And also this one

We lost Melissa.  She was beautiful, obviously.  I learned a lot about her at her funeral, much more than I knew while she was alive.  She was so greatly loved, one of many children, loved teasing her dad about his 'handy man' skills, needed reassurance, reshaped her son's head, spent more days sick than not, never stopped smiling, and rocked her husband's world.

Rest in Peace, sweet girl.

Christmas 2014 - The final installment

And, so it was.

After surf 'n turf (our traditional Christmas Eve dinner) and a great night's sleep, we enjoyed a leisurely Christmas morning, and then were joined by Grama Glory and Grampa Don to exchange gifts.

Instead of our traditional Movie in PJs at THE theater, we brought it on home and enjoyed a movie in PJs in OUR theater - Guardians of the Galaxy style.  It was just as awesome the second time as it was the first, and Dave and Sarah enjoyed it for the first time. 

The next morning, we got up fairly early to be sure we had time to run our last errands before Gary and family arrived, including picking up parts for the powder room faucet, which had broken a few days before.  While we were at Home Depot, Gary called and said there had been a mix up with their rental car.  We quickly finagled a better rate beginning the next day from  a local rental place and made our way to the airport in two cars to pick up the family.  It was so good to see them!  We weren't able to see Christopher when we went over the summer (he was at a Boy Scout camp), and he seemed to have grown a foot taller and an octave lower.  The 'little boys' aren't so little anymore, and Stephanie was just as beautiful as ever.

It was Nick's and Zach's first time on an airplane!

We had such a good time.  

Saturday - Prep for our family party, which was that evening.  Of course, the Gibsons and Fosters were there, plus Grama and Grampa, Vicki and Mark, Jerrick, Alicia, Rusty, Ashleigh, and Jackson, and Sarah's new friend, Sadee.

I can't remember the order we did everything, but . . . 

There was a walk to the pond, complete with a mad dash back to the house for a little boy who didn't feel well and forgot to bring his 'kit.'

 

One day, after a very lazy morning, we finally decided to go skating at the Gallivan Center, get dinner out, and then go see the temple lights.  Sarah had to take some pain meds for her shoulder and, unfortunately, spent the light-viewing time in the car, passed out.  Her sweet brother stayed with her.

Dave and I guarded the boots and bought the cocoa.

Nick was a natural ~ NHL, watch out!

Sarah was so sad that I pulled a mom and wouldn't let her one-armed self skate.

Temple light pictures coming soon . . . 

Another day, we visited Grama and Grampa at their place for a little while, and then Grama went to work.  So, Jodie and I took the little boys and Stephanie sledding, while Brian hung out with buddies, Gary went back to spend some more time with dad, and Dave worked on his car a little. The boys had a blast. That evening, Gary, Jodie, Dave and I went to The Break for dinner and to play some pool.  We won.  Uh huh.  We did - Not them.

On their last day here, Gary, Jodie, Stephanie &; Christopher headed out early for some snowboarding at Snowbird.  The weather was perfect - very cold with fresh powder.  I think the word I heard was Epic.  :)  Meanwhile, back at the homestead, Brian, Sarah, Zach, Nick and I went to see Night at the Museum, which was fabulous, of course.  I was really nervous about managing Nick's diabetes, but seemed to do okay somehow.  They're such good boys.  They loved having a bubble bath in my big tub after we got home.

It was a lovely holiday, with great company, thoughtful gifts, extended time with family, and a long break from work.  I'd say that adds up to a perfect Christmas.