December Recap - Christmas in Utah!

We arrived in Utah on Monday the 22nd after a relatively smooth flight, despite the pilot announcing upon take-off that our 'alternate landing' would be Grand Junction, Colorado if we couldn't get into Salt Lake due to the storm! We did sit on the runway for 40 minutes after landing because another plane that was delayed was in our spot, but luckily Brody slept through it and Alexa was patient! When we left Iowa, the wind chill registered -30. When we stepped off the plane in Utah, it was 35 degrees. Never in my life did this Texas girl think 35 degrees would be considered warm, but with a 60 degree swing, it was definitely appreciated!!

Our trip was a whirlwind of activities and we enjoyed every minute! The kids loved spending time with their Komo and Komobu (or bopba and bopba as Brody calls them - don't ask me why!!) as well as their Halmoni (Hal-me to Brody).

It snowed almost every day we were there, but instead of the small pellet like sideways blowing snow that seems to be the norm in Iowa, it was the large, fluffy flakes that delicately dance to the ground...the way snow is supposed to be! Unfortunately, on Christmas day, when Billy and I chose to go skiing in hopes of enjoying the mostly empty lifts, the Iowa snow found us! After about an hour, we took a break and I laughed out loud when I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror - large clumps of ICE clung to my hair, my hat, my goggles...pretty much everything that faced the elements! Despite the fact that only one lift (other than the bunny slope) was even open, we braved the white out conditions for about another hour before I traded the one on one time with my husband for alone time in the lodge with a cup of hot chocolate! He made a few more runs, and then we headed back to his mom's house for a much anticipated korean dinner!

We definitely indulged on the korean food, enjoying it as often as possible to make up for the lack of options in Iowa. People are always surprised when meeting my children that they are 1/4 korean-they don't exactly look it, especially Brody...however, I don't know many other five and two year olds who can eat their weight in rice and seaweed! I also discovered on this trip that both my children love turnip kimchi (basically pickled turnip-yet I can't get them to eat green beans!).

On Christmas eve, we drove down to Thanksgiving Point to look at their drive through light display! They did an awesome job, and every time Brody saw a Santa display, he would say "Ho Ho Ho!". He also did this repeatedly while sitting by his Halmoni's stuffed Santa from the movie "Polar Express!" Too cute!



Our Christmas morning celebration came bright and early so that Komobu could enjoy the festivities before heading to work. The night before, we had left cookies for Santa and an apple for the reindeer, and all seemed to be appreciated! Santa delivered a large toy horse for Alexa (as promised) along with a Dora doll, while Brody was overjoyed with his Thomas the Train set and Handy Manny tools. Halmoni, Komo, and Komobu played the roles of doting relatives well, leaving Billy wondering how in the world we were going to get all of the toys back to Iowa!! Surprisingly, all but two items fit in the suitcases!










We did a bit of shopping the day after Christmas, stocking up on our Utes gear (Sugar Bowl '09!) and then made the trek out to Stansbury to visit our old neighbors and indulge in the breakfast menu at Virg's! When we first moved to Stansbury and Billy was working odd hours, we would have an early breakfast together at Virg's one morning a week as he was coming in from work and I was getting ready to leave. Later, it seemed we ate there almost weekly on Saturdays, with the same waitresses serving us the entire time we lived out there and always commenting on how much Alexa was growing...

Saturday we took the kids ice skating...an activity that both were slow to warm up to, but after a while, neither wanted to leave the ice! Brody particularly cracked me up with his eagerness and excitement, though they both crashed in the car afterward!






































Sunday evening we took the kids downtown to see the lights at Temple Square. It is truly an amazing site, as indicated by the photos!











Tuesday afternoon came all too soon, and before we knew it, we were on a plane, heading back home. The vacations are great, the goodbyes are hard...but we'll gladly repeat it all at the next opportunity to head west...or south!