Okay - I tried to send pics on the blog but I cant remember how I did that. So they will be forthcoming. Day 3 - Thursday - started with a visit from Santa's Elf. An Elf visits Aaron and Rachel's family every Christmas Eve morning. He usually brings Christmas pjammys... and this year was no different. The one thing I didnt expect was to see a gift for "Mom", "Dad", and "Aunt Dawn". Okay, that was cool! When I woke up the kids already had these adorable jammys and robes on. Adam only had his robe on which was precious! They were so excited to tell me that the Elf left me a present as well. The little kid in me came jumping out....inside I was feeling, "WOW, really, for me! I have a present! I have a present!" Isnt that funny. Its been a little while since I have recieved gifts like I recieved this Christmas and little did I know that the jammys were only the beginning. I waited until Aaron and Rachel came out and opened their presents. They both got jammys - Rachel also recieved slippers and so did I - in fact, Rachel and I had matching jammys and slippers - red and white. I loved them! Shortly after that we left to pick up Tori. I just couldnt bring myself to change out of my jammys so we left without changing. On the way Aaron introduced me to Glenn Beck's Conversion Story - what a great CD. (Little did I know I would be recieving that CD the next morning) We picked up Tori at the SLC Airport because her bus broke down. I was very happy to see her.
Later we ordered yummy foods from Red Lobster and prepared the STeaks. Aaron and Rachel do Surf and Turf for Christmas Eve. I was soooooooooooo happy about that - lobster, king crab, coconut shirmp, stuffed flounder, scallops, and Steak. We had pies and tons of yummy desserts. It was an "amazing" meal. After the meal we read the Christmas story and listened to musical numbers played on the piano by Abraham, Sam, and Gracie. Abraham is "amazing"! He really is talented. I am so impressed by how well he has learned the piano - it was flawless. The brothers and sisters opened gifts from each other - it was fun to watch them get excited for each other as they opened their gifts. To my surprise they gave me a gift as well - oh my, so beautiful....they gave me a chunky necklace with matching braclets - red, of course. They told me it was for student teaching - I will definitely be the talk of the school with those accessories! I love big chunky accessories! I immediately put them on and wore them the rest of the night. Thank you Abraham, Samuel, Gracie, Noah, and Adam!!!!!!
After Family Prayer and the children were tucked into bed we began marathon wrapping. Five of us wrapped for 2-3 hours! Aaron then organized all the gifts around the tree the exact same way that Jen and I do it - Mom does it this way also...it was "amazing" to me to see how we all still do it the same way we had it done for us when we were still at home. Mom, you would have been proud! He meticuously placed each gift AND THEN put the bows on it - it was a sight to see!
After hugs and kisses I went to bed so excited for Christmas morning! Before I went to bed I wrote a card to Aaron and Rachel and just cried and cried. My heart was so full. I felt so grateful....I felt so welcomed and included. I felt so much love from everyone. Christmas brought on new meaning to me - they gave me something I could not give myself....a family to experience Christmas Eve and morning with. I thought about friends and neighbors I have who will never experience the kind of Christmas Aaron was providing for me. My love deepened for him....what a good brother. Aaron definitely lightened my load. I feel soooooooo incredibly blessed and my emotions swelled up inside and overflowed. It was a good cry.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Christmas in Utah - Day 1 and Day 2
I left Tuesday morning on my flight to Utah. It was an "amazing" (ha! ha! - I was stuck on this word througout the holiday) experience! It was so great to see Aaron!! He picked me up from the airport and we were off on our Holiday Adventure. We had a very long trip home because of the weather and time of day but it felt like a minute to me. We just talked and talked and talked. I kept looking over at him behind the wheel of his Toyota Tundra.....he was so in shape, so happy, so at peace with his life....it was refreshing. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude. He has been such an example to me in my life - he has lightened the load of so many...especially mine. I knew I made the right decision to come to Utah for the Holiday. After we made it over Thanksgiving Point we went to a place called "Kneaders" - a bakery. They have very impressive looking and tasting pastries and breads - YUMMY! I was welcomed into his home by Abraham, Samuel, Gracie (dont forget the "ie"), Noah, and Adam. They showed me around and took me to my room. I was priviledged to stay in a Fairy Princess Room that was the former dwelling place of Princess Grace. It really is a beautiful room! Directly after I was welcomed I recieved a delicious bowl of corn chowder in a bread bowl. Boy did that hit the spot. Rachel is a very good cook and I enjoy everything she cooks. I retired early.
