Christmas in Payson, 12/23/08-01/06/09

Well, we left the nice warm weather in Palm Springs to go to Payson, AZ, where our sons, Travis and Ryan, live with seven of our grandkids. It was actually pretty nice weather there, just about 20 degrees colder than Palm Springs.

We parked in Ryan's front yard and plugged into his power and water. We just had to be careful to not blow the breaker because it was only 20 amp. It worked out really well.

We were handy for Ryan's three kids to come and go. I had lots of help making goodies for Christmas. This is Wesley, Ryley, and Chaz busy in my kitchen!

Ryan is the Athletic Trainer for Payson High School. The won the State Championship football game. Here is Wes styl'n in one of the championship hats. I am sure one of the reasons they won is because they have such a good athletic trainer. Ryan was able to pull some strings and get Travis' son, Spencer, as the water boy for the game. It was really exciting because it went into double overtime until Payson finally won. We weren't there to see the game, but everyone was still talking about it.

We got to watch the kids decorate their Christmas tree. They did a good job and we had a fun time.

But, by the end of the day, Chaz pooped out! He is a very busy little boy and you don't catch him like this very often.

Christmas Eve, we all went over to Travis' home and had a great dinner. Sitting around the table is Spencer, Terry, Lori, Ryley, and Ryan.

And here we have, again, Ryley, Ryan, Shannon, a little bit of Travis, and Spencer.

Wesley, Nicholas, and Josh shared the bar.

While Nathan and Chaz ate at the kitchen island.

Christmas morning! The kids were sure that Santa had visited and they couldn't wait to see what he brought!

Light sabers all around, with the kids wearing the pajamas they had opened the night before!

After opening gifts at Ryan's, Terry and I went to Travis' and he fixed us breakfast and we opened a few gifts there!

Santa had made it to their home, also. The kids must have been really good the past year, judging from the loot they got!

The day after Christmas, Ryan took us all to the gym at the high school to run off some energy. Well, I think it was the kids who were supposed to run off the energy, but I think the guys got a little exercise also.

Ryan showed off his training room that he uses at the school. The kids sit at this table while Ryan wraps their ankles and knees and does all of the other things he does for them. It was pretty impressive. He even had a whirlpool bath there. They are a pretty lucky high school to have this kind of facility and a trainer.

Travis shows off his sign that is in the gym along the top of the bleachers. It was also pretty impressive. If I sound a little proud, it is because I am!

After Christmas, we went with Ryan and his family down to the Arizona Temple in Mesa to see the Christmas lights. The last time we were at this temple was when Travis and Shannon got married!

The displays and the lights were really great. They say all of the lights compare to those on Temple Square in Salt Lake city, without the cold weather!

Here is Ryan with his wife Lori and their kids, Ryley, Wesley, and Chaz in front of one of the displays on the Temple grounds.

We went up from Payson to Pinetop where my brother David has a cabin. There was lots of snow and Terry even got to use his 4-wheel drive! He was so excited! We left Chaz with Travis' family and brought Spencer with us, along with the rest of Ryan's family. Spencer and Blake, David's son, are the same age.

David's "cabin" used to be a double wide modular home that he sided with logs and now looks like a log cabin. He did a really good job. In fact, some of his neighbors have since copied him.

He finished the inside of the house and even made some of the furniture. Here is Blake standing on the bed his dad made for him.

David made all of the furniture in their bedroom and Kari decorated, even making the curtains and other things. They both did such a good job.

The boys had lots of fun playing outside in the snow. They ended up walking about a mile away to a great sledding hill. We gave them a while and then we went looking for them. Terry and I followed David and ended up taking the "scenic route" through knee-deep snow!

We are on our way back from the sledding hill. Here is David and Ryan with Wesley and Ryley on Ryan's shoulders. It was a long ways for her to walk home.

Wesley, Ryley, and Chaz had to have a "sleep over" with us before we left. Ryan and Lori had a date night out while we fed the kids dinner, played games, and ended the evening with popcorn and a movie. The kids were really good and even slept in the next morning.

Sunday morning, Chaz had to come over and make sure Grampa Howie was getting ready for Church. He was excited because he got to go to Primary for the first time instead of going into the Nursery. We got reports that he was the very best Sunbeam in his class!

I had promised Ryan a batch of divinity for Christmas, but never made time to make it before Christmas. So, the day before we left, Ryley came over to help me make a batch of divinity.

We had so much fun spending time with Travis and Ryan and their families. We even took a hike around the housing community where Travis hopes to build a home some day. The trail wound around the golf course and past some beautiful homes. We had a great Christmas with all of them and saw the new year in with Lori and Ryan. Thanks to all of you for letting us share the holiday season with you!