Walking in a Wintry Zombieland

We were so excited for Christmas this year.  Camille's entire family decided to rent a cabin in the mountains outside of Heber and spend the entire holiday there.  We had been planning the event for almost a year and could barley wait to get there.  Grady was so excited that he would run around the tree at our house, grabbing the presents, throwing them like they were balls, and then sit on them.  It was very hard to be too mad because we knew he was just so excited...plus, when he sat on the presents, it looked pretty dang cute.

 We arrived at the cabin on Friday night.  It was already decorated and looked very beautiful.  Most of the remaining family members arrived throughout the evening.

 The setting was perfect...

 On Saturday morning we woke up and cooked a monster breakfast.  Adam, who feels as though he is the next Bobby Flay, helped cooked the sausage and eggs.  The Zollingers cooked everything else.  We gorged ourselves.

 During and after breakfast an intense putting together of a puzzle took place.  It only took them about four hours to finally finish.  Adam, who was exhausted from being Bobby Flay, went to the basement to watch football and a dragon movie on SyFy.  They had a projection screen that covered an entire wall.  Mainly what he was doing was napping.  Grady played non-stop with all the cousins that were there.

 That night before dinner Adam was still a bit tired, but was pumped for dinner.

 We had an ugly sweater Christmas dinner.  Adam had on a cardigan sweater that had leather strips sown into the fabric and dolman sleeves.  Grady's sweater was so hideous that many went blind when they saw it.

 Some of the men, including Adam, went for the GQ pose.  Chase, who is in the middle actually had an entire 80's outfit he found at the DI.  Adam kept calling him "Weekend at Bernies" and did the dead man dance.  Meanwhile, Ben, who is on the end in red, had a sweater that read something to the effect, "Happiness is a furry friend."  The sweater was a joke itself and needed no commentary from Adam.

 Aunt Lez did an amazing job decorating the table  for dinner.  Note:  If you look close you will see Brandon in white.  He was dressed as Cousin Eddie and had every detail nailed, even down to the eggnog cup.  Brilliant!!

 At this point you are wondering why the title had anything to do with Zombies. About an hour before dinner Camille's sister, Jill the pickle, started to not feel well.  Jill, unlike Adam, actually is an excellent chef and had cooked most of dinner.  As we sat down to eat we heard puking coming from the bathroom.  The flu had struck in the form of the Grinch for Christmas.

 We all tried hard to enjoy the meal, Alex even dressed up as a Wiseman pirate.  However, in the back of everyone's mind was the knowledge that we were all playing roulette.  By eating a huge Christmas Eve dinner, we knew our stomachs would be full of potential puke.  But, we all threw caution to the wind and pigged out.

 After we ate, we opened presents.  Camille's cousins received some awesome PJ's.  Chase's PJ's were a little tight, but he enjoyed being able to flex his muscles.

 The last pic of an almost perfect Christmas Eve.  But....then....between 2 and 4 a.m. we could hear people running all over the house and the toilets flushing with frequency.  We knew it wasn't Santa because instead of hearing Ho! Ho! Ho!, we heard heave! heave! heave!  During the night about half of the 25 or so people in the house got the flu.

 We were staying in the loft that overlooked the main room.  In the morning Grady woke up and looked to see what Santa brought him.  He was literally shaking with excitement.

 The main reason for his shaking was that Santa brought him his very own basketball hoop.  Upon observing the hoop, Grady ran to the hoop, shoved all the presents and stockings out of the way and proceeded to "shoot da ball".

 We could not pull him away from the hoop.  Throughout the day if he were more than five feet away he would have to look back with longing eyes and with all sincerity of heart exclaim, "Hip! Hiiiiip!" Which of course meant hoop.

 Grady also got a winder cap that tied at the bottom because he has a tendency to rip his off.  That Santa was so smart.

 Grady thought the hat was so great that Dad needed to wear it too.  Especially while reading books.

 Mom did not have to wear the hat while looking through the stocking.

 We made it through the morning with a skeleton crew of people.  However, it was like a horror movie.  A person looking very zombie like would emerge from the basement and look around, only to run and puke, and then re-submerge to the basement.  The rest of us would look around the room nervously thinking to ourselves, "Who will be next."  Then you would see the someone looking pale and squeamish, and you knew, they were next.  Around 4pm Adam started to feel sick and went and napped for a couple of hours.  While he was sleeping another two or three went down.  In all, only 5 people did not get sick.

 Luckily, Grady never got sick, but we were really worried he might.  An 18 month old wondering around a huge nice cabin puking everywhere did not sound ideal.  So, we made an executive decision to load up and leave.  We were so sad to leave early.  We had really enjoyed our time there and wanted to have more fun, but with everyone being so sick, we felt it was time return home.

 Grady's Grandpa gave him the "Thirsty Cowboy."  A gun with holster and canteen.  He would not take it

off. 

