Christmas in Wyoming

So, as mentioned before, Gregg and I spent Christmas in Star Valley, Wyoming with the Jones Family and 5 Aussies came into town! This is part of the reason we HAD to stay in the west this year, you just can't miss an opportunity like this to see them! Those who came are Grandma Dorothy, Papa Bill, Aunt Dianne, Uncle Les and Dean (one of their sons). Pictured above from left to right, back row to front row, in case you aren't familiar with the family is: Gregg, myself, Cherie, Warren, Dean, Dianne, Les and Leslie (Jay), Katie, Grandma, Papa and Ian. This photo was at the Christmas Eve service. Warren wrote a very cute skit that starred himself and Uncle Les, it was very good, as usual!

You can't quite see ALL the presents, but needless to say it took HOURS to get through them all! Gregg and I felt very spoiled because it was TRUE! With all the wonderful gifts given to us by the Joneses, the presents my parents sent from Minnesota and the gifts Gregg and I bought the new baby... we felt very blessed and quite spoiled! Thank you to everyone, everyone was so generous. It was a wonderful Christmas day. I definitely missed my family, but I got to talk to them a couple times on Christmas Day and it sounds like they made the most of their day as well!

The family spent a bit of time outdoors! I wish I could have put more pictures to show! The first attempt, Gregg could not get the snowmobiles working, so we were all outside, to include Grandma! and decided to make the most of it! Jay and Dianne did a little sled race pulling Ian and Grandma! She really enjoyed herself! This was their first white Christmas, so we wanted them to experience the snow... and BOY, was there SNOW! I think it snowed every day we were there! Above was the day Gregg and Warren got the older one working, so Gregg, Warren and Jay took turns pulling each other around on the sled, Dean had LOTS of fun out there getting buried in all the snow! We also went tubing up at Snow King in Jackson! Dianne and Dean had such a good time! It was a bit pricey (Thanks, Warren!), but it was so much fun! It's been years since I've done it!

Gregg's Grandma and Papa came in 2005 to our wedding, which meant a lot to us then and it was SO great to spend some real time with them this time. It was hard to get good quality time with them at the wedding, but they are such WONDERFUL people with the most beautiful hearts! As soon as we told all the Aussies were are pregnant when they first got here, first thing out of Grandma's mouth was, "I'll have to save up and come back for the baptism!" You'd think after 40 hours of traveling to Utah, she would have re-thought that, but nope, not for a second! Whether or not she makes it, it was the thoughtfulness behind the words that made us know just how much we mean to her even from here! She mentioned wanting to win the lottery and come back for Jay's Graduation in May, too! They are 91 and still enjoying and appreciating every moment! I fell so much in love with them! My grandparents have all passed away, so I love spending time with these two and Gregg's Grandpa in Montana. I'm so attached! I can't wait to go to Australia in 2010!

These are all the Aussies that made it! Dean, Grandma Dorothy, Papa Bill, Aunt Dianne, and Uncle Les! It was my first time meeting Dianne, Les and Dean and they are all so easy to love! They all have such beautiful hearts... I couldn't stop the crying the minute we had to leave Star Valley! We'll get to see them briefly when they come back through Salt Lake to fly out on the 10th and I think it will be even harder to say goodbye again! On their way back to Australia, they're going to head to Disneyland for a few days... I'm sure it will be such a great time! It is Dean's first time to the U.S.

My family is attempting to fly standby this week and come and visit. I thought it would be such great timing as the Court is giving me 2.5 days off for free around the New Year! The flights are looking pretty crazy, but I'll be praying they'll make it here... if anyone wants to send out a few extra for me! My brother is thinking/ planning on coming as well! It would be his first time here! It would be nice if they made it because my next Dr's appointment (17 weeks now!) is on Friday and it would be fun for my parents to get to hear the heartbeat! We'll have to see how things go! So, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is well on their way to a blessed New Year!