Christmas in Washington!

We flew out to Washington this year for Christmas and stayed for 2 whole weeks! It was so nice being out there so long and being with my family. 5 of the 8 kids were there ready to party! My parents, as always, were amazing hosts to all of us and our families. We had about 3 feet of snow in our little town, so we took advantage and went sledding, snowshoeing, ice-skating and went on a sleigh ride! We also took on a few craft projects and my sister Melissa and I made a quiet book (or at least started it) and my sister Megan started an amazing quilt that I can't wait to see how it turns out. Each family also prepared a dinner one night and Spencer and I made our favorite Butternut Squash Galette. I use the recipe from Smitten Kitchen that is SO YUM! My sister, Danielle and I went on a few runs together in the 20 degree weather AND we had lots and lots of movie/games nights! We also played basketball one night (boys vs. girls) at our High School. It's so fun that our family is big enough to play a b-ball game. It was such a great vacation being home with family and allowing Spencer to be unplugged from work. I was able to see friends that I have missed so much and we were able to Skype with my brother on a mission in Mexico. We shopped around town (which doesn't take long since there is ONE stop sign in our town),  went out to lunch and stayed in our jammies all day most days. Charley was in cousin heaven being with my sisters' kids and playing with them! She still sees a picture of Weston and kisses the picture while trying to say his name. 

My poor dad was pretty sick the whole Christmas break with the flu and phenomena so we didn't do a few of our Christmas traditions like go caroling and have our New Years Breakfast, but he was a good sport about still wearing his red long-johns Christmas Eve and Christmas day while he passed out presents. He usually makes omelets Christmas day also, but my Mom and I took that job on. 

Sorry this will be a picture overload, but Spencer can attest to the Bradshaw girls taking WAY TOO MANY pictures:)
Packing is the worst! This packing especially since we were brining Christmas Presents that we didn't want Charley to see or each other to see. Presents for parents and siblings too! We had 4 Check-on bags, 4 Carry-on bags, a carseat, computer bag, diaper bag and Charley! It was definitely hard maneuvering through the airport with all our stuff!

 This girl did really well on the flight out and slept on my lap!

 And here we go to the festivities! 

 Christmas Eve my mom always reads The Polar Express and my dad reads from Luke. Then we usually watch a cute movie called 'Small One' about Joseph and Mary's donkey and then we open our sibling gift. Each year we draw names on who gets who. Then we all sleep on mattresses in the Living Room. 

Family Skype with Elder Bradshaw! 

 Christmas morning we wake up and go into the other room to see what Santa brought! Charley got a baby doll and stroller from Santa! 

  She didn't know what to think at first, but LOVES it now! 

 Beautiful sunrise Christmas morning

Christmas Day opening presents. Daddy-o in his red long-johns!:) 

Leatham was so sweet and gave a present to each of his family members. He gave his mom one of his toys that says "Leatham" on it. So sweet! 

 Charley opening some presents. She loved it! 

 Thank you Gramma B and Bart for the awesome cowboy outfit! She will fit into it one day:) 

More present fun! 

Merry Christmas from the Ellingsons. 

 A favorite tradition is for my Mom to get all the boys a Brooks Brother shirt. Here are the studs this year. Spencer LOVES his Brooks Brother shirts each year. 

Happy Stewart Family! 

 Peterson Family

Sisters and Mama

 You could find us most of the time at the table playing games. We are a game family for sure. 

 Sledding FUN! 

Back up to the cars for some hot chocolate! 

 Sleigh ride at Sun Mountain. So fun! They take you up to this cabin/tent to get hot chocolate and apple cider. 

 Our Snowshoe adventure!

Meeting up with my good friends and their babes! 

 Playing games with Weston is always a hoot. This boy is so sweet and I love his smile! 

 A couple random pictures of Charley's cute red curly hair and her little table that she loved eating from at Gramma B and Bart's house. 

 Ice Skating! 

She actually really liked it the first 5 minutes and then not so much after that. She more tried to tap dance than anything. 

 Charley gravitates to her red-headed Aunty Meg. It's pretty cute that she will go to her sometimes and not anyone else. 

 We LOVEd our Christmas vacation so much! It was hard to come back to reality. In the airport coming home, we had a few hours to kill at the airport before our red-eye flight, so Charley passed the time by going up and down the escalator 5,469 times.