Happy New Year! Holiday Updates, Too

 Ah, a whole new year. While I did enjoy 2009, I'm definitely looking forward to 2010! So many plans and resolutions. It's amazing looking back on our lives and seeing the changes made just within a couple of years; up and leaving my hometown where I grew up for 22 years, and moving to a completely new city (2 for that matter, but they're right next to each other so it probably doesn't count), being a part of 2 wonderful wards, including the one we're in now, Gary getting raises and us moving to a safe and beautiful neighborhood, and even me being diagnosed with pretty much everything. Even then, it felt good to take a step in a good direction.

While I did lose 13lbs, it's been that way for a month. My last serious workout was Thanksgiving. And while I'm pleased to say I didn't gain anything back during the holidays, I need to get back on the ball! Now that the holidays are over and 2010 is here, it's time I step it up.

 The Christmas season was wonderful. Unfortunately I didn't really get any photos of the events, so sorry! But we did have a great time. On Christmas Eve morning, Gary and I went to Bakersfield to spend the day with my family. We opened up presents and had a delicious dinner. After dinner, we headed to Taft to visit Gary's family! The first night, we slept on a huge air mattress in the living room. We both didn't sleep too well, mostly because it wasn't our own bed. But that's okay! The Mertz' came over that morning, where the kids opened up more gifts. KaRyn, the mom, is Gary's oldest sister. So those kids I'm talking about are his nephews and niece. We then headed over to the Taylors (another sister of his and her children), all of us, and had a yummy breakfast. While there, we watched a movie and hung out, then around 2pm, we headed back over to Gary's parents house where we enjoyed our Christmas feast! The food was super delicious!

 Some of us were even caught napping in the living room with the cute dogs :) . KaRyn and her family brought over their very adorable dog as well. And she's blue! She's a Blue Merle, from the Cocker Spaniel breed. Very beautiful dog! And very nice nap, haha. The other dog is Gary's parents, Molly, who is a sort of terrier mix...like Katrina, but bigger.

After this, we all gathered in the living room with blankets and pillows and watched Transformers 2. I didn't like the movie, but it was fun having us all together. The movie was much too long with way too much action. That, and it mostly focused on how nasty and desperate Megan Fox is.

That night, Gary's brother Jeff, and his wife Aimee, came over and brought their two adorable, rowdy boys, as well as their super beautiful baby daughter. Well, not so much a baby anymore! Last year she was, but she was sure using those legs this time around. Gary and I slept on the air mattress again, but in a different room, while Jeff and Aimee spent the night in the living room with more air mattresses. That next day, we spent hanging out and spending time with everyone, before we headed out that evening. While the time was great, it felt so wonderful to crash on the bed.

Of course, we came home to cookies...cookies on the floor, a bag torn open, and an extra, extra friendly little orange cat. I guess he thought he'd win by using his cuteness. Cookies on the living room floor, which led us to a trail of cookies down the hall, a little in the bathroom, and a bigger collection in the bedroom. We also noticed the top of Chloe's cage was shifted (our rat). Hmm....But, he did in fact win with cuteness, because we thought it was funny and adorable.

Gary's days off have been amazing! He was off yesterday, and had an early day the day before. He gets today off, of course, and doesn't go back to work until Monday. One of the best things about the holidays are the vacation days hubby gets.

Well, I suppose that's all for now! Another day with the husband! I woke up early this morning, took the tree and Christmas decorations down, did some cleaning and rearranging, and now we have a full dining room. I'm just awesome like that :)

Later!