our christmas!

Wow...

I've been taking forever to post this "christmas" post....so aaron is out of town :O(, and I figure now or never, right?

Christmas really was amazing this year. We were gone for a really long time, but we really did have a great time.
I don't want to write too much, I know I am long winded, so I will keep that in mind, and truly try to keep the text short (and the pics for that matter because we didn't take ONE PICTURE...I can't believe it.)
Here is just an overview of the highlights!!!!

1. We flew into SLC on dec. 13th. We hung out with aaron's brother and his family for one night!

2. We drove to Jackson, Wyoming to see his Sister and her family!!!! We had a really great time...it was "Great" in it's on interesting little way. Everybody was sick except for Aaron and tyler (his sister debbie's son)...so that was great fun.
It was so much fun just because we didn't go and do a TON of really exciting things...we stayed inside, and just enjoyed each other's company...and that to me is really fun.
We did go out some, but the cold was really too much for me to bare...I'm uncertain that I could ever handle that much cold.
Debbie and I went running one morning, and that was actually REALLY FUN! She bundled me up in some major gear (I looked like a bank robber...but nerdy-er because we were running in ridiculously cold weather).
I really enjoyed that run, and even though I was sick, that fresh air did me good!

3. We finally made it to Kanab....HOORAYY!!!! We arrived on Dec. 18th. I love going home...I just love that feeling....family, you just can't get better than that!
The first thing I noticed when we got in was the house! It has been remodeled and my mom and dad and bean and kris have done such a great job in making it look so beautiful...it really made for a great welcoming!!!
The 2nd thing I noticed and will FOREVER AND EVER be grateful for, were 3 stockings hanging on the wall...the stockings I had started christmas 2004, and never been able to finish on my own. Mom, you may never know how much that meant to me...I am so happy to have family christmas stockings, and if it weren't for you they would have never gotten done.
While there, I also made a stocking for eliza, and my mom AGAIN helped me finish it....thank you and thank you and thank you again mom....I love you and really appreciate all of your help.

4. Eliza got really sick while we were gone. She ended up with RSV, and had to be hospitalized for one night in St. George. It was really scary, but thankfully she is ok, and she was better within a few days after being in the hospital.

5. It is interesting to me how christmas changes when you get older. The thought of Santa is still really quite exciting...but I feel like now there are even more exciting things to get excited about for christmas, and here is what I mean.
Family history hasn't always been that "thrilling" to me. However, this year for christmas, the best part was getting a "family book", enclosed with pictures, family history, quotes, great stories...and just on and so forth.
Bean sent us a questionnaire and we all participated in answering the questions. We didn't know exactly what she was going to do with the info...but on christmas eve she gave us all these great books. I love my book, and I can't wait for more editions to be made! Thank you so much bean for taking so much time, and making these books...I know we all are going to cherish them forever!
Jen also made us a dvd of really fun pictures of our family....it was so fun to watch, and I just love having this stuff...I LOVE IT!!!!!

6. Now, besides the two family history gifts and my mom finishing our family stockings, my favorite things from this christmas are: a pretty brown dress that aaron suprised me with. I was dubious of it at first because it isn't the type of thing I've ever worn before...but it's grown on me, and...I just think he did such a great job picking it out on his own...and thinking of me. That meant so much to me honey....I love you!
Something else that I am really excited about (HEAVEN FORBID)...are RUNNING TIGHTS!!!! My mom is letting me use her VIP number for roadrunner sports, and letting me get a pair of running tights. We haven't picked out the exact ones...but nonetheless I can't wait to wear them...not so much how I will look running in them, but I know they are comfy for running, and I've been wanting them for such a long time.....Brooke inspired me to finally buckle down and get a pair. When we ran that race a while ago...I think I was the only one there out of thousands of people, WITHOUT tights....they are definitely a must have :O) thanks mom and dad!

7. The best part of that whole holiday vacation was just being with my family. We had a lot of fun together, even though we also shared a lot of sickness together....I hope everybody doesn't blame us completely. I know we were probably a high source of contamination...but it is that time of year, and it seemed like everybody everywhere else was sick too....but we are sorry for all of the sickness that went around. It was pretty obnoxious how sick everybody kept getting...luckily we're all getting back to good health, at least I think we all are anyway!

8. I know oliver had a blast with grandpa jon and grandma j....especially cooking marshmallows on New Years Eve....oliver had a blast, and I know grandma and grandpa did too! Oliver also loved looking for his toys with the flashlight...he is such a riot with that thing...thanks dad for helping us find a GREAT source of entertainment for our busy child! He is still using one of our flashlights to look for all sorts of good stuff!

9. Some milestones: Eliza got her first tooth while we were gone, and a second also...they are her front bottom teeth!
She is REALLY working hard to crawl, but just hasn't quite got it down yet....I'm sure she'll be there soon!
Oliver is really getting better with talking as well. He added a lot of the In between words while we were gone, and that has been really fun for him. He talks nonstop these days, and it is very fun to talk, talk, talk with him.....here's a very common conversation between the two of us:

oliver: Mama?
me: Yes dear?
oliver: what ya doin?
me: this is always changing, but usually I'm: changing a diaper, running, doing the dishes...or something like that
me: What are you doing?
oliver: Ummmm? ......and then whatever he is doing :O)
This same conversation will be conversed several times a day...it is very funny!!!!!

ok, I think that is all for now....I'll try to find some good pictures to send!!!!

CHEERS,
joni ann