Our Big Trip

We went back to California recently and one of our stops was the Alita home where it felt like we had never left. CJ played with Emma and Charlie and I played with Hannah while Elizabeth looked like a cutie. We indulged in holiday revelry with wassail and gingerbread men and the children made Christmas chocolates with Melodie and Sarah.


It was so good to be back with friends that are as close as family. With Hannah's help I even made a greenery wreath from the boughs of her tree. I love trying something new and plan to make one every year from now on.


Our next stop was to stay with my Dad and Gale as we said farewell to my brother Steven as he leaves on a mission. He has been called to the Budapest, Hungary mission and is so ready. His talk that he gave at church proved this again and again. He has a testimony of our Savior and his gospel, of the Plan of Salvation, and has a burning desire to share the gospel with the people of Hungary. He is clean and ready to go, and I couldn't be more proud of him. He still has his signature since of humor and whit that I know will aid him while gone, and keep him pliable in the hands of our Savior.


While sitting in the foyer I snapped some uber cute pictures of Chris and Lizzie. Too cute!



It was fantastic to see family that I had missed since moving. My mother and sister came out from Las Vegas as well and it was such a treat to get Kara's daughter Hailey and Elizabeth together for dress up and girly pictures. They are only a few weeks apart and I just know they'll be best cousins growing up if we can get them together enough!


I also saw Keith, who came down from Utah. It's always so nice that to see someone, rather than just talk to them on the phone. Keith's wife Amber is due end of February so I think that will be my next flight out.

Then our last stop was to Sacramento for a quick stop in with the Hunt family. We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa and played day in and day out with aunt Vanessa, Abbi and Jack. CJ and Abbi are like two peas in a pod, and Jack is Janie's protector! At one point I was cleaning out Janie's little nose and Jack looked so worried for her! He wanted to make sure that she in no pain!

One of the nights we had super tasty spaghetti that Grandma made at Vanessa's home and Janie just loved it! She was such a noodle mess that Aunt Van let her take a bath in the super big sink. It looks like her own personal bath tub! We just had so much fun every day that it was hard to leave.

We flew home on the 17th of Dec, the day before Jeremy's 30th birthday. He deserved so much more than what I could give him, but I tried my best to make him a Homer cake and we had a steak dinner at home. It was small, but we were together after a long time apart, so it was just enough, he said.