Christmas Time

The past few weeks have been pretty crazy for us, as I'm sure they have been for everyone. So, here's a rundown of what we've been doing this Christmas season:

1. Decorating our tree! We were thinking we weren't going to do it this year, but I'm glad we did. Steven loved it!

2.  Tried to spend as much time with the Hopkins as possible before they MOVED! We were so sad!! I wasn't actually even in Provo when they packed up and left, though (which is probably a good thing... I would have cried so much!), because I...

3.  Went to Macomb for my Mom's graduation! She graduated with her MBA and all of the Rands' kids were able to be there for it. My Dad got to actually present my mom with her diploma, followed by a kiss :) It was so great to spend time with my family! We realized that we probably haven't spent much time together, without kids or spouses, for around 14 years. We decided it's definitely something we want to make happen more often than that!

4. The day after I got home from Macomb, TJ and Steven left for Bloomington, where we were going to spend christmas. We decided it would be a good idea for me to stay and work for another week, and then meet them out there. So while I was at home, working hard to pay the bills, TJ's brother, Steve, took everyone to the zoo! He was doing an internship there, and so got "backstage passes" to see some of the animals. I was super jealous. I did get to see my cousin, Ami, while I was still here, though, which was so great!

5.  On Christmas Eve, I finally flew out to join them. I was a little worried the weather would be bad and I would end up missing christmas, but everything went smoothly! We then all spent the next week and a half with TJ's parents, and it was great! Steven didn't even know what to do with all the toys there, and loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa and "Master Steve" (TJ decided it would be funny for Steven to call him that, now that he has his master's, and it stuck! The best part is, it kind of sounds like Steven is saying "monster Steve" :) It's cute). We even got to visit Martha (TJ's best friend from high school who we basically haven't seen since our wedding) up in Indianapolis.

6. TJ left a couple days early to help [Master] Steve move out to Utah. I stuck around and got to see our friends America and Tyler before I flew home!! It's a good thing, too, since Tyler's headed back to Rwanda and America will be joining him there in the summer. We'll miss them so much!! TJ got here the day Steven and I flew in, and so came and picked us up at the airport.

We're happy to be home, but we had so much fun with all our activities. I am so grateful for the wonderful friends and family we have, and the blessing we had to be able to see so many of them! I just feel like the luckiest person ever to have so many people that I love so much. I'm grateful that I get to add a new little person to that list, and am so excited for all the changes we have coming in 2013!