Walton Christmas–After Christmas Fun
On Friday, the 26th, Mom, Chris, Dan and Sarah and I started the morning exercising downstairs. We slowly got ready, straightened up and took off to see the Hobbit 3. Ryan was SO excited! While we were gone, Scott and Elisha showed up. They had driven half way on Christmas night and arrived by about 2:00. We were so excited to see them – especially little baby Owen! Dan and Sarah made Tortellini Soup, we played games of 7 Wonders, Splendor and Tenzi. Then we exchanged presents with Scott and Elisha and then watched slideshows of pictures Mom brought of when she was young. So fun to see together. More games. All the girl cousins slept in Chris and my room on the floor and had so much fun giggling until midnight.
Saturday, the 27th Elisha, Sarah and I exercised at the Cordera gym. Then we took off for THE SPRINGS – a trampoline place that the kids had received coupons for in their stockings. It was really fun bouncing around, playing dodge ball and watching the guys do basketball dunks. At the end Chris asked if they would play ‘Christmas’ by Michael Buble through the loud speakers – which they did! It was so fun to jump around and video for the Christmas highlights video that Chris wants to put together. We sang that song all throughout the week and I’m sure whenever I hear it, it will remind me of this Walton Christmas. Such a fun song. The trampoline place was not all happy, though. Brian made a bad jump and injured his back badly. He was in a lot of pain and had to lie down at the side. He spent the next couple of days and nights recovering. It was a rough week for him.
After the SPRINGS we went shopping. Chris and I left the kids at home and went over to the Shops at Briargate to look around and then went to pick up cakes for Emily’s birthday with Mom and Dad. Amy and Chris made Chicken Pile Up for Dinner.
Sunday, the 28th everyone came with us to 9:00 church. So fun to have everyone together filling up two rows. Emily was recognized up on the stand for finishing all of her primary requirements and turning 12. We came home to eat leftovers and then celebrated Emily’s 12th birthday with cake and presents. Mike and Carly made French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup for Sunday Dinner and then we had our Walton Family Lip Sync Battle – which was so much fun!
With all kinds of delicious leftovers in this house, this boy has to make a peanut butter and honey sandwich. No surprise.
Emily’s Birthday Celebrations…
Monday, the 29th was our all day WALTON CHRISTMAS VIDEO making day. It was SO much fun. Mike and Carly were the brains behind the whole operation and then we all collaborated and added the details. It really was so fun to do. The whole video is shot in half speed and then sped up… so Carly slowed down the music and we learned to lip sync and walk R E A L L Y slowly. That was pretty hysterical to figure out. Everyone not singing moved at normal speed. The end product makes it look like the singers are normal speed and everyone else is moving really fast. We practiced three times all the way through – making improvements here and there. It’s a one take so it just flows the entire time. We had to plan who would be in the background and how you would get to your next part. I’m glad the ‘best’ one wasn’t the one where Chris takes off his coat and hits me in the face. The bloopers would be really funny!
Click here if you haven’t seen it yet… Walton Christmas - What Christmas Means to Me I just had to watch it again. It makes me smile.
As soon as we had used up all good light for videoing we called it quits, left the kids at home and headed to Marigold’s for an adult dinner and then to the movie, Unbreakable – which was really inspiring. Really great day.
Tuesday, the 30th. (Chris and my 19th Anniversary!) Mike and Carly were planning on heading back to Arizona on this day, but because of the bad snowstorm they decided to wait it out and spend another day with us. Yay! That gave us time to go out for a Girls Lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. Fun to hear the whole story about Carly and Mike from Carly’s perspective. Love these great women.
Lots of pool was played while we were gone.
