growing up w. grier, ardynn, & annistyn: December 28, 2008

Friday, January 2

happy 1st christmas & merrrrrry new year!

So... did you think I was never coming back to fill you in on all of my first Christmas happenings? Well, it has been a crazy couple of weeks, so I've had a hard time finding the time to sit down & write this

lengthy post (not to mention it's about to get even more wild 'n' wacky tomorrow at my birthday party), but I'll give her a go.

As you heard, we had a little scare on the night before we left for Texas. Daddy drove up to the gas station around 10.30 to get some gas, so we could leave REALLY early without stopping. When he tried to start his car after gassing up, it wouldn't start. I was already asleep, so mom had to wake me from my s

weet dreams & load me up in the BITTERLY cold weather to go & jump daddy's car. Unfortunately, no amount of jumping would help his poor shorted out battery, so after calling for Doodah's advice, we then had to head to the nearest auto parts store to find a new one. Now if you know my daddy... y

ou probably could guess that his patience was a little thin when he was out at midnight - trying to fix a car (not exactly his forte) that we were supposed to drive across country the next day. But... as always, after another trip home to get more tools & MORE CLOTHES, he was a hero & pulled through for us all.... mommy held the flash light, while I slept in my car seat. It put us a little behind on our trip the next morning, as we needed some rest & decided to sleep later than we'd planned... but it didn't crimp our style much.

On the trip to Texas... I was a verrrry good girl (well... that Santa guy was on his way & I didn't want to give him any reason not to stop by my grandparents' houses). We had not planned on it, but drove the whole 16 hours in one day & were home in San Angelo by around 2am. Oi!!!

Our Christmas vacation somewhat resembled the movie we watched later... National Lampoon's, I think it was called :o)... with all kinds of fun family, lots of good food, & tons of memories. I iced cookies at Gingi's (and ate them, too), went to lunch with mom's old gymnasts, did some filing/paperwork at Popi's (and soon to be daddy's) office, attended Christmas Eve service at Sierra Vista, unwrapped lots of goodies, went to a flag football benefit (where daddy played like a champ), unwrapped more goodies, ate, ate, and ate, had a big family Christmas with Granna's family at

Doodah's, unwrapped even more goodies, and ended it all with a big BASH for Popi & Gingi's 40th wedding anniversary. Whew - what a fantastic week.... please tell me again - WHY do we only do this once a year????

Our trip back home to Tennessee was good, too. Gingi & Popi rod

e back with us, so we rented a small UHAUL (yes... you did read that correctly - Uhaul) to bring back all of our luggage & all of my new TOOOOOOYS! We stopped to stay with Bebay in Fort Worth & then headed out for home the next morning. I was feeling a little under the weather, so once again... I slept almost the entire day in the car. Thanks for ALL of the prayers... we are so thankful that our car trips were uneventful & that we made it back home safely. This Christmas was definitely one to remember.... and that Santa guy........oh baby, the hype was right..... love you, big guy - come back soon!!!!!

***videos to come SOON... it'll take a little while, as nothing has slowed down since we got back here.... more presents & another party are on the way tomorrow.... YIPPIE!