We just got back from our christmas trip to Utah to visit our families. It was surprisingly a pretty fun trip. We didn't do a ton, but spent a lot of time with family. We went to the bean museum and the moa at byu with my family, began to hike the y and made it to the first switch back, ate chinese food, hot pot, and Indian food, and then with Spencer's family we mainly stayed home and played with Leah and Kyle and Sachi. We went to Star Wars rogue one on Tuesday while grandma and grandpa watched dean and Leah. Wednesday night susan and becca and her boyfriend came over for dinner so we chatted and spent time with them. Thursday ? we went over to say hi to grandma Stewart at night. Friday I think we just hung out all day, and we bought a small sled and took dean sledding at the park. Dean didn't love it. We had fresh snow that week so we could make a snowman too. Friday we went to grandma Stewart's for her christmas party. It was really fun and there was minimal drama this year. Dean got a big woody toy story doll from grandma, and she bought spencer and I a little people nativity set that I was so excited to get! (It had been on my secret wish list on amazon) As always, we won way too much stuff at her merry christmas bingo game. We celebrated christmas morning saturday morning at the stewarts. we opened presents, dean got a lego train set, leah got a little people doll house. (Among other things.) Sachi and I got new boots and spencer and Kyle got "eat sleep ping pong" shirts. We gave mom and dad stewart a family video of our "2016 year in review". They also distributed our family reunion video to everyone. We gave kyle and sachi pass of all passes to the water park and other fun places. We probably should have given better gifts, but hopefully they enjoyed at least 5 seconds of the 30 minute video. :/
Saturday was the shand party, and mike & Jen & Ben & Allison came, and Ann Marie and her whole family came. Ann Marie gave a special gift to Leah of a little doll blanket and pillow with pillow case that (Naima Gwen Shand) (mom)'s mother made Ann Marie when she was a child. She said it was one of the only things in her life anyone ever made her, and she kept it all these years and her children played with it and now they wanted to pass it to Leah to remind her of her heritage. It was sweet.
Sunday we had grandiose plans to go to church with grandma stewart, but we awoke to almost 8 inches of snow and more falling so we spent the whole morning shoveling snow and getting ready to go so that by the time we were ready we missed church. So we just went over to visit grandma Stewart and spencer shoveled her whole drive way for her. We ate lunch with her and stayed until Spencer's parents caught up with us and we visited for a bit and then left to drive to my parents house.
I guess everyone at my parents house waited for us to open gifts, so at around 5pm we all got there and opened stockings and exchanged gifts. Dean was spoiled rotten with all sorts of gifts. again. Get ready for a consumeristic christmas!: A curious George monkey doll, a car, Legos, lots of clothes, a train puzzle, and all sorts of other little things. I was also spoiled rotten. My dad gave me $300 for a new camera lens, and on top of that they got me all sorts of photo/video gear, like a collapsible bounce, a camera lens filter, and a sd card case. Also a new iPad case because my old one was falling apart. They spent too much on me for sure. Spencer got a roku stick and a new laptop case. I bought him a new timbuk2 backpack/side bag. And he let me buy myself a new coat for christmas, I guess. :) we got dean a Thomas the train life the flap book and a mr potato head. We got Leah the mrs potato head. I got my mom a speedo kickboard for swimming, and I got my dad/mom a waterproof iPod thing to listen to music with in the water. I don't know if they'll use it at all and I kindof felt stupid buying it if they didn't even want it, but whatever. It's the thought that counts, right? I asked my dad to return the lens and sd card case because they weren't the ones I wanted, and I figured they had already spent enough on us, but then spencer got a transfer to our bank account for the money for the lens filter and case, so I'm going to have to talk to him about that. We got Sam a shirt that says, "not an uncle, I'm a funcle" with thumbs pointing up, and a new pair of goggles for swimming. Sam loved playing with dean, and dean really liked Sam! They played together for a long time! Now I know who I need to be my babysitter if he's ever around. I think he's earned funcle status. When we skyped that afternoon with Joseph and Karen they shared the exciting news that they just found out Karen is pregnant! Everyone is really excited for them. Little Josephina. im guessing it'll be a girl. i guess they wanted to wait six months to start trying because they went to Guatemala on their honeymoon and were worried about Zika virus. Grandma Joanne was also there and played the accordion for us. She is making us a wool braided rug as her christmas present to us this year. She is still working on it. We had sirloin stake for christmas dinner. A pleasant break from ham.
Monday and Tuesday we were all pretty tired and stayed home most of the time. Tuesday spencer drove up to sandy to say goodbye again and also to meet up with old friends like trace, Parker, and joe. We stayed home and played and watched movies all day. I guess it was my parents anniversary so they went out to dinner alone. My grandma Allred kept asking where they were, and at one point something must have really clicked in her brain and she said she wanted to surprise them when they got home, so she jumped up and went to wait for them by the door to jump out and surprise them. It was funny. I have it on camera. She was in and out mentally the whole time we were there, but at least she seemed to remember me, and I could brainwash her into thinking I am her favorite grandchild. :) my family treats her alright, even if she is a pain in the butt sometimes.
We flew home Wednesday and were lucky to make great time with our airplane and train and bus to get back home. Today we have just been relaxing and decompressing. It has been a fun break, albeit a little busy. School starts for spencer next week on Tuesday. Back to the grind. I've heard some people say as they travel closer to hyde park their anxiety levels soar and peak because of their associations at the university, but so far at least I can say that as I near hyde park after a long trip my happiness levels soar and peak. I love chicago and hyde park. We have a great apartment and location and everyone talks to me wherever I go. I feel like I fit in here. There is room for me here. We have good friends and neighbors and great opportunities for childrearing and personal/career growth. I love our parks and beaches and city resources. We will be TAing for devin pope in our ward this next quarter. I have had steadyish jobs with mancl for the past couple years. I'm in a position to start moving forward and having more business as my schedule desires. Spencer is acing his classes and doing marvelously. Bravo! We are all healthy physically and happy mentally. We pay our tithing and serve as we can in our callings. We have fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment