Christmas 09

The things I loved the most about our Christmas vacation:

1. Being able to spend time with most of our immediate family members. The only person in my immediate family I wasn't able to see was my brother, Alan.


2. Talking to Alan, who is in Vermont on a two year mission for our church, around the breakfast table on Christmas morning.


3. Getting away for a night with Scott. We started the evening with a temple session at the Logan Temple with my sister and brother-in-law, then we went out for a nice dinner, and on to the Anniversary Inn. I don't think I concentrate enough of my time on just being a wife. It was really nice to take a night off from being a mother. I was really, really looking forward to sleeping late in the morning, but I popped up at 6:30 and couldn't go back to sleep!!! We still had a wonderful time.

4. Being there for my little nephew Hunter's first birthday. He is the cutest, HAPPIEST little guy. I just love him to pieces! Madeline really enjoyed getting in on the present unwrapping business.

5. Finally getting my hair cut. I hadn't even meant for it to get long, I just kept putting off getting it cut.

6. Having lots of help from family with cutting, coloring, pasting, and laminating all of the folder games I was making for Madeline.

7. Staying up late at night hanging out with my siblings. They're pretty cool people.

8. Watching Madeline open her presents. She had a lot of fun on Christmas this year. She wasn't as into Santa as she was snowmen this year, though.

9. Our new annual tradition of listening to "A Cajun Night Before Christmas". My brother brought it back from his mission in Louisiana. It is seriously hilarious. Especially our favorite line, "Mama passed the peppa through da crack in the do'".

10. Enjoying the differences between our two families. I'm so glad I belong to both of them. I've really grown to love the calm, simple lifestyle of my inlaws, and am really trying to incorporate more simlicity into my own life. It's so peaceful to spend more time doing small tasks, and less time running errands all day long.

11. Being able to go out and see two movies. At the theater. It's been many months since we've been able to do that. I especially loved "Blind Side". I can't wait to see it again. At home.

12. I loved having lots of help with Madeline. She really took to her grandparents on both sides, or in her own words, "ma and pa".

Things I didn't love about our Christmas vacation:

1. Spending hours on airplanes with a busy toddler on my lap. In all fairness to her, though, she did really well. It still makes for an exhausting day. I think our flying career is now over, becuase Madeline's almost 2.

2. Searching for my sister's wedding band under my parent's deck. That made a total of 2 lost wedding bands during the trip for our family.

3. Madeline's nasty behavior by the end of the trip. I found it really hard to discipline and maintain any sort of control while on vacation. Of course, when I wasn't around she was a perfect angel. I guess she at least knows how to behave, she just chooses not to sometimes.

4. Leaving my wallet with ID in Idaho, and realizing it as we were leaving for the airport to fly home. It was nice to spend a few extra days with my parents, but I missed out on a couple of large weekend responsibilities and our trip became a very costly venture.

Madeline and Hunter saying goodbye on Christmas morning

My dad holding Hunter and Madeline

Madeline in my parent's front yard

My mom and Madeline

My two sister, Shelley and Megan, and the two grandkids

All the girls in new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Madeline and daddy all ready for sledding

Christmas morning

Madeline, Grandma Serr, and cousin Jillian at the Serr Christmas. Oh, and not to forget new baby Stella in the backpack

Trying on Uncle Clint's ski boots