 The next morning was we got up and Grady wanted to play with his toys.  Adam still did not feel well and just kind of laid around helping out Grady.

 Grady was so excited to have all the new things around he had to touch everything he possibly could.  Including Adam's new ipod and Camille's makeup.  Note:  Grady is still wearing the Thirsty Cowboy.

 Camille modeling her new headlamp...totally sexy!!

 Grady attempting to bring sexy back by making the same pose...and still wearing the Thirsty Cowboy...and still playing with Adam's ipod.

 On Tuesday morning Adam started to feel a bit better, so we put on Grady's snow suit and decided to get some fresh air.

 Adam claims he looks very much like Bigfoot in this picture, but Camille thought it was a nice photo of a dad pulling his boy in his new Christmas sled.

 Grady loved the sled...that is until it tipped over and he fell in the snow.  After that, he refused to get in the sled and would only walk up to the sled and kick it.  Ah well, he was still a cute little snow boy.

Despite the zombie like conditions of Christmas, we loved being around family and loved feeling the Christmas spirit. 

A very Grady Christmas time

Grady is getting very excited for Christmas this year.  Whenever Camille is wrapping presents he must push and shove his way until he is sitting right in her lap and helping.   Note:  Helping = destroying.  We also had our ward Christmas party where we were supposed to dress up.  Grady found an old princess crown and thought he looked pretty sharp wearing it.  Adam insisted he looked like a wiseman.

 Princess Grady wore the crown for the better part of the day.

 One day at church an older couple that we sit near approached us and asked if it would be OK if they made Grady a wooden train for Christmas.  The husband stated he was a wood worker by trade and wanted to make a special train just for Grady.  The couple said they wanted to do something nice for Grady because each week they love to watch him during church and he brings them so much joy.

 We anticipated the train being a little train...instead it turned out to be about six feet long.  Each car was about a foot long and six inches tall.  It also has removable parts, i.e. logs, roofs, movable doors, etc.  When the older couple dropped off the train they said it may be a bit advanced for Grady.  Within seconds Grady was into some heavy playing and rarely has stopped.  Soon after receiving the train we started to find pieces of the train in the tree and/or ornaments in the train.

 You can see the pure excitement in Grady's eyes.  He very much has enjoyed the train.

 Grady had to model his new Christmas PJ's, the train, and a part of the tree.  Note:  He even had Christmas socks on.  When asked what Santa says Grady will give you a hardy HO HO HO!!!

 At daycare they have made some strides at getting into the Christmas spirit.  Grady thinks he is the funniest person on the planet, and for the most part he is.  He especially finds himself funny when he puts things on his face or head.  He stumbled upon these antlers while playing and thought he was hilarious for wearing them.  The daycare lady couldn't help but take a pic. 

 Of course, what says funny more than a crazy face and an extreme lean back.  This is Grady's "Look at me I am funny" face.

We have been hard at work getting ready for Christmas and looking forward to spending it with family and friends.  Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.

Gobble Gobble

During our marriage we have strived to equalize the amount of time we get to see each side of our families during the holidays.  We have found that alternating years between families has worked best.  Thanksgiving this year was with Adam's family.  Since the dawn of time Adam's Mom and her sisters have gathered together at a church in Salt Lake.  All the boys get there early and play basketball for 5 hours while everyone else visits. It is always a great time.  This year was no different, other than the fact that most of the boys are getting too old to play more than an hour of basketball.  After we gorged ourselves we, with Adam's immediate family, all stayed at the downtown Marriott in Salt Lake.  It was amazing!!  We had the pool all to ourselves.

Grady was a bit nervous at first. He only liked to be held closely, but soon loved being in the water.  He would splash around.  However, he loved chasing his cousins around the pool like he was a shark.  We swam for a couple of hours.  Monster tantrums were thrown upon his exit from the pool!!

The next morning we all made our way over to Little America for the breakfast buffet of champions.  Come on, what is a holiday without eating as much as you possibly can every meal.  This is the almost complete family outside the restaurant.  We were missing Adam's brother and sister and their families.  Maybe next year!!

After we pigged out for breakfast, we stopped in a new toy store that opened in the Grand America Hotel.  It was freaking awesome!!  A lot of the items were interactive and Adam and Dylan took full advantage of playing on the giant keyboard.  Adam said he felt like Tom Hanks in 'Big.'

 What does the day after Thanksgiving mean to you?  Well to a majority of Phillips' family members it means shopping.  So off to the Gateway mall we went.  If you look closely most of the women and girls were smiling with excitement.  Look closely at brother Geoff and Father Jim...their expressions are more of pain.  So, instead of shopping, we escaped and saw Arthur Christmas.

