The Ashton Family Festivus!

The Ashton Family Festivus - 2009

This is what we called our Christmas vacation this year. Andy's parents and brothers (except Mike and Kathy and their kids - we missed you guys!) all came down here the Monday before Christmas to spend a week with us. We had been planning for months and we were so excited to really host our first Christmas all on our own! Itinerary was set, meals were planned, shopping was done - it was time to have a week of fun!

Monday we spent the night relaxing after dinner, since they had just driven all day.

Tuesday we took a drive down to Kartchner Caverns. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive but so worth the trip! This was seriously an amazing cave and the story behind how it was discovered was amazing in and of itself. The men who discovered it kept it secret for 14 years as they tried to figure out how to preserve it from vandals! Andy's oldest brother, Dave, his wife Ashley and son Noah took the trip with us, as did his brother Chris. Sharon and Henry stayed home to tend Zac - they were lifesavers, he would not have done well, as you could not touch anything inside of the cave and no baby backpacks or strollers were allowed! I think Zac had the best 9 hours of his life with all of the attention on just him!

(This picture was taken in front of a display of Woolly Sloth remains that were found in the cave)

Brynley climbing on a fake Stalagmite!

There were some small replica crevices that showed how small the entrance to the caves originally were. Andy and I only fit through the larger of the openings!

Unfortunately cameras were not allowed in the cave but it was magical. Hayden has suddenly taken on a huge interest in caves and the many formations inside. We bought him a book in the gift shop and he read it the whole way home then came home and taught Grandma about all of the cool things he saw! I highly recommend the drive down to experience the caves!

The next day Brynley had fun showing Grandma how to use the computer she got from my dad. They were so cute sitting together playing.

Wednesday morning the whole family headed to the gym for a nice workout to start the day. After the gym we headed to Makutus Island! It is a huge indoor play area that is made to look like a giant tree with climbing tunnels, zip lines, and slides galore! Zac was super brave and spent most of his time climbing this net and going down the slide, it was hard to drag him away!


Makutu made an appearance dressed as Santa!
Zac decided that playing Skeeball was much easier if you just climbed up and thru the balls in!

After a fun day at Makutus, the kids got to have a babysitter while the adults all went to Gecko Grill and to see The Forgotten Carols. This is a tradition Andy and I have been doing for 5 years, it was fun to share it with the family this year!

Thursday was Christmas Eve. The day started with a trip to the gym and then we went to see the movie - A Christmas Carol. The effects were great, there were some parts that were a bit scary for the kids but they liked it none the less!

Zac is modeling his Christmas Eve dinner attire!

The dinner table set and ready for some food! The menu included ham, potatoes, orange jello (with cheese on top), mustard sauce, green beans sauteed in garlic, and amazing rolls brought from St. George. All the recipes come straight from our family cookbook - I love good old family recipes!

The whole group (minus me) eating dinner together.

The kids getting ready to eat!

After dinner it was time to decorate sugar cookies and get the platter ready for Santa and his reindeer! You will notice the kids did plenty of sampling as well-

While decorating the kids heard a knock on the door. Who could it be??? When they got to the door, no one was there but on the doorstep was a present for each of the kids form Santa! Inside the kids found their new Christmas pajamas! Zac was thrilled and ran around, jumping and screaming!

When cookies were done being decorated the kids all got their P.J's on and were ready for some photos! We then watched a great Christmas DVD and I read one of my favorite Christmas books - Pippin the Christmas Pig.

One last photo op and the kids were sent to bed with anticipation of Santa coming!

A picture of the tree after Santa had already come!

The kids were super excited Christmas morning. Hayden got the two main things he had asked for - a skateboard and an Adidas shirt! Zac loved his Cozy Coupe and Brynley was super excited about her pink scooter and her Barbie House! We had some very happy kids and revealing the pregnancy was especially exciting!

Meredith and Steve and their kids came over for our traditional Christmas brunch. The menu included Egg and ham casserole, bacon, sausage, Monkey Bread, Orange Rolls, fruit salad, hash browns and an assortment of juices and milk. We managed to fit all 7 kids at the bar!

Some of the adults didn't get the memo that we usually spend the whole day in our pajamas!

Kate and Zac thoroughly enjoyed their meal together!

Christmas day was spent playing basketball and football outside, riding skateboards, and scooters, napping and all around just spending time together. It was a great day!

Saturday was spent at the movies! Most of the Adults saw Avatar while Ashley and I took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks I would have loved to see Avatar as well, but Andy said he will take me again sometime. We had pizza and Wings for dinner, followed by family movie night with the whole family.

Hayden got the Blue Ray - "Up" from Santa so that was the movie choice. I love that movie, it makes me cry every time!

More watching and relaxing!

Sunday night we decided to have an early birthday for Andy's dad. We had grilled steak and shrimp with roasted broccoli and potatoes for dinner.

I made him a double chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and the kids made him some cute Birthday cards. It was fun to celebrate him a bit as we are never there for his real Birthday in January.

Grandpa with 4 of his grand kids!

Brynley's favorite person of the week was definitely Uncle Chris! He was so cute with all of my kids, we loved having him here. We don't usually get to spend this much time with Chris so it was very fun to have him. He was often found in the very back seat of the van squished between two carseats. I kept telling him he really didn't' have to but he said he was ordered to by Brynley! She has always had a thing for older men!

Zac sure loved uncle Chris as well.

This was by far the best Christmas we have had since my mom died. We stayed up late playing games almost every night, ate to our hearts content, played outside nonstop, and just had fun together.