Chrismas with the Prince's

My entire family came down to Arizona for New Years Weekend to celebrate a belated Christmas and attend Merrick's Baby Blessing. It has been an entire year since all of our family was together. Danielle and Richie aren't able to travel as much with him being stationed in California with the Air Force. It was such a fun and busy weekend. I wish I had taken more pictures. My parents drove with my sister Wendi and her family. They got in Thursday night. Cassidy and McKenzie have been waiting to see Grandpa and Grandma for weeks now and to have their cousins sleep over. We were able to fit everyone in our home when we had McKenzie's baby blessing 2 1/2 years ago. This time my parents and sister Bobbi opted out for their own space and restful nights at the hotel. However, the Bulkley's ventured in for not so peaceful nights at our home, staying up with all of our crazy kids and a newborn that doesn't sleep! Some of it may have been by choice due to late night talking, watching movies, getting ready for the baby blessing or playing Ticket to Ride/Risk until 3 am! My other sisters, Bobbi and Danielle got in Friday afternoon. As soon as we were all together, we had a belated Prince Christmas. One of our Christmas traditions is to swap family names.We got Nate and Bobbi this year. We knew they loved Red Robin, so a gift card it was. Jackson and Braden lucked out with a Toy Story game, book and mini figurines.Wendi & Jake had us this year. We love our Christmas placemats/tablerunner. She must have gotten word from Santa about Cassidy and McKenzie's obsession with Hello Kitty. Merrick's nursery has been filled with a wonderful scent of Black Raspberry in an adorable stuffed Lion from her Scentsy business. My parents spoiled us with gifts we "really needed." The boys got a leaf blower after she spent hours raking leaves and Nate and Bobbi's house. The girls got matching handmade aprons with a spice blender and a wheat grinder for our food storage. I was super excited to get one since I have a couple dozen cans of red wheat under my bed that would never have been any use if we really needed it! Cassidy squeeled when she saw a Barbie make-up box for her a Bailey. It has only been a week and all the nail polish and glitter eye shadow has been confiscated! McKenzie got two puppies in a purse with smelly "real" dog toys for them. My Mom's gifts always go with a theme!Merrick got a Little Peoples Farm that the girls are working in for the next year when he can finally play with it himself! I made my Mom a Shutterfly book of our 1st camping trip this past fall at Jacob's Lake. We got Dad a gumball machine! I just have so many fun memores of lining up for gumballs at Grandpa Vandertoolens. 5 years ago we got a gumball machine for Jared's Dad also and it has been so much fun for the girls to get their gumball each time they visit. I really am so lucky to have a wonderful family! I miss not living close to any of them. When we do finally get together for 3-4 days in a row, all day long, it seems to make up for the time lost and then we need a break before we start fighting, have a major breakdown or make each other cry again! Gotta love sisters! Some things never change! It is now Jan 8th and all my Christmas decorations and tree are still up! I am really dreading taking it all down tomorrow...ugh!