Family Reunion & The Flu

I was really looking forward to this past weekend for a few reasons: 1. We were going out to eat with some of Derek's cousins to celebrate a birthday  2. Jared was giving his homecoming talk at church, and  3. Some of my family was coming into town from Canada -- many of which I have not seen in like 10 years or more! And I would have happily enjoyed all of these things had I not gotten very, very sick Friday afternoon!

My aunt & uncle, Jessica & Enoc came down from Calgary, with four of their kids, Benjamin, Ana, Andres and Jacob. They did not live in Calgary when I did, so I hadn't seen them since I was around 14. My other uncle, Yavhel also came from Victoria. I think I was probably 10 the last time I saw him. They were here all weekend, Friday they had a big get together at a church and Saturday everyone went to Park City. But I was at home, in bed, feeling like I was dying. 

Friday morning I woke up with a cough and just felt kind of weird. After I took a shower, I was suddenly freezing and could not get warm. I put on warm socks and sweaters but I still had goosebumps all over and started to feel light headed. I knew then that I was probably getting sick. Within an hour I felt horrible. I was just counting down the minutes to when I could put Noah down for a nap because I could barely move. It's crazy how fast and strong it came on. After I put Noah down, I hopped into bed and stayed there for the rest of the day and night. 

I've never felt that miserable, EVER! I don't even remember the last time I had the flu, I think I was probably in third grade. I literally felt like I was losing my mind. I basically cried myself to sleep the whole day. I'm so happy Derek had the day off so he could take care of me and Noah. It made me really think, what would I do if I was a single-parent? I felt so bad for Noah because I felt like he didn't even have a mom for 2 days. 

I felt a lot better but still felt really bad on Saturday. But I could actually have a conversation and go on my phone as long as I was still lying down. I still couldn't get out of bed. My whole body felt so sore! Sunday I felt much better, I was able to go to church, but I only went to sacrament to hear Jared's talk. I didn't want to teach my class and get too close to anyone in case I was still contagious. 

Jared's homecoming talk was really good! I don't think I've ever heard him speak before. I loved it. He shared several stories from his mission. My family that was visiting came to hear him as well.

Jared with some mission friends

Later that evening we all went to Sarahi's house. I felt bad going because I know I hate when sick people come around me but they all wanted me to go so if they get sick I can't feel too bad, right? Haha, yeah right I would still feel horrible. 

Enoc & Jessica

Kleidy & Koby

Lovebugs

Vagner & Kendra

Jacob, Benjamin, Ana & Andres

Jared & his mission friend, Mark

Yavhel

They sang "Nearer My God To Thee" for us

So even though I didn't get to spend the whole weekend with these guys I at least saw them on Sunday and I was still able to hear Jared's talk. It was a good end to the year!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2013

 C H R I S T M A S   E V E 

Every Christmas Eve we go to Derek's dad's house for the evening and then spend the night there. Which we absolutely love doing. However, this year since my mom & Jared were living with us we thought it would be nice to have Christmas morning at our home this year. Also since it was our first Christmas with Noah and in our first home.

So on the 24th we stopped over at Jessie & John's place to see them & the kids for a couple hours.

Then we headed over to the Finch house. There is always so much good food there so I of course got stuffed. Everyone opens presents together. Noah got lots of cute stuff. He got some new books, toys & clothes. He really needed warm, winter pj's which he got. And he got a sign language kit, I better get cracking on expanding our signs! Derek and I mostly got food storage, which is what we really wanted. Best gift ever! Thank you Papa & Grammies!

Why so glum, chum?

Brad turned into a girl

Noah turned into a girl. This was a hair piece for a teddy bear I think, so it was the perfect size. I wish I got a front shot but I was laughing too hard. 

Camera toy from Tiffi!

Behind me is the huge water barrel we got, awesome!

