Christmas '08

After a few days rest it was time for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we spent the evening with Ben's extended family, most of whom we were meeting for the first time. We had such a good time and darn it if I didn't forget my camera. Ben's cousins, most in their 20s also, are absolutely hilarious and his aunts made comments about how nice it was to have little kids in the house as all the kids in Ben's family are at least teenagers. We played the present raffle game where you could pick a wrapped present or steal someone else's and it was so fun. The kids had never played it and I hadn't for years. They all made us feel so welcome and we are definitely looking forward to sharing Christmas Eve with them all again.

We woke up Christmas morning and Santa had come! The kids tore through their presents and loved everything. They are so funny. Just the way they interact with eachother even in the midst of the craziness of Christmas morning. They show each other what they got before they even show us and they get excited to play with each other's toys. They love between them is so special. After we got everything cleaned up and Grammy, Auntie Pooh, Uncle Curtis, and Grandpa Jeff came over (Nana was already here). And I started cooking. I was really excited to do this since I had never hosted a holiday dinner for my family before. I cooked a pot roast and a corned beef . Since my Grammy is famous for her corned beef I was a little scared but it turned out AMAZING! I made the most delicious corned beef ever (I think). We exchanged our gifts and YAY! we got season passes to Disneyland. I knew the kids were getting them but had no idea I would get one too. We have already been once since Christmas and we are going back in a few weeks. Well after we ate and visited for a little while it was time to say goodbye and rush to my brother Aaron's house to spend some time with them and Dad and Lisa. My nephew Troy has gotten so big and gorgeous. Plus we played trains and that made him like me. We hadn't seen them in so long and it was the perfect end to Christmas day.

After another days rest we headed to Vegas to spend some time with the rest of our family. Grandpa Larry had been battling cancer for the last year and the doctors had said he wasn't going to make it much longer. We wanted to make sure that while he and Grandma Debbie were visiting from Colorado we got to see them. On the way up our Explorer died and so we called mom to come pick us us, drove back home, put everything in the VW, and hit the road again. After a very long 12 hours in the car (for a trip that should have taken 5 hours) we made it to Henderson. We spent the next day with everyone and it was great. Christopher, my nephew, is just the cutest thing. Everything is "Auntie" and "Uncle Ben". He melted both our hearts every time he talked to us.

The next day was not so great though. I got a call from my mom on the morning of the 29th, while we were still in Vegas, that my Uncle Curtis had died. We knew he was sick but he hid so much of it from us all. I am so glad that we got to have one last Christmas with him. And on Christmas day him and I shared a special moment. I'm choosing to keep that moment private and in my heart always as my last memory of him. Never was there someone so full of love, acceptance, and a willingness to help someone in need. I will miss my "Uncle Cursis" dearly.

We decided to drive home that night instead of staying as originally planned but before we did Uncle Steve got off of work early and took us to the snow. Ivy had only been as a baby and Luke had never been in it. They both had been bugging Ben and me to take them since last year. When we got to where there was snow on the ground they could hardly contain themselves. They were practically screaming and couldn't wait to get out. Uncle Steve found the perfect spot and we pulled over. The kids were in awe. And while I hate the snow, it was so beautiful out, and seeing my kids could be so happy on such a sad day reminded me again that life goes on and it's alright. They all made snowballs and Chris kept throwing them at Uncle Ben. It was so great. Ivy even got me really good in the head. It was a good way to finish the day. Thank you Mindy and Steve for that memory. After that we made the drive home so I could be with my family but we will never forget our time there that weekend. I am so glad we went and got to love on our family a bit and see grandpa one last time. A few days after we got home I received a call from Mindy saying Grandpa wasn't going to make it much longer. And a few days after that, on the 4th, Grandma called to tell us he passed away. I will miss him too. He was such a strong man yet still tender. You felt his presence as soon as he walked in a room. He loved his family more than anything.

RIP Grandpa and Uncle Curtis. I know Chris greeted you both with open arms!