so much fun to get to say hello. A couple other highlights: Santa gave Jason and Adam the same Clipper's pajama pants in their stockings. Mom Hall had made another one of her exquisite quilts for Grandi and Al's bed. It was in honor of all the fun times the Bennions have had on the beach at San Clemente.
Steven loved Roxy, Mom Hall's dog. At first he was a bit wary of her, but that quickly changed. Now he loves every dog he sees, and he always tries so hard to reach down and touch them.
We loved getting to see Grandmother and Grandfather Hall. We went out to a Beni-Hanna's-type restaurant for Grandfather's birthday, and it was so cool. Steven wore a super cute Giant's outfit that Papa Hall gave him for Christmas. We also got to go shooting with Dad Hall, Jason, Doug, and Tamara. It was such a blast! And, I must toot my own horn for just a moment to say that I beat everyone!!! We had such a great time.
Our trip ended with a couple of days in Newport Beach with the Kings. We loved taking walks down the beach and looking at all the tide pools. It was so sad to leave everyone and come back up to our apartment in the cold, Utah winter. I especially hated taking Steven away from all that love--I think everyone would have been fine if Adam and I weren't there, as long as we had sent Steven down. ;) We can't wait to see everyone again!!!
