Christmas Part 2

The second part of my Christmas (and the best) was my trip to Arizona. It was the greatest trip home yet. I got to see everyone I wanted to see and do everything I had planned to do.

I was home Dec 16-22. I flew in Tuesday afternoon. My mom and Courtney picked me up. When I got in the car, Easton was sleeping but when we were half way home he woke up and gave me the weirdest look. It was this look like who the heck are you and why are you sitting next to me trying to get me to smile. It was a little sad to see but within minutes he warmed up to me and was smiling and grabbing onto my finger. It was great to see Easton again.

Wednesday afternoon I went shopping with Jesse and I got to get a lot of my last minute Christmas presents. My Christmas was the following day so I had to be ready. I always like shopping for other people and I had a great time shopping with everyone else in the mall. Jesse helped me pick out some gifts for my family and even helped carry them, he is sometimes such a gentlemen and other times I'm not sure what he is...just kidding. We had a great time and I spent way too much money but it was well worth it when my family members opened their gifts.

Wednesday night I got to see my two favorite little girls that I used to babysit, Alicia and Emma. We went out to dinner to Red Robin at Tempe Marketplace. It was so much fun to see them again. I haven't seen them since February so it was a exciting to see them again. When they first saw me they ran to me, it was great. I was seriously almost knocked over. For those who have known me for awhile, you know I don't like hamburgers. Well I have gotten over that, sort of. I still can't even imagine eating a fast food hamburger but at a few restaurants I will eat a hamburger and even on rare occasions I have actually craved a hamburger. Crazy I know, it shocked even me. So the reason I am telling you all about hamburgers is because that night it was one of those nights when I wanted a hamburger so what do you know, I ate a hamburger and loved it.

Alicia and Emma at Red Robin (they are getting so big)

This was at Red Robin and I just thought it was so funny she would want a picture with Lady Liberty

After dinner we walked around Tempe Marketplace and went to see the big Christmas tree. After seeing the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, no tree gives me that same awe feeling but this tree was very nice and fit in with the surrounding decor.

Emma and me

Alicia and me

We took some pictures and exchanged gifts. They gave me a picture frame of the cutest picture of the two of them, I loved it. It is always very difficult to say goodbye and quadruple hard to say goodbye to Emma, not only emotional but physically as well. What I mean is, Emma has a death grip and she won't let go for anything. She will wrap her legs and arms around you and it is tough to get her off and while she is holding she is crying and saying don't go, don't go. It will break your heart along with your back. I was finally able to get her off and her mom had to pretty much drag her away. I started walking away quickly, thinking the faster I walked the better it would be. Christina, their mom, was having a tough time with both girls crying and one who would barely move. I made a decision to help her out and walk her to the car and get them strapped in. Boy what a night, it will be nice when I am back home and they see me more often so it isn't so hard to say goodbye.

That night Mandi came over to play some games and bake some goodies. I was busy making chocolate lollipops for all my friends. I think I ended up making like 80 or more lollipops and they came out super cute. My family had fun making cinamon rolls and dinner rolls for our "Christmas" dinner the following night.

Thursday was a great day. It started with a morning with Courtney and Easton, I think but I don't remember what we did. For lunch we met my Mom and Mandi at Sweet Cakes. I haven't had Sweet Cakes for probably 2 years, it was so good! Easton was so much fun. During lunch he just starting talking and laughing. He was so loud and so cute. Here's a video of his performance.

After lunch we went out and did a little shopping to Tempe Marketplace. As we were about to leave I got a call from my friends who were driving in from Utah. I met my friends, Becca and Krista, in New York but they have both gone back home to Utah. I haven't seen Becca since last March and I haven't seen Krista since last June. They weren't far away so I gave them directions to Tempe Marketplace and I sent my family home. It was so good to see them again. We went back to my house and got ready for the big dinner.

Christmas dinner was so much fun. I had my whole family together and two good friends that I haven't seen in a long time. I also got to eat my mom's cooking which I have missed terribly. Everything was just amazing. I got to play with Cooper a little bit, hold Easton, and enjoy all the various conversations with my family. During the latter part of dinner Jesse came over and joined in the crazy family conversations. After dinner was finished my family began our mini version of Christmas. I gave everyone my presents. The main person receiving presents was Cooper, surprise surprise. Easton also got his fair share of Christmas presents from me. I loved watching Cooper having so much fun opening his presents. I got him a bunch of clothes and movies. I also got him this really cool gift that I would recommend for any kids who loves art and drawing. I got one for Will, Cooper, Emma, and Alicia. I even enjoy playing with it. It is the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board. He loved everything.

Cooper opening all his presents. I didn't count them but it was probably around 15.

It was great and I got a huge hug and a kiss afterwards that makes everything that much better. My biggest gift that I gave was Guitar Hero Aerosmith for the Wii. My family was getting the Wii for Christmas and I wanted to get something for everyone so I thought this would be something everyone could enjoy. Funny thing is that it was supposed to be my Christmas but I didn't open any presents that night. It was more of a night for me to give my presents. We all did our sibling gift exchange but Mandi, who had me, she hadn't gotten me something yet. In her defense, I was a little picky in what I wanted and she hadn't found the one thing I wanted. I honestly didn't mind. I think I am at that age when I don't care if I get anything, I would rather give away gifts.

After the opening of the gifts I went back to hang out with my friends. While we were opening gifts, Jeff came over to join the festivities. I love having my family and friends all together. It is such a blessing to have so many people you care about and who care about you. I get that in New York but not even close to the amount that I get at home. My two best friends from New York, Lissa and Sarah, who just happen to be sisters and are also from Arizona happened to be in Arizona the same time I was home visiting and they also came over to visit. Sarah was only home for a short time and had a lot of people to see so she was only able to stay for a little while but Lissa was able to stay for a while. The story of all of us are a little confusing but I will try to explain it. I met Becca at church sometime in January but we didn't really hang out til later. Becca was my first real friend in New York, that sounds like I was a loner and for the first couple of months, I kind of was. Yes it is sad but I was okay, I was still in awe of living in the city and enjoyed it very much. On Easter Sunday Becca and I were in church and before Sunday School Becca had to go to the bathroom. She asked me to go with her, I never go with other girls to the restroom anymore and I have no idea why I went with her but on our way their we met Krista. It was her first week in the city and she didn't know anyone. She came and sat with us and we all got to know each other a little better. I was off the whole day which was a miracle in and off itself, so I had planned to spend Easter with Becca and some of her friends I had never met. We invited Krista along with us since she didn't know anyone yet and I would feel bad if she spent Easter alone. Becca's friends lived in the Bronx and together we were all brave enough to go to the Bronx. I had never been there before and I will be honest saying I was a little scared. One of the friends I met that night was Lissa. That was the first time I met Lissa and I didn't run into her again until about July. Like I said before Becca left in March/April and Krista left in June so by the end of June I was alone once again. I knew people in the ward and had some acquatinces but I wouldn't call anyone a friend...until I ran into Lissa at church one Sunday. After that we started hanging out quite often. Then sometime in August, Sarah, Lissa's sister came to "visit" for a couple months. Sarah liked it so much she decided to move here. For a while she didn't have a job so we were able to do a lot during my days off, now she has a job so I now have time to do all the things I always pushed off to do the fun things. Okay so that was a really long story but I wanted you to realize that all of these people came into my life at exactly the right moment and I probably would not still be here if not weren't for them. I honestly feel that I was meant to meet all of these wonderful women and they became a part of my life at just the right moments. That night with my four best friends from New York and some of my Arizona friends and my family all under that same roof was pretty much a miracle. It was basically putting all of my favorite people in one place. All it needed was my New York family (AKA the family I work for). These are pictures of my NY friends...

They hadn't seen each other in over 9 months. It was a great reunion!

My New York friends. from left to right: Krista, Becca, Me, Lissa, and Sarah

Krista, Becca, and Lissa

Lissa, Me, Becca, & Krista

Goodbye Lissa. London is lucky to have you! (I forgot to mention that Lissa is leaving New York and moving to London to go to school)

I have more to tell but this was getting long so I am going to break it into 2 posts. Sorry for taking so long but there is so much to talk about. I really am trying to catch up.