Catch Up

I thought I should post on my blog and bring my few followers up to date. This might be a long blog, so consider yourself warned.

Can you believe that I haven't posted since Christmas? Since I brought up the subject of Christmas.
This was my very first year to be away from home for Christmas. Since most of our immediate family lives within our local area, there has been no need to be away from home at Christmas. This year was different and with Nicole living in Las Vegas and wasn't able to come for Christmas, we thought we would go to her.
I really didn't know how I would feel about being Las Vegas for Christmas with Palm Trees and sunny weather with hardly a chance of snow. The conclusion I came up with that it doesn't matter where you spend Christmas as long as you are with people you love.
Yes, it was a bit hectic getting ready for Christmas and selecting the perfect gift that could pass security and not put you over on the luggage limits at the airport. We did manage do last minute shopping on Christmas Eve that I always vowed never to do, but made an exception this year and it really wasn't that bad.
As a bonus Christmas present we got to enjoy our "other daughter - Chyla", she was able to come and meet us in Las Vegas.
Nicole was the most amazing hostess! First of all she gave her comfy bed to us, and we came to her home smelling of bake goodies. Her apartment was beautiful with Christmas decorations, and did I mention she had made a variety of goodies - mmmm. Thank you Nicole for your hospitality.
If you have to have good friends move away from you make sure they move somewhere that you will visit. Good thing they picked up Las Vegas were Nicole lives. Our good friends The Bowden's moved to Las Vegas last spring, and were able to spend time with them when we were there. You know that you have good friends when you just pick up where you left off. We love the Bowden's and thank you for including us in your Christmas celebrations. We are so grateful for our friendship with them. We miss and love them and can't wait until our next visit.
A Christmas tradition our home growing up we always opened our stockings first. One year I opened my stocking gifts I was very perplexed when I got flashbulbs, camera batteries and film. I didn't have a camera. When I exclaimed that these things were nice, but I didn't own a camera. Was I surprised when I opened my present and it was a camera. I am sure my parents were probably trying very hard not to laugh. I think I got my present first just so they wouldn't die laughing.
We have carried on that tradition in our family with opening the stockings first. But this year we needed to do it in reserve not to blow it. We got one of the girls an IPOD and in the stockings we gave itunes gift cards. Since I had experience on my side, I knew better.
We were home for New Years and we celebrated New Years Day by sending Michelle off to college in Rexburg, ID. Michelle and another girl from our Stake stuff all their earthly possessions in her car and traveled to BYU-I and I am happy to report that they made it safely without any incidents. Prayer works!

With Michelle leaving for college, Rayme and I officially empty nester's again.

That brings you pretty much up to date! Sorry it was so long.
Happy New Year! It's not to late to say that right?? It is still January.