Christmas 2008- Burley Idaho

Merry Christmas! We spent Christmas this year in Burley, ID with John's family. We always love being up there and after all, who doesn't dream of a white Christmas?

On Christmas Eve, a special visitor came to see us... Jack was pretty excited, but his 4 year old cousin Madisyn was pretty sure Santa's laugh and voice sounded just like grandpa...? Hummm?

"I saw momma kissin Santa Clause..." ;-)

Santa brought us all a present: Pajamas!

Then we had a Christmas program. Here's our sweet Mary and Joseph.

I just love this picture of Jack. I think he's hilarious with his huge questioning eyes, his pant leg up, his belly showing, that expression on his face, and he is of course scratching his arm. Mine, John's and Jack's skin basically freaked out when we got to Utah. Our skin is very use to the humid climate of North Carolina. My wedding ring finger broke out in a rash, Jack scratched till he bled and John's knuckles cracked.

Christmas morning, Jack woke up to this beautiful train set... and he didn't leave this table for the next 4 days :-)

Christmas Morning Breakfast. Jack enjoyed a little bit of everything: Quiche, Orange Rolls, Fruit Platter, and the real love of his life... water. He begs for water all the time and drinks at least 6 sippy cups every day. (No, that is NOT Jack's Dr. Pepper!! I believe that belongs to Uncle Jesse.)

John's sister Hailey made the "Merry X-mas" Veggie platter for Christmas Dinner. Very creative Hailey!!
The Gochnour Family has adopted the Soelberg's tradition to do "Secret Pals". This tradition is when you draw someone's name and you have to make them a homemade gift. This year I had my father-in-law and I made him a "Grandpa's Growing Grandkids" board. It was so fun to measure Jack and Madisyn, but even more exciting to think of future grandkids that will go on that board :-)

John had his little brother Jesse and he made him a RISK board. He bought 2 pieces of wood, then sketched a world map with a wood burner, and colored in the countries with colored pencil. I must say it was pretty awesome! My husband is so talented, what can I say? Hailey had me and made a beautiful black marble tile with the nativity scene on it (I didn't get a pic of it and it's stored away in our Christmas decorations) and John's mom had him. I'll have to take a picture of it, but she painted a square piece of wood and put a magnet board on the top half (for a family picture) then vinyl letters on the bottom half that say:
"Family: Life's Greatest Blessing"

John's brother's both got guns for Christmas. John is still sportin his own natural guns if you know what I mean!!
We started these stockings my first Christmas we spent with Gochnour family and here we are (just a few years later finishing them!) That's how we roll... But this time instead of making one for just me we got to add Jack and baby #2!! Once again, that's how we roll... Thanks for the craft party ladies :-)

Jack and Madisyn hanging out with Grandpa! They love to read stories.

Gochnour Family picture: Top row: Jesse, Dave, Dad (Steve), John, Kyerin,
Next row: (Kyerin's little girl) Madisyn, Mom (Suzanne) Hailey, Melanie, Jack
We missed John's oldest sister, Kyanne this year. The snow storm was so bad between SLC and Burley, she wasn't able to make the drive on Christmas Eve. We missed you Kyanne!


Proud Grandparents!

We drove down to SLC the night before our flight back to Durham and got there about 1 hour before they turned off the lights at temple square. Although I'm 100% sure Jack would have loved to go with us, mom Gochnour was very nice to take him to Kyanne's house so we could have a little John and Melanie time! Both of us didn't have our wedding rings on (mine was giving me a horrible rash and John's got lost in the snow) so I felt like we were dating all over again... but then I remembered I was pregnant! Nope, definitely married :-)

Beautiful Temple Square. I must say it was very strange to not have Jack with us... no stroller/little boy running around meant we got to hold hands the entire time! It was so fun.

December 30th, our flight didnt' leave till the afternoon, so John drove down to Provo real quick to eat breakfast with his best friend Joe Preston and we stayed in SLC to make gingerbread houses at Kyanne's. Jack is checkin out what's in cousin Madisyn's bowls, making sure he's not missing out on any good candy!

The finished product. Jack was very proud ... actually I think he was most excited because he got to eat all the left over candy that didn't fit on the house :-)
Thank you Baba Gochnour (or shall we say Costco?) for the fun gingerbread house! After a fun morning of candy and gingerbread houses, we grabbed Cafe Rio for lunch right before our flight home to Durham (where real Mexican food is VERY hard to find).

Merry Christmas until next year!