Creating Memories: Happy 2010 New Year!

Wow, 2010! It has been a hectic last few weeks! It was so fun to be almost all together for Christmas! We really missed Sean! Doug and I stayed Christmas Eve night at Blayne & Aerin's. Brenton, Melissa, & Kingston came over also. We woke up Christmas morning to happy and excited children and adults! After opening stockings, Brenton making breakfast burritos, we finally settled down to opening presents. It was so special to see the kids opening gifts and the adults also. Everyone had a great time! We were able to Skype with Sean after opening gifts. Maddy kept trying to feed him through the computer and he was very cooperative in opening his mouth everytime she would send the spoon in his direction. Gavin had a great time shooting his Nerf gun at Sean via the computer also. Doug, Blayne & Aerin went to see a movie in the late afternoon. Brenton & Melissa took Tori & Gavin to see the new Chipmunk movie, too. Maddy, Kingston, and I went out to visit G'ma Pauline and the family. We enjoyed Brenton's birthday dinner that evening and then went home to pack for our trip south the next day. Saturday, Aerin, Doug & I cleaned while Blayne & Brenton loaded the car. Doug & I drove over to Melissa's parents to pick the kids up and we headed south to CA. The day was beautiful and we had a great time going down. We arrived in Fresno at Sean's about 12:30am and spent the nght at his place. The next morning, we got up, went out for breakfast and headed south to Oceanside. Kingston was tired of being in the car by the time we got home! We had a great week visiting with the kids and celebrating Brenton's 27th birthday. Thursday, we drove back up to Fresno and spent the evening with Sean, and Doug's sisters' family (Scott & Sharon). We had a great time and then spent the night over at Sean's again. Friday was breakfast and on the road again. The roads were pretty clear and the drive was going well; so Doug & I decided to just drive on home last night. We are recovering today! :) We are so blessed to have such an awesome family and to get to spend time with them! I, of course, shed a few tears everytime we had to say good-bye; but hope to visit again soon. I love that we live close to our other kids and g'kids to see them and enjoy them often! We pray that 2010 will be a successful year for all and that we will always be able to appreciate all of our many blessings of the gospel, family, friends, neighbors, etc! Oh, Kingston had two front bottom teeth come in during the Christmas season!.............Mom