Holidays 2010

We anticipated the holidays for months, they came, we had a blast and now we're back to boring January. It's cold, it's wet, and we're scrounging for reasons to party. That's right... we had some friends over to play games for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Have we ever celebrated that holiday before? Never. We're just still in party mode. Here's the fabulous details of our holiday season!

Thanksgiving was the day after Boston's birthday and the Campbell's were planning on heading to UT for the weekend, but the roads were horrible, and they decided not to make the drive, and it worked out great for Doug and I. We had some of both of our families over to Doug's parents. We combined dinner traditions and had a fun laid back Thanksgiving, with plenty of yummy food, games and the annual tradition of checking out the Black Friday ads.

Speaking of Black Friday... we left the boys at their Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's house overnight while we literally spent the WHOLE night shopping. We stood outside of Target for about 30 minutes in 6* weather waiting to get it. Are we crazy? Pretty much.

December was spent getting ready for Christmas, an early Christmas Party with each of our families, since we'd be traveling for the holidays and making lots of goodies to deliver to neighbors and friends. I always love the month of December and the preparations for Christmas.

We headed to UT on horrible roads on the 18th of December, spent the day hanging out with Mike and Sheila, taking the boys to Temple Square to see the lights and nativities, and then to Uncle Vic and Aunt Nyla's to stay for the weekend. We were able to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert with David Archuleta sunday morning with Doug's parents and it was wonderful. So many talented people performing, and President Monson was also there. It was so neat, as always to be the presence of a prophet.

Sweet Uncle Vic drove us to the airport bright and early Monday morning, and we made our way across the country, arriving in Baltimore early evening. We finally arrived at Alan and Amber's house and then the fun began! We celebrated Doug's birthday, made gingerbread houses, went to Hershey World, baked too many cookies, and played game after game. We went to the movies on Christmas Eve, had a wonderful dinner, acted out the Nativity with the kids, then did the Lee Family Christmas Program, written by Amber's dad after the kids had gone to bed. We were reminded of the humble birth of our Savior and the perfect life he lived. It was a fabulous day, and we were so lucky to get to spend it with family far away!

Christmas morning was a blast. The boys all got everything they had wished for and just played non stop for hours. Santa brought Doug a Wii and so we got it set up and played non stop as well. We also got the game Ticket to Ride from Al and Amber, which was played many a time before be left Pennsylvania. The next week we did a little outlet shopping, hit up Five Guys for the first time and then packed our bags to come home. As Al and Amber live so far away, we don't get much one on one time with them, and we were so blessed to be able to take this trip to get to spend time with them. We always enjoy our time with them, talking, playing games, cooking, whatever. So fun! Thanks guys for letting us crash your Christmas, we had a blast!

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We arrived in SLC on the evening of the 30th and then made our way home on mostly clear roads. New Year's Eve was spent unpacking, doing laundry, picking up the house and helping Blake choose some toys to donate to DI, since he just got loaded up with new toys for Christmas. Becki and Pablo and Mom and Dad came over to play games and the wii. I'll admit, we were lame hosts and fell asleep a little after 11. Oops! My only excuse... we were still on the eastern time zone.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the word I should use to sum up the year 2010. I think the most fitting word to use is memorable. We will never forget sweet Boston's baby blessing, Doug's graduation from college, our family members that left us to return to our Heavenly Father, or the amazing vacations we took this year. Although we said goodbye to so many loved ones in 2010, we will never forget their sweet words and deeds, and our memories with them have helped us to try a little harder to be a little better in 2011, so that one day we might return to live with them, along with our Savior and our Father in Heaven. We live a life full of blessings and priviledges that we don't quite deserve. We are blessed with family, friends and most importantly faith. It's a wonderful life!