Christmas time!!!

Well we spent Christmas in the US of A with our family, Aaron, Kimberly and Joshua and Jessica, Ben and Jack. We flew out on the 18th December with many Christmas goodies, gifts Christmas cake and pudding, jars of mincemeat (to make mince pies) and pickled onions. We also took Christmas crackers and loads of chocolate. Beth and Steve flew back on New Years Eve so Beth didn't miss any school and Lesley-Ann got to stay another week! We were so excited to see a white Christmas and loved to see the mountains covered in snow.

We stayed with Aaron and Kimberly and as we had several days before Christmas we were able to do some Christmas shopping and see the lights of Temple Square in Salt Lake City. The other highlights were making mince pies with Jess, we pretended to be presenting a cookery show and Steve videoed our crazy antics. We also went to the tumble gym a very bouncy fun place with with Jess, Ben and Jack along with several of their friends, Aaron, Kimberly and Joshua came too.

Christmas Eve was full of anticipation and excitement as we made last minute preparations with Beth going Christmas shopping with Aaron. Later in the day Kimberly's parents Randy and Kaelyn and her sister Stephanie came over, we ate lots of goodies including a yummy soup that Kimmy made. We played games and watched a movie and it snowed which was so exciting for us Brits how don't see much snow.

We missed not being able to go to church on Christmas Day the first time in nearly 30 years. But we had an enjoyable morning opening presents with Aaron, Kimberly and Joshua who had a sack as big as him it was so fun to watch his great excitement. Jess, Ben and Jack were in Idaho with Ben's family for the holiday. Aaron and Kimberly went to spend some time with Kimberly's family and to speak to Scott Kimmy's brother who is serving a mission in Leeds, England and we called by briefly to exchange gifts before heading back to cook a Christmas dinner of Turkey and all the trimmings, including Christmas pudding and mince pies.

Boxing Day was some what different then most years with Aaron going back to work, we went to the sales to spend some of our Christmas money. It also snowed again, but Jess and Ben got back safe and well from Idaho.

Thursday 27th was Joshua's 2nd birthday, wow were did those 2 years go? We had fun watching him open his gifts. Aaron and Kimmy took him to the movies while we went and spent a few hours with Jess, Ben and Jack. We had lunch at Novell where Ben works and then went the fascinating museums. Later that day we celebrated Joshua's birthday back in Lehi with family, where Kimmy had made a great car chocolate birthday cake as Joshua loves the Disney cars.

On Friday 28th we had a very busy day with Aaron and Kimberly treating us to the new National Treasure movie in the morning followed by lunch at Chilli's. We then drove to Provo and went ice skating with Jess and Ben, well I looked after Jack! We then spent the evening with our dear friends the Pritchards who recently moved but still living in Springville, Aaron, Kimmy and Josh, Jess, Ben and Jack came too. Beth then spent the night at the Carneys.

On Saturday 29th Steve and I went to the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, we arrived about 8.30am to find the huge car park filled with hundreds of cars it was unbelievable. We had received more snow and the temple look beautiful and it was lovely to spend time together in the house of the Lord. Steve was so excited to have found someone to re-bind his scriptures and he didn't live to far from Aaron and he was even more excited when he picked them up today and saw how good they looked.

Sunday 30th we went to church and Jess, Ben and Jack came over and went to Aaron and Kimmy's ward with us. We spent a fun day together before Steve and Beth head home, I cooked a roast beef dinner with Yorkshire puddings, we played lots of games including pass the buck which had us in hysterics, it was then sadly time to pack.

New Years Eve and Steve and Beth said their good byes and flew home barely making their connection in Chicago. I got to spend it with Jess and Ben and their friends Sheryl and Spencer. We played games past midnight, ate lots of food including chocolate and apple cider (non-alcoholic).

Tuesday 1st January 2008 New Years Day Jess and Ben went to the movies on New Years Day while I got to spend time with Jack who was 7 months the day we arrived, he is such a character full of energy, he is such a chatterbox and doesn't sit still, just so adorable. We then drove to Park City after lunch to spend our Christmas on money at the outlet shops. We spent a fun evening together watching a movie.

Thursday 3rd January Kimberly and I went shopping while Aaron and Joshua spent some time together we also went and had lunch at the Spaghetti Factory. It is so cheap to eat lunch in America, we would barely get a sandwich in the UK for the same price as a good meal there!

On Friday 4th January I got to spend some time with Joshua while his Mummy and Daddy went on a date to the temple, to lunch and shopping. We had a blast and I love to hear Joshua call me 'Mama', he is a clever little boy who has mastered potty training and did this before he was 2! He loved his Pops (Steve) and Auntie Beth and was sad to see them go.