Mega Christmas Post! Part 1

It was quite an adventure getting to Ruidoso for Christmas. A huge snow storm decided to come our way…and everyone’s way….when we decided to leave. We left Thursday afternoon with Mimi, Papa, and Tommy, in their car, and Matt, Tyler and I, in ours. We made it all the way to Roswell (About an hour away) when it started snowing. Tyler was screaming to be fed and when we stopped, the snow started really coming down. The drive from Roswell to Ruidoso, was long, scary, nerve wracking, and full of Tyler crying. He did not get a long enough break from the car seat, seeing as how we had to feed him and get quickly back on the road. The roads were slushy but Matt nor Doug, said they ever skidded on ice. We were always going slow and being cautious, regardless. We finally made it to Ruidoso but decided not to chance it and head up the mountain to the rental house. We stayed at a hotel that night, and let our nerves settle a bit. We woke up to tons of snow and it was still snowing! Tommy was sure excited but we needed it to stop for Autrey and Lori’s sake! We left to Nana’s and stayed there while Matt and Doug took the Sequoia (with 4 wheel drive) up to the rental house to see if the roads were bad and if our Honda Accord would make it up there. They ended up being ok and we made it up there Friday afternoon. Lori and Danny flew in Friday but were stuck near Albuquerque for the rest of night because the roads were completely closed down. We were so disappointed. Autrey and Shilo left Friday night and because of weather and closed roads didn’t make it til Saturday afternoon. It was crazy but we were so thankful they finally made it Christmas Eve and were SAFE!It was nice and beautiful to have snow for Christmas. I just wish it would have come a little earlier or later! Of course Tyler would not take a bottle during the drive…but he would hold it and chew on it….silly goober.

The rental house was an amazing and huge log cabin. Friday afternoon we were trying to pass the time, waiting to hear if the roads would open up and the rest of the family would be coming! Tommy is the cutest snow bunny ever and the snow was SO deep for him! There were stairs leading to the outdoor fireplace and hot tub and Matt thought it would be fun to ‘sled’ down them. He did it first and then sent Tommy down! Tommy liked it but thought it was more fun to climb the stairs, calling it a mountain. He would laugh so hard when his feet would slip a little bit.

Tommy would turn around and say, Go! Which meant Matt could throw the snowball at him, since he was turned around. He first did this with me when it snowed in Amarillo a few days ago. I thought it was pretty cute.Then Tommy would throw one at Matt.

Christmas Eve: When everyone finally arrived Saturday, Tommy was SO excited. He played and laughed with Maggie under this ginormous ‘tree’ in the middle of the living room/entry way, munching on apples. Then we headed over to Nana’s for yummy homemade mexican food and to do ‘tree.’ When Matt was growing up, all the cousins would go to Tularosa (about a 30 minute drive) and see all the luminaries  that would  light up the streets. While they were gone, Santa would come and leave his presents and that’s why they open up all there gifts on Christmas Eve. We didn’t do that this year with the kiddos but Santa came to the rental house while were at Nana’s. Mimi took the kids over to the window and said, oh man, Santa is so fast. We just missed him. That’s what Tommy kept saying for the rest of the night and Christmas day…”Santa was so fast…we couldn’t see him!” Throughout December Tommy kept saying he wanted Santa to bring him a ‘big blue car way up to the sky.” Well, after a trip to Target he saw a huge Mack from Cars that fit Lightening McQueen. He quickly changed his mind and decided he wanted that from Santa.  Sure enough, that’s what Santa brought him! He loved it. Mimi and Papa got Tommy and Dylan riding backhoes! Matt and Autrey tried to put them together that night but it was so late, they didn’t finish. All of us quickly went to bed not long after opening presents.

We are missing sweet Joe Joe in this pic!

After getting back to the house and seeing Santa and Mimi’s presents, they all got into matching pajamas. It is such a circus act trying to get all these monkeys to smile at the same time!

Christmas Day: We woke up and got ready for church. There was a little backhoe riding and Walkie Talkie playing (Maggie’s present from Santa) first though Matt and Maggie were using them on the way to church to. Matt would ask her, “Do you see any deer?” Then Tommy got a hold of one and he repeated that question multiple times to which Maggie would reply NO! Pretty entertaining for us After a really nice Sacrament full of musical numbers the boys headed into the snow to dig, scoop, and slide. Later on Tommy and Tyler got more toys from Aunts and Uncles and played with cousins into the night. All of us got to taste some delicious cookies from Maggie…and Tommy and Dylan and least once throughout the night. There were also a few rounds of Ring Around the Rosie. It was a pretty fun and crazy Christmas Day!

My cute boys on Christmas night~!