A tradition we all adore is traveling out to Tucson to be with the Rustands after Christmas. It really is the best medicine to remedy the let down of the end of Christmas!!! The kids are now so good for that 6 hour drive. So good. It used to be stressful.... not at all anymore. We listen to music, watch movies, and often once the two youngest are asleep we listen to Jim Gaffigan... love that guy. It is such a blast to celebrate with the whole Rustand crew on New Year's Eve. Beth always goes all out and this year was no different. She had rented knocker balls for the kids to roll around in all evening. We had a warm fire and fireworks! The kids put together cute little jars to commemorate the year and open next new year's! It showed their height, hand print and contained all of the highlights of the year. Of course we played games, took pictures and rang in the new year at 11:00 instead of 12 since we had rolled in around 1:30 the night before~!
Other highlights included meeting Ella's horse Denali; going out on the town sans kids, traveling to Old Town Tucson where the boys finally were able to buy cap guns- coveted since friends here in SD had bought them in AZ over the summer. Loved riding their new hover boards, playing basketball and soccer, chatting, and just relaxing. It was a wonderful trip! And absolutely adored the gift Beth gave me this year-- a drawing of our family!!! We just love these friends of ours.
