It was a very Merry Christmas!

The weather outside might have been frightful, but it was DELIGHTFUL having all of us here for Christmas! Melinda got in on December 19. Bret and Laura flew in on December 21st. Lynette arrived on December 23. Both Melinda and Lynette had delays in their flights due to the weather but they got here safe and sound, that's what's most important.

Since Lynette's flight was so late getting in and the roads were a bit dicey and icy, Melinda and her boyfriend picked Lynette up and both Melinda and Lynette spent the night at Carynn and Jamie's place.

So since we weren't all here until Christmas Eve we ended up squeezing a whirlwind of activities into that night. We started the festivities with a wonderful turkey dinner. Carynn cooked the turkey, Carynn and Lynette did all the trimmings, Laura set the table and I had made the pies. We were minus Melinda and Landan for dinner-but had Jamie's brother, sister-in-law and their little girl here.

After dinner we played games, some of us read, dyed their hair, or watched Christmas movies. We waited to decorate the tree until Melinda got back. So when she and Landan returned we jumped into overdrive--the Decorating Dancers had a few moves to share, then it was Bret and Laura's turn to put the angel on the top, and the rest of the tree decorating began in earnest. We also listened to Polar Express, had hot cocoa, and read the Christmas story from the scriptures. It was late by the time we all got to bed. Carynn, Jamie and Ty spent the night so they'd be here Christmas morning.

Christmas morning it was no surprise that Ty was the first one up. He breakfasted, and started to get into the Christmas presents, but we were able to sidetrack him until everyone got up. We investigated our Christmas stockings (We were all remembered-no coal for us!), had our traditional ham, potato rolls and orange juice for breakfast and then Ty (with help from his mom and dad) opened up his gifts as it was starting to get time for his nap. After Ty went down for his nap (he looked really cute in his plaid Christmas jammies) we "adults" unwrapped our gifts. It was a fun morning.

The rest of the day was as low key as we could make it. All of us (except Ty) participated in our annual Biore Fest. We all looked "stunning" wearing our Biore nose strips. Carynn, Jamie and Ty went home later that evening since Jamie had work the next day. Our biggest concern has been the weather as we've had more snow the past two weeks than I think we've had the past two years-sure seems like it anyway. We've all been able to get where we needed to safe and sound. We haven't had as many outings as we might have due to the weather/road conditions, but that hasn't mattered as the most important thing was spending time together.

Lynette flew home Saturday, Bret and Laura Sunday and now the snow has started in again. Sigh.....

It was a very Merry Christmas!

NS