I had to put this picture in. First off, aren't those matching ties cute? OH yeah so Noah is crying because I took tissue paper out of his mouth. Again. He probably swallowed a few chunks that night. 

Little one with Derek's Grandma. Noah is lucky enough to have three great-grandmother's to give him cuddles. 

C H R I S T M A S   M O R N I N G

We woke up Christmas morning at our house and opened a few presents together with my mom and Jared. Noah loved it, he likes playing with the wrapping paper, of course. We didn't really get him anything because we knew our family would be getting him plenty enough already, but he opened a few from my mom, the Olsen's & Grandma & Grandpa Finch (Derek's grandparents). Derek and I didn't get each other anything again this year because we just finished the basement & the farmhouse table, we didn't feel the need to buy extra gifts.

Getting into the presents already

He blends in with the wrapping paper

He liked Jared's slippers

Love my boy

Thanks for the tie, Hugh

Jared gave everyone a framed piece of native art from his mission

New scriptures for a new chapter in his life

The bracelet I got my mom. A pink tourmaline pearl for Sophia, a diamond pearl for Noah and an amethyst pearl for Elijah. Now she can take her grandchildren wherever she goes

Our first Christmas together! -- thanks for eating my hair Noah..

I love this one

We had our favorite breakfast -- belgian waffles!

Later in the afternoon Derek's mom & Grandma Pierce came over along with Dustin, Leila, Talon & Sophia.

Derek's mom

Another one of Noah's great-grandmothers 

For dinner, my mom was kind enough to make us a ham dinner. She seriously is the best. It was delicious.

It wouldn't be Christmas without giving the focus to our Brother. I am so thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for his life on this earth. I'm thankful for the love he has for each of us. And I'm eternally thankful for his atoning sacrifice. Just as we give gifts to family and friends on this Holiday, I like to give a gift to our Savior. We can never repay him for what he's done for us but we can show our love to him by showing love for others. Merry Christmas! May we feel the joy from Him throughout the year.

Getting Ready for Christmas

We had been so busy that we waited to get our Christmas tree later than I would have wanted to. So one night we were like okay we NEED to go get our Christmas tree! We were babysitting Sophia at the time, so poor Noah and Sophia had to come and be freezing with us. It was abnormally cold that week! So even though both kids were crying the whole way home, we at least had our tree and that was one thing we could scratch off our list!

We got a smaller tree this year. I wanted an even smaller one but the only smaller ones were like teeny tiny baby trees. I just like the simple, small tree look lately. Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favorite things to do! It was my favorite thing as a kid, because it got me really excited for Christmas and it just brings the Christmas spirit! 

It was especially nice this year because last year we didn't even get a tree. We were in the middle of painting our new house and getting ready to move, so we didn't bother. This year we got to see all the ornaments we have been collecting. Whenever we travel, we like to find an ornament to take home.. I don't know if it will continue to work out but so far every place we've gone to since we've been married we've bought an tree ornament. We have ones from Hawaii, Las Vegas, Park City, and Nova Scotia.

Dumb of me, but I didn't even get a picture of the tree with the lights on, after we set it up. But here's a couple I took later on.

From the M&M Store

We had a few Christmas parties we went to. Our ward Christmas party, which was a breakfast, was earlier in the month. For Derek's company party, we went to The Spaghetti Factory. It was my first time there, and I loved it. Derek's grandma has a party with her side of the family every year. We don't know a lot of people there outside our immediate family, but it's still fun to go to. They rent out the gym at a chapel because there are so many people that go. Some of the kids will play an instrument or sing a song for everyone, that's always cute. We had the Christmas party with my side of the family here at our house. And we had a really nice Christmas dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Finch's home the Sunday before Christmas.

The Monday before the 25th Derek, Jared, Noah and I went to see the lights at Temple Square since we didn't see them when Hugh was here. I just love seeing the lights, it's so pretty!

Noah all bundled up

I love the Holidays because it seems like you're always surrounded by family :)