One of my many reasons Ander and I moved here to Austin was because Austin lacked snow. I grew up with snow... so you'd think I would enjoy living in a place where snow is abundant in the winter. This is not the case...
Ander and I spent the week of Christmas in Utah with our families, and boy was it SNOWY! Deep down inside I was really hoping that we would get a white Christmas, and we totally did!!! And actually, I slipped on ice standing in this very spot a couple days later. No injuries... just injured pride.
But just look at those gorgeous mountains! I have to say, that is one thing I really do miss about Utah. The terrain is beautiful.
Poor Ander had to scrape ice off of our rental car. We haven't done that in YEARS! Although Austin still does get ice sometimes... but hardly ever.
Christmas Eve morning we had breakfast and presents with my mom and my step family on my step dad's side.
My brother and sister know exactly how to pose for a picture.
What a good looking bunch!!! This picture will be going up in my house somewhere.
I feel the need to explain: Ander doesn't really like taking pictures. So usually when a camera is facing our way he pulls something like this:
But then sometimes he really does try to smile, and it can end up looking like this:
Or this:
Totally cracks me up. He is very capable of taking wonderful pictures, but most of the time he claims he's too lazy to actually hold the smile for very long. He's admitted this to me many times.
My sister Katie and my stepsister Brandi. Lovely girls.
My step-dad Michael loves Christmas shopping. Loves, loves, LOVES it! He starts Christmas shopping in January, and does it all year long until everyone can finally open all the little things he's purchased over the past year. But he buys most of these little trinkets at the dollar store... so Christmas morning there are one million presents under the tree for all of us (mostly the little grandkids). So opening presents takes hours, and most of the presents themselves are silly things. But my little step-niece Evie got some hilarious bunny glasses and a rainbow wig and I just had to take a picture. She was so stoked. (And of course my cute sister in the background.)
Ander's sister Cozette made this beard beanie for Ander and we all got the biggest kick out of it! I've seen them on Pinterest and have always wanted to get one for him, and now he has one! It's hysterical. So naturally we didn't limit the wear to only Ander...
My sister Katie got me some darling socks and a lovely scarf, and wrapped them in this box. I have to admit, the first thing I saw on the box was the word "shoes". I appreciated the fact that Katie let me know right off the bat that that was not what the present was.
More Christmas morning photo gems:
See those earrings? Those came from my sweet Mama for Christmas.
Beautiful Mama Lisa.
I had to take a picture of my dad's neighbor's Christmas lights. Apparently he doesn't unwrap them off of their plastic after he takes them out of the box, he just hangs the wrapped plastic square on his house and calls it a holiday. 
And of course what trip home to Utah would be complete without HALO? This picture is so perfect because it shows how my brother watches TV. Ever since he was very little he has watched TV out of the side of his eyes like he is in this picture. It has actually crept into his daily life when he focuses on something important. He pulls the same face. I think it's wonderful and I never get tired of seeing the famous "Joe look".
Nor would any trip be complete without some sort of photobombing.
We took some family pictures with my dad at Thanksgiving Point. It was so cold outside, so we had to do them inside. I thought they turned out pretty nice given the fact we just used a regular digital camera.
This one will go in my house somewhere too. Soon... very soon. My darling family.
Ander and I ate at all the yummy restaurants that we had hoped to while we were there. In-n-Out Burger, Zupas, Beto's, and of course the Purple Turtle and their fantastic shakes. I didn't remember that this was considered a small. Both cups are full to the brim with cookies and cream goodness.
And only in Utah will you find a squeeze bottle full of fry sauce.
Katie and I got to go to a friend's wedding reception together, and it was so much fun! Me and my sister. Always a blast.
Our last night there we stayed up late and played games with Katie and Joe. It was an absolute blast. I don't think our trip would have been the same without that night. I love my siblings so much it hurts sometimes.
And check out the hoodie Katie is wearing! I did that!!!
Gosh I love those two.
No words...
My beautiful, lovely sister. She is one of the coolest girls I know. Just look at her! Simply lovely.
And my lovely, silly brother. Once again, I love this kid so much sometimes I can hardly stand it. When I think about how much I adore my brother and sister my heart feels as though it's going to burst out of my chest. I wish we all lived closer to one another so we could do this more often
Ander throwing cards at my camera.
This trip to Utah was so much fun and completely amazing. We got SO many things done with each of our families, I was amazed at our glorious efficiency. We saw the Hobbit, went bowling, went to the aquarium in Sandy, Utah, had three different Christmas mornings, saw old friends, sang Christmas songs, attended church, played games, watched family videos, ate yummy food...
But most of all we were able to spend time with the people we absolutely love, and that was really all that mattered.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