The next day was filled with Boggle playing - Abraham, Sam and I played many many rounds of Boogle (which is one of my favorite games). I got lots of lovin' from my baby Adam - OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh, MY! He is so sweet and so affectionate! I just soaked it all in. He had a permanent place on my hip for the rest of the vacation - no complaints at all! We met Aaron at his office in the afernoon. As we rolled up to his office I again saw the name Dr. Aaron Robinson, D.O. on the door. It still seems unreal to me - my brother is a Doctor...a Doctor. People actually call him, "Dr. Robinson". I am so proud of him. Anyway, I went into the office and was introduced to the office staff. We then wen to Enstiens Bagels for lunch. Aaron ordered me a Pastrami sandwich which was delicious. After lunch we split up - Aaron, Adam and I went Christmas shopping and so did Rachel and the kids (just in different places). As we drove around I was able to take in the LDS culture .... the "Dear Elder..." billboards, advertisements for LDS Akuthors and Movies, Temple Dress shops, and LDS bookstores. I was able to travel down memory lane as I drove up and down University Parkway - remembering when I brought Chandler home from the hospital, the second apartment Kevin and I lived in, and college life at UVSU. The mountains still dont seem real and their beauty still astounds me. Aaron seems to have established himself within the community because where ever we went he knew someone.
That night we drove around Lindon looking at lights which happens to be one of my absolutely favorite things to do at Christmas time. We stopped at this house that had their lights flashing to the beat of the music from a radio frequency that played Christmas carols. It was so cool! Then we went to Thanksgiving Point - the lights were well done but the best part was the ride in the car.....listening to the reaction of the children and watching Aaron and Rachels reactions to them. It was priceless! We topped the night off with a "Frosty Dairy Dessert" (ha! ha! Dad) from Wendys. Yum! Yum!
The next day was filled with Boggle playing - Abraham, Sam and I played many many rounds of Boogle (which is one of my favorite games). I got lots of lovin' from my baby Adam - OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh, MY! He is so sweet and so affectionate! I just soaked it all in. He had a permanent place on my hip for the rest of the vacation - no complaints at all! We met Aaron at his office in the afernoon. As we rolled up to his office I again saw the name Dr. Aaron Robinson, D.O. on the door. It still seems unreal to me - my brother is a Doctor...a Doctor. People actually call him, "Dr. Robinson". I am so proud of him. Anyway, I went into the office and was introduced to the office staff. We then wen to Enstiens Bagels for lunch. Aaron ordered me a Pastrami sandwich which was delicious. After lunch we split up - Aaron, Adam and I went Christmas shopping and so did Rachel and the kids (just in different places). As we drove around I was able to take in the LDS culture .... the "Dear Elder..." billboards, advertisements for LDS Akuthors and Movies, Temple Dress shops, and LDS bookstores. I was able to travel down memory lane as I drove up and down University Parkway - remembering when I brought Chandler home from the hospital, the second apartment Kevin and I lived in, and college life at UVSU. The mountains still dont seem real and their beauty still astounds me. Aaron seems to have established himself within the community because where ever we went he knew someone.
That night we drove around Lindon looking at lights which happens to be one of my absolutely favorite things to do at Christmas time. We stopped at this house that had their lights flashing to the beat of the music from a radio frequency that played Christmas carols. It was so cool! Then we went to Thanksgiving Point - the lights were well done but the best part was the ride in the car.....listening to the reaction of the children and watching Aaron and Rachels reactions to them. It was priceless! We topped the night off with a "Frosty Dairy Dessert" (ha! ha! Dad) from Wendys. Yum! Yum!
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