Wow, it seems like Christmas was so long ago but really only a little over a month ago! I love Christmas, it is a magical time of year. I love feeling like the world is connected in a common love and jolly sense of giving. I especially love Christmas now that I have my own kids and can see them all aglow with Christmas glee and anticipation. This last Christmas of 2010 was great, the kids are at a really great age and I made a special effort to give more meaningful and heartfelt gifts this year. Yet.....this was also one of the most craziest Christmas seasons ever. It all started in September....that's right September! Kevin's youngest brother informed us he was going to bring up his girlfriend to visit and planned on proposing to her while here. We were excited to meet her for the first time and for the upcoming wedding and all the fun with planning. She said yes and so the planning began. Amazingly enough due to some crazy logistics the wedding was planned for December 29th. Since they would have little time for a honeymoon before they had to get back to Rexburg for their next semester at BYU-I that meant no reception up here. The wedding would take place in the L.A. temple and reception at her hometown of Valencia. So my bright idea was to have an engagement party for them before the wedding. The only time we could do it was Thanksgiving weekend. Meanwhile, Kevin's parents were in the beginnings of a full kitchen remodel and since the party would be at their house that put the pressure on full gear for them to get it done quick. To give you a running timeline here is how those few months played out.
End of September - Proposal and engagement pictures
October - Halloween and Primary Program (I'm in the presidency)
November - my 30th birthday, Heather's birthday, finish kitchen day before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Friday prep for party, Engagement party
December - Conner's birthday party with friends on the 17th (he ends up throwing up after going to bed and thus begins the family all coming down with the stomach flu (except me) all right around his birthday, my mom's birthday, Christmas Eve (a slight break in throwing up) Christmas Day, Addison's birthday partyon the 27th, leave for L.A. on the 28th, wedding on the 29th and reception (Katie woke up that morning with croup and an ear infection thank you for the on-call doctor at the hotel for the antibiotics!) Disneyland and California Adventure the 30th and 31st, Legoland on the 1st then drive home on the 2nd. As we were driving home on the 2nd we were greeted with a full on snowstorm on the Grapevine, we were the only ones out of the rest of our family who was able to get over the Grapevine before they shut it down, everyone else had to stay another day. Whew!
And in between all that, I volunteer in Conner's class 1-2 times a week for an hour each, lead a music playgroup for kids Katie's age at church, Secretary for Primary, plus CEO of house and home. I'm not sure how we survived but we did and despite the craziness, the sickness and everything else it was all wonderful.
We had a great time with family, became even closer to great friends, made wonderful memories with our family at Disneyland and most of all welcomed wonderful Lauren into our crazy family! Welcome to the family. By the way did I mention that I made the wedding cake for the engagement party and also helped make all the food? Yeah, that's right, I'm Wonder Woman! Here is some picture highlights from this amazing yet crazy end of 2010!
No comments:
Post a Comment