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.

Snowed out

This past December (2009), while we were up in Utah at John's we planned to drive up to Providence for another day at Jeff and Suzanne's house. They had just moved into a new home, and Jeff and been getting the basement ready for sheet rock. We had one last day before heading home and the kids really all wanted to get together again. When we woke that morning it was snowing, and it didn't quit. There was no way we could have made it up the canyon, so all the going home plans had to change. It was to be our last day to spend with Jeff's family and then with all that snow happening, and with Shaunika needing to be back in California for a Primary activity (she was the counselor in charge of it)the plans had an abrupt change. Shaunika and her girls and Kirt didn't get to see GG and I ended up taking the shuttle up to Twin Falls to spend some more time with my mom.

Shaunika's Thoughts

I had a great time on our Christmas Utah trip. The highlights were visiting with all my wonderful brothers and sister! I sure do miss all of you! I feel like I didn't get enough time to visit with each of you, but isn't that how it always is? The highlight for Samantha was getting to see and play in snow for the first time. She loved it and would have stayed out WAY too long if I hadn't forced her to come back inside every once in a while. She loved crawling in it, throwing it, and sledding on it! Alison, on the other hand, did not like the snow. She was not amused by it and did not like the cold.

Sorry it's taken so long to get the Christmas slideshow to you all! I've been a bit busy lately. But no worries...it's coming!

Christmas 2009

This year Christmas found us driving up to Utah. We had the opportunity for all 6 of our children to be together. Logan and Noelette and Kitana and Ronan had driven from Atlanta, Georgia to Blackfoot, Idaho to spend Christmas with her folks.
We had been in Utah for Thanksgiving visiting Jeff and John's family, but when we heard Logan's family was going to drive all this way there was no chance that we would miss seeing them. At this point we had not even seen Ronan (except in pictures), and had not seen Kitana since her blessing- so she had grown up into a little girl.
We invited Shaunika to drive with us, as Jason was unable to come. Merika had come home for Christmas from Las Vegas, where she teaches school. Birke was going back up to BYU-I for the Winter-Summer schedule.
We went to Oakley, CA. where Shaunika and Jason lives for Christmas Eve. We had make your own mini pizza's (Something she knew Samantha would eat)and enjoyed our time with them, and we opened presents from each other.
It is about 1 1/2 hours to get to Dearman's house, and you have to pay a toll of $4.00 to go over a bridge to get back home.
On Christmas morning we got up at a leisurely time, opened presents and had the Christmas casserole. At about noon, Birke went up stairs to pack to go away to school.
Shaunika and her girls arrived early the next morning and I went with Merika in her car, Birke was alone with his and all his stuff, and Kirt drove with Shaunika and the girls.
Samantha got car sick, and they endured the odoriferous aroma till they got to a place were we could get them some Febreeze.
I continued to ride with Merika until we got to Wendover, then she drove up to have a visit with GG in Twin Falls before going on to Jeff's house in Providence, Utah.
more later...

A time for family..

Christmas is a special time for us all. It is a time when we want to get together with family and share special moments. Unfortunately,there have been many times when it has been impossible to visit and spend that special time. Usually it is the distance and all that goes along with that that makes it an impossibility.

Hopefully, we can use the venue to share the special recipes and traditions that make our Christmas' special. That way, we will have the opportunity to make that wonderful salad, or dip, or breakfast casserole that we loved- even if it was a recipe from another family member who could not be with us this time. And they, in turn, can follow some of our traditions with their family, even if they cannot be with us this year.

In 2009, we had the opportunity to visit family in Utah. It had been a long time since all six of our children were able to get together with their siblings. More about this to come...