Merika's Christmas 2010

I too had a different sort of Christmas this year. With the lack of money and the fact that I was moving over my Christmas break it was just not feasible to travel home for the break. I instead opted to stay in Las Vegas and packed, and packed and packed. I have too much stuff! I love my stuff so it is hard to downsize, but I have too much stuff.
My roommates Shanna, Skyler & I decided that we would wake up Christmas morning and open our presents to each other and then we would go over to their parents house on the other side of town. From Skyler I received a beautiful necklace and a photo album, and from Shanna I received a few books, some scrapbooking supplies and a bottle of balsamic vinegar. I love balsamic!

From my Christmas family (Jeff's family) I was so happy to receive a movie that I love and did not own "Leap Year" and a gift card to my favorite place to eat... Cafe Rio!

From Mom & Dad I got some really pretty picture frames, nice grading pens, some Boston items from moms trip this summer(since she knows Boston was my favorite city when I lived in Palmyra) and some great scrapbooking supplies.

Warming ourselves by the fire - TV style.

We went to see the new movie Tron Legacy; it was great! I had never seen the original Tron, so I prepared myself the week before by watching it. So great!
After the movie we went back to their parents house and hung out for a while before we headed up to the Mt. Charleston Lodge for dinner. It had been snowing heavily for days before Christmas, so we were pleasantly surprised that it was open for business. We had a wonderful dinner while we wondered at the snow out the window and warm fire in the center of the room. (Pictures coming soon, my camera ran out of battery and so Shanna had to take the pictures.)

Two days later Dad came to visit me for a four day mini-vacation. Unfortunately, The day after he arrived it was move day.( BTW he knew that I was moving, and he still came to help - Amazing dad!) With all his experience with packing vans and driving Uhauls he was indispensable. Shanna was originally the one who what going to drive the truck and she was very nervous about that. Dad was a champ and took that off her very nervous hands. With the help of a few others and several hours we got everything over to the new apt and were able to treat ourselves to dinner at a great restaurant here in Las Vegas called "Super Mex". Then once we got home we were able to fall into bed in utter exhaustion. Later Shanna commented to me about how amazing and hard working my dad was. This was not news to me or any of you I am sure, but to her a hard, laborious, working dad was cool. She then commented that her dad was so wussy (sp?) compared to my dad, and that hers would have complained the whole day about everything and she thought it was really cool that my dad was so willing to help and was able to fix a few things, and hang a few shelves along the way. (her dad cant fix anything!) Shanna asks me to help her fix things; not her dad.
Dad and I were able to take some time and play and just visit. He helped me out by replacing a tail light that had gone out and her also helped me get my car ready for my registration smog check. So good to me! He and I drove out to the Hoover Dam and to see the new bridge that spans the gorge that the Hoover Dam is in. We also visited the Temple, but drove up just as they were locking it up for the next month while they did some work on the Temple. So I was unable to show him the cool atrium inside the temple that people are able to go into.
I was so happy to have dad out to visit me since I was unable to go home for the Christmas break.

Christmas for Mom and Dad

This was a very weird way to spend Christmas and I do not recommend it to anyone.
The good part was that we drove out to Oakley and spent time with Shaunika and Jason and Samantha, Alison and Jacob for Christmas Eve.
When we came home we made sure that my suitcase was packed and we went to bed. Santa came while we were sleeping and left us a few items. I think if we had not needed to get up and going for the morning flight we might have slept in and enjoyed a leisurely day.

But no,we got up, at breakfast,and opened gifts. I got exactly what I asked for: a tall white bookshelf for the small room upstairs, a new DVD/VHS player, and a Wilton Chocolate melter. Kirt wasn't that impressed with what he got- a hot pink travel alarm(pink so that it doesn't get lost in his drawer, so he will remember to take it when he travels on business), and a Cuisinart ice cream maker and book of recipes. (I thought since he likes to have people over for ice cream that would combine the best of both worlds...the verdict is still out whether we will keep it or not)He also got a new rake- he asked for that, and actually picked it out.

We reweighed my luggage and made some changes then drove me to the Sacramento Airport. I flew to SLC and was supposed to have a short lay-over and then on to Twin Falls by 6:00. Weather was not good, and there was problems with the airplane so they had to get a different one- consequently, I didn't arrive in Twin Falls until about 10 pm- or maybe it just felt like it. Craig picked me up, Judy had gone to bed, but Shana was still up. I ended up sleeping there for a few days until Carol left at GG's, then I went over there and vacuumed, cleaned, etc. etc. and then stayed there until I came home on the 5th of January at about 11pm.

Christmas morning in Providence

Bransen asked Santa for the "Buzz Woody" movie.

Lexie was pretty excited to get this movie! I'm sure you can't tell! :)

This is what Landon got from Santa.

This is "ALL" Jordan "wanted" for Christmas.

Christmas in Georgia

Everyone here got plenty of new stuff for Christmas. Birke really seem to hit the motherload. He got more than anyone. Here's a few pics of everyone digging into the gifts.

Christmas 2010

The year will be a bit different for many of us. Dad and I will spend most of the holidays apart. I will fly to Twin Falls on Christmas Day to spend 11 days with GG. Kirt will go to Las Vegas to spend some time with Merika.

More to report later...

New Directions for this Blog

I would like to change this blog a bit- let's just use it to post our thoughts and activities and lots of pictures to share that will highlight our Christmas activities.

Throughout the year it will not have any activity, but there could be a flurry of pictures and posts starting each December.

Any Christmas recipes can be posted on the "Let's Stout Cookin'" recipe blog, and crafts on the "Fun with Grandma and Grandpa" blog.

I hope you will all have an enjoyable Christmas season and will share it with each other through this technology.

Christmas 2009 -Noelette's thoughts

We had a really wonderful time getting to see and spend time with our extended families this Christmas.  The trip across country was a bit harrowing at times, since the kids weren't happy about spending all day every day strapped in their car seats.  We had a very nice stay with my parents in Blackfoot.  They were absolutely giddy with the excitement of getting to see the kids.  I was very glad they were able to have this opportunity to get to know Kitana and Ronan as little kids.  One exciting thing was that they got to see Ronan hit the milestone of walking independently.  My parents are still talking about Christmas.

We also had a great time in Utah with our Stout family members.  Kitana especially enjoyed playing with Megan, Sam, and Lexi at Jeff and Suzanne's.  We haven't been able to stop her playing "Ring Around the Rosie" since.  We were very grateful to Suzanne for loaning us winter coats for the kids.  It's almost impossible to get that type of clothing in Georgia without paying a fortune.  Logan and I were also glad of the opportunity to see and catch up with everyone.  At times, we feel a bit disconnected living so far from the rest of the family.  We also learned a lot about travelling with young children!

We had a much better Christmas than we would have had if we had stayed home.

Dinner with GG.

Kirt and Kitana

Kitana, Sam, Lexi, and Megan playing Ring Around the Rosie.