It seemed like after Thanksgiving the rest of the year just flew by, so quickly and it felt like there wasn't enough time to settle down and enjoy it all. Here's our recap...
Dan and I spent Thanksgiving this year with the Fraziers in Utah County. My family spent a week in Las Vegas enjoying the warm temps, Justin Timberlake concert, good food and my younger sister's birthday. We headed down to Utah Co, and enjoyed the day and early evening with my in-laws. Our family from St. George was up and it's fun to spend time with them, since we only see them a few times a year.
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| Whitney and Karl at Thanksgiving |
That weekend my Grandpa Gene passed away. He and my Grandma Betty lived mostly on the Oregon coast in Coos Bay. My grandma passed away several years ago and for the last 5 years or so my grandpa has been in Utah to be closer to family (4 grandkids from my fam, and 1 more grandson in Alaska). We have spent fun times in his swimming pool, Sunday dinners with the family, helping him on household projects at his place, celebrating weddings and birthdays and just enjoying the time with our grandpa. (My 2 grandmas are both passed.) Grandpa was cremated per his wishes, and we plan to take a family trip to Oregon this summer to spread his ashes over the ocean like we did for my grandma. I will miss his funny stories, reminiscings of his days in the war or time spent on different islands they lived on when my mom was a child (Guam, Kwajelein, Hawaii etc.)
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| Aunt Debbie and Rex-the red heads |
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| Melanie and her new jammies |
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| Ammon's fancy shoes |
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| Cari's favorite movie of 2013 |
To help with my grandpa's things, house, estate, my Aunt Debbie (mom's sister) that lives in Alaska flew to be with us for the holidays and to help my mom. We only see her every couple of years too, mostly because the cost of air fare is outrageous! My sister Melanie also flew in from So. California, and so did Alicia and Ammon from Tempe. We did all kinds of fun things over the break: Dan, Karl, Garrett and I went to the last showing of the MOTAB Christmas program (fabulous), decorated our awesome smelling tree, spent several days shopping and finishing our gift wrapping, waffles for Christmas Eve (a tradition we're trying to keep going), movies with the fam (Frozen and The Hobbit #2), mani and pedi time at the spa, cozying by the fire to enjoy our new Christmas books, celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary, spent NYE with our 2 fun friends at a movie and dinner, and bought new living room furniture.
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| Alicia and Mom |
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| Bryan mesmerized by his new legos |
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| Cari and Dan's Christmas tree |
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| Dan's new tape measure |
It's been a busy season, but now all the decorations are put away, the tree is gone to the chipper, and life must get back to normal. I go back to work on Monday, and am anxiously awaiting my yearly observation from the principal. We are both busy with our church callings (Dan in bishopric, me in Stake Primary). We have made resolutions to spend more time in the temple and more time in the gym this year and to continue to save and prepare for the time when we will be parents.
We hope that you and your families had a wonderful Christmas, and will enjoy what 2014 has to bring to us all!
