Christmas with the Hoyts

Hailey, Golda, and Gramps :)

 We loved spending time at the "Tree Farm" with Pete's family. Pete's siblings are getting pretty widespread as time goes on. However, for a couple precious days, all of the Hoyt kids were together. This was no small feat, considering there's 11 of them and they came from all across the country (Utah, Arizona, Vermont, Texas, Georgia, and Washington). It was a full and happy house! :)

Here's some highlights from our visit:

* Brother time. Pete got to spend good quality time with his brothers, who hadn’t all been together in the same place in a decade. The love and friendship all the Hoyt boys share is one of my favorite things about them.

Workin' time. Pete missed this picture because he was, well, workin' :)

A big congrats to Ush, for winning the "manliest photo" contest ;)

John and Eric shooting guns

Lauren, Eric, Tim, and Daivid opening presents

The football games were plentiful

*Sister time. I have so many wonderful sisters-in-law and spending time with them was sooo fun and good for the soul. Whether running together, baking, or reading, the sister bonding was abundant! It was also fun to see and play with my cute nieces...they're getting so grown up!

Hailey and Ashley

Heidi, Hannah, and Ash walking to the riv

Getting ready to eat yummy food.
Notice that Hannah had to forego wearing her red matching top in order to wear her styling' Wal-Mart turtleneck.

Lauren, Ems, and Hailey reading books

Hannah with the cute nieces: Ivy, Hannah Z, and Megan

Me and Hannah! Thanks, Toin, for giving me some camera pointers!

* Princess Diaries Marathon. Me and John B watched the Princess Diaries (1 and 2) movies together and I am happy to report that they are still as awesome as they were back when I first loved them (in middle school, or, mayyybeeee that was high school?) ;)

*Shopping and Mexican Food. I went baby clothes shopping with cute Golda and Sosh (Hailey) and it was so fun! We met up with the boys afterwards at a Mexican Restaurant in Ferndale. Good family + Good Mexican food = Good times :)

* Watching these crazies jump into the freezing cold Pacific Ocean:

Ashley, Heidi, Brian, Hannah

*Singing Christmas songs: Simple but sublime. We made quite a sizable choir and it was beautiful to hear all the different parts harmonizing together in song after song.

Paul, Brian, Todd, Asher, and Eli

Even Ems joined in! Actually, she just really liked the hymn book

Hailey, Ashley, me, and Hilary

We are so grateful we got to visit both our families for Christmas and are missing them lots these days!