Christmas Break 2017

We made the journey to Arizona for Christmas and arrived just in time for Christmas Eve. 

It was a Sunday and half of the Christensen cousins were there to look fancy together. 

Later that afternoon we visited the Banner Heart Hospital where my dad stayed during his heart bypass surgery.  We passed out blankets and chocolates to families there. 

We ended the night with a successful nativity rendition and Christmas jammies. 

Christmas morning was magical, especially with the kids' present to Disneyland in a few weeks. 

Madeline was the cutest for her first Christmas. 

On Christmas night the Jennings arrived and the whole party started. 

The kids had a blast together at parks, hot tubbing, and the temple lights. 

A family favorite is always the Scottsdale Train Park. 

 A few days after Christmas we switched over to the Lewis' to be with other cousins. 

Ben and Doug had some twin time and we had a blast with all our family. 

Ice blocking was one of the highlights with the Lewis' this year. 

The Christensen triplet cousins were able to bond again after months of separation. 

We ended the trip with a visit to the Zoo lights with the Christensen clan. 

My poor girls and myself got hit hard with a nasty cold/flu bug.  We left Arizona with goopy eyes and achy fevers. 

Cousins Caroline and Madeline had fun together this trip :)

We had a blast celebrating New Year's Eve with the Lewis crew, always making quite the bang with pots and pans and fireworks. 

On our drive back to Utah, we stopped in California at the beach.  We loved getting our toes in the sand and feeling the ocean breeze for a couple hours. 

The next morning we went to Disneyland with grandpa and grandma.  We were lucky to have them join our trip there and had a blast riding rides together. 

It started to sprinkle in the afternoon, so we wore our ponchos and umbrellas around the park. 

William was in heaven as we stayed until bedtime, despite Lucy's pink eye and the rain.  

We stayed the night at a nearby hotel and enjoyed a lazy morning at the pool and Downtown Disney before heading back to Utah. 

December 2017

Every year on December 4th is Pallister-Killian Syndrome Awareness Day. This year we held an "I Love Lucy" ice cream social PKS fundraiser.  We rented Provo Library's Bullock room and had a great turnout and donation pool. 

Many family and friends came and wore black and red to support PKS. 

We met Sierra Paterson for the first time, one of the only few others with PKS in the state of Utah.

I created a picture slideshow to music with information about PKS and Lucy. It was a wonderful evening and we felt so blessed to have wonderful support nearby. 

Orem's Univeristy Place mall had a "Quiet Santa" opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Santa in their own room.  It was for children with sensory sensitivity and for those overwhelmed with crowds or noise.  It was so wonderful to have Lucy interact with Santa on a positive note without being rushed through a line or have a specific agenda.  Santa played with Lucy on the ground with bubbles and a toy train.  It was so nice having our own room without distractions or the possibility of running away from me. 

BYU had its' annual Christmas party in the Wilkinson Center with crafts, donuts and games. 

Provo city downtown held a "turning on the lights" celebration with fireworks and vendors.  We stopped in Pioneer Book for the incredible green tree book display. 

Ben's Strategy department held their adult Christmas "ugly sweater" party at Old Spaghetti Factory and Ben and his boss wore matching cat sweaters. 

We attended a few different Christmas parties through church, therapies and with friends. 

We were really excited to get tickets to the Stringtown Polar Express in Lindon. 

It was a miniature train ride for the family with a visit to the "North Pole" to see Santa. The kids loved it. 

William and Lucy enjoyed going to Let's Play Music, Sound Beginnings preschool once a week. 

We loved their teacher, Ms. Lily and Lucy loved learning the songs, instruments, and stories.

Maddie was the best baby all semester and mostly napped or watched quietly behind the kids. 

For Activity Days the girls made homemade gingerbread houses before Christmas break. 

We had a December visit to SLC for doctor appointments, visiting my grandparents, and seeing the temple lights.  It was a chilly, beautiful night. 

We hosted our third annual neighbor music family night.  This year we introduced everyone to the chimes and had fun ringing in the season. 

Before heading to Arizona for the break we went to a BYU basketball game with my best friend, Maren, and her husband, from Texas. 

Lucy's PKS friends around the USA put together a Christmas jammies exchange, and Lucy got these ones from a family in Minnesota.  They also sent her Frozen stuffed animals and a book.