Christmas

For Christmas Break, I got to leave Provo on Thursday and head for Mesa. Because I went with Bridgit, we stopped a night in Flagstaff before continuing on to Mesa, still getting home to Mesa early Friday afternoon was great! It gave me exactly 2 weeks at home this year which was really nice to just have some time to be home, and be with my mom and dad. (I sure love them!) The first few days were nothing too exciting because