Christmas part two

We spend late Christmas Eve and morning in Tooele.  Paul's family has a tradition of reading the Christmas story and having a testimony meeting where they talk about what they believe and then go around the room and say a little something to each person present.  While driving out that night I had a nervous bug in my stomach and it took me a second to realize it was because of the testimony meeting.  I always get so nervous doing things like that, but I always feel the spirit strongly and renew my faith.  Paul's brother Mark invited his girlfriend this year and it was nice to get to know her better through her testimony.  We opened up Christmas pj's and headed for bed.

Christmas morning was fun as usual at the Pratt house.  Anne and Steve love Christmas and always make it memorable.  Hayden was a little overwhelmed by all the fun things to look at and at first all she wanted to do was play with Grandma Anne's Christmas decorations.  We finally got those out of her hands by luring her away with a sippy cup and then commenced with opening gifts.  We ate omelets and then put Hayden to sleep for an early nap.

 Here are the trees we had to get out of her hands to open presents!

 Hayden loved holding onto Grandma Joye's cane.

While in Tooele we got to spend time with Paul's brother Trent and his family: Darice, Morgan, Marly and Brooks.  We  had so much fun getting to know our nieces and nephew again and Hayden loved having little kids around to play with.  We spent our time playing around in the house, shopping, sledding behind four-wheelers, ice-skating, late-night movies, and of course playing "Hearts" and a few other games.

 Hayden had so much fun with her cousins.  Here she is with Marly.  You will notice Hayden's huge goose-egg on her head!

 Hayden even warmed up to uncle Marko!

 Hayden had fun sledding but almost fell asleep, so we had to go in a bit early!

 Marly & Morgan

 This was the twins first time ice skating and they did so well!  

After church on Sunday

It is always bitter sweet to come home.  I of course was starting to get a cold (which always happens to me at the end of trips) so I wanted to get home to take care of that, but it is always so sad to leave.  We wish we were able to live closer so that Hayden knew her grandparents and cousins better.  Maybe in the future this will be possible for us.  Our travels home were much less eventful and our car even started up just fine when we returned! It was a little difficult deciding whether it was even worth unpacking since we are moving in another week!  Hayden is quite the traveler.  Since September she has been to Indiana, Kentucky, Atlanta, Missouri and Utah!  What a trooper she is. 

We are so grateful for family and for their love and support even though we are far away and don't get to see them often enough!