Surprise! We'll be Home for Christmas!

Remember when Brandon was supposed to work Christmas Eve and therefore wasn't going to be able to go home to join every other member of his immediate family that were getting together to celebrate? Well, apparently everyone felt so badly for him that they campaigned for him to have the day off. We found out just a couple of weeks away from Christmas and in talking to his sister, Tara, decided that we should surprise the rest of the family. 

You're probably thinking, Hold on a second, Michelle, didn't you get a trip to Disneyland under the premise that you weren't going to be there for Christmas? Thank you for reminding me. Yes, our trip to the happiest place on earth was ridden with guilt, as we had found out a few days before that we'd be able to make it to Moscow. And bless her heart, Brenda had already mentioned our trip in their Christmas letter so everyone we saw at church mentioned the fact that we conned the parents into the trip. I like to think it wasn't a con. Everything was planned before we knew. And we did manage to have some fun in spite of the guilt, thank you very much.

It got a bit tricky when we chatted with everyone and pretended to be devastated that we wouldn't be able to make it. But we managed to keep it together and everyone was floored. Tara planned a party at her parents' house so everyone would be together and said she'd sent Eric to Spokane to pick up a Christmas present. Eric and Jake picked us up at the airport and took us straight there.
Sidenote: Brandon had his second celebrity sighting at the airport in a couple of months. To be specific, his second NBA celebrity sighting. The first was Allen Iverson at Carl's Jr. in the Las Vegas airport. Brandon said he didn't look happy, so he didn't brave talking to him. The second was at the Salt Lake airport and guess who noticed him first? That's right. I picked out a former NBA star. Granted, at 7'6" he was hard to miss. Yep, Mr. Shawn Bradley. I had taken a few photos from afar, then channeled my friend Kaylinn and made Brandon get as close to him as possible. He was busy chatting with other people so he didn't bother him, instead Brandon looked as nonchalant as possible and Teagan decided to pick her nose to add to the air of indifference.

We debated about how to pull it off the whole way and each plan hinged on whether Teagan was going to be cooperative or a total pill as she'd proven to be most of the drive. She got a quick nap in and was in fairly good spirits by the time we arrived. So, we set her up on the porch, rang the doorbell and ran to hide. Our brother-in-law answered the door and said "Hi Teagan!" Brenda said that she was going through all the Teagans she knew in her head and started to run to the door when she realized it was Lucky #13 (she's the 13th grandchild) at the door all by her lonesome. After waiting an uncomfortable amount of time, we popped out and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Tears and hugs, tears and hugs. It was awesome. Sadly, Tiff, Shawn and their families weren't there, but it gave us more surprise opportunities.
We used Teagan again and just left her running around downstairs with the 9 other kids while Brandon and I waited upstairs, timing how long it took for Tiff to notice the addition. She surprised us and noticed her almost immediately and we got to pop out and say hello. When Shawn got there, we just tried to blend in with everyone else and see how long it took. He did a double take when he turned to Brandon to start a conversation - it was pretty funny.
Everyone was so excited to have us there (or they made us feel that way, anyway) running around changing sheets and moving suitcases to make room for us. We dug right into ice cream and raided the dessert table - one of the highlights of Christmas :)

 

Another highlight was the snow. It's been a while since either of us have seen snow, and I can guarantee Teagan doesn't remember when she saw it last. This was the first time she'd been old enough to actually enjoy it. So we dusted off the snowsuit we'd left in Moscow and borrowed some snow boots from her cousin, Camden, and sent her out into the fray. Her first reaction to snow? Eat it. Just eat it. She couldn't get enough - and there was plenty. She started out eating it off her mittens and soon realized that particular vehicle wasn't getting the white stuff into her gob nearly fast enough. She got on her hands and knees and buried her face in the snow and ate her way out. It was freshly fallen and the Richards now have no pets to speak of (RIP Buffy & Chester) so none of it was yellow. I'd say her first real frolic in the snow was a success. And she was plenty hydrated by the end of it, so there was that.

Teagan wasn't the only one who enjoyed some fun in the snow. They didn't eat it by the mittenful, but Shawn and Brandon found other ways to have a good time. What started out as me on assignment from their mother to get a photo of them turned into a full blown photo shoot. From a 10 paces duel to snow angels to bottoming out on the swing, they were an absolute riot. When these two get together, you can't help but laugh.

We piled into a convoy of vehicles and headed to Lewiston for a buffet and a tour of the lights in a nearby park. The lights were amazing. They had an old train draped in thousands of lights, tons of trees in every conceivable colour, dancing penguins, an igloo, giant gingerbread men and the hit of the evening: a dance floor connected to lights surrounded by heated benches. Everybody wins. The kids danced the night away, stomping on sections of flooring that made the lights blink on and off and we sat roasting our rumps and laughing at them. That is, until the theme from A Charlie Brown Christmas came on and Manda, Buddy and I couldn't resist hopping up and doing some of the classic moves. So much family fun.

New on the docket for Christmas Eve this year after the traditional (and delicious) steak dinner was a talent show. Piano playing, singing and dancing - it was so cute. Then, as is Richards tradition, the kids acted out The Nativity while Grandpa read from Luke. Casting was inspired and last year's "babies" were cast as sheep. Three sheep two and under were quite a handful for the poor shepherds. I think the donkey actually stepped in at one point to help.

One of the sheep embraced her Las Vegas roots and posed for a picture that I couldn't have planned. Too funny.

On to Christmas morning...Despite the fact that we surprised them and the fact that we'd already received our Christmas money, Chuck & Brenda went out of their way (that is, ran around like chickens with their heads cut off) for days, picking up presents for us to open and make us feel even more special on Christmas morning. I know, right? It was wonderful. Also madness. Five families opening gifts at the same time, it was the best kind of craziness.
Unfortunately, we had to fly out that evening in order for Brandon to get back to work on the 26th, but we had a wonderful time and owe so much to the Richards for making it a Christmas to remember and a surprise never to forget.