MORE FOOD!!!  After all the shopping and movie watching, and because we hadn't eaten enough already (tic), we stopped off at Trolley Square to eat at the Spaghetti Factory.  As always, it was incredible.  Note:  Adam has developed a theory.  During the holidays the malls and shopping outlets infuse a large number of vendors making those candied covered almonds only to tempt Adam to eat more.  And not only do these vendors make the entire mall smell amazing, they give out free samples.  But, one cannot stop at eating just a couple of nuts....NOOOO!! One, mainly Adam, must go out and buy a couple of bags.  Pure evil!!  But, evil that tastes sooooooo good.

 At the end of a couple of days of running around, not enough sleep, swimming, and playing with cousins, Grady was POOPED!!

 After Thanksgiving we of course HAD to set up our Christmas stuff.  Never mind that Camille has been listening to Christmas music for almost a month already.  Luckily for us, Camille's dad was staying with us for a couple of days and was willing to help us out.  He was not Santa's only little helper.  Grady really enjoys helping.  He loves to help his mom fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, and sweep the floor.  Most of the time it all ends up being a big mess, but Adam has always strongly advocated that Grady learn slavery while in his youth.  In this pic, Grady is helping with the tree stand.

 Camille's dad, Grady, and Camille all went and picked out the tree while Adam was at work.  It was a great tree and Adam was relieved the tree picking pressure was off.  While sawing off the base and trimming the branches, of course, Santa's little helper was not far away.  The ENTIRE time the tree was being trimmed Grady was right there saying "Twee, twee, twee, twee..."  Note:  Adam's pants are a thing of beauty!!  Not only is he wearing work gloves, but no coat, and a winter cap.  Adam very easily could have been mistaken for a homeless crazy person.

 Santa's little slave...errr, Helper.  He has been fascinated with the Christmas decorations.  He was so excited when Adam brought in all the boxes with the decorations in them he ran around screaming.  Once he calmed down, he felt it important to dust off the boxes before we opened them up.  Note:  Notice Grady's facial expression.  His new thing is to make a face like that, and then talk in a low, gravely voice.  Usually he is just blabbing incoherent words...but it is really funny.

 To further help Grady get into the Christmas spirit, his Grammy gave him a Nativity that he could play with.  Baby Jesus, who is in the pic, can be placed in the manger, upon which, music will play.  Grady cannot get enough of it.  The song played is a jazzy rendition of "Away in a Manger."  Grady dances intensely to this song.  Half the time Baby Jesus is Baby Jesus...the other half the time, Baby Jesus is a ball used to throw touchdowns with.

 The Nativity is heavily played with.  Every animal, including Grady, must sip big long slurps from the well, after which, must make a huge exhaling noise of refreshment.  If this is not done, you are quickly rebuked by Grady.

To say the least, the Phillips household is in full Christmas mode.

See Spot Run

The older Grady gets, the funner holidays seem to be.  This year we have enjoyed unseasonably warm weather.  We are not complaining at all.  Most of the time it almost feels as though we are in Hawaii...OK, maybe not.  Anyway, the leaves have been spectacular this year.  But, as the year gets late, the leaves have fallen in droves.  Grady has decided he his a big boy helper and wants to do everything we are doing.  Adam loves this concept of slavery and immediately put Grady to work in the yard.

 However, within seconds a revolt took place and Grady decided he no longer is a slave and wanted to play in the leaves.  (NOTE:  Adam was not pleased with the jersey selection, but could not dispute that he look pretty handsome in his Wyo jersey.  Note II:  Do not fret, he also has a BYU jersey.)

 Grady's revolution then turned into burying himself in the leaves.  If you look closely you can see the leaves stuck to his chin.  Grady had just eaten and his face was sticky.

 Needless to say, Grady has given up a life of slavery and has decided having fun is way better.

 Grady dressed as the infamous dog for Halloween.  All of Adam's Brother's kids have worn the dog costume and the honor was bestowed upon us to carry on that tradition.  Grady was a good doggie and sure fit the part.  He was able to sit... 

 He was able to roll over...

 He was able to run and play in the leaves...

 And finally, he was able to beg many people for treats and balls.

The nose and whisker makeup did not come easy for the Grady dog.  He refused to have it put on, so us being parents of the year pinned him down and forced the makeup on him.  So, Adam looks happy, but Grady looks mad...because he was.

 And what dog is not complete without his Scoobie-snacks!!  While trying to get a pic of him he decided to just plop right down on a pumpkin and eat his snacks.

The only thing this doggie was concerned about; however, was making sure he, at all times, had a ball in his possession.  Any ball would do, including pumpkins, rubber balls, basketballs, footballs, mini-football helmets, and of course when dad couldn't find a ball, a squished up napkin that looked like a ball.

 While we were wrestling Grady and trying to get a pic, some random neighbor showed up and took a pic of our family.  It was kind of unexpected, but we said sure, why not get a family pic on a holiday...very novel idea.  We had a great Halloween and loved visiting our friends and loved getting little trick or treaters.  Grady thought that was the funnest part of the day.  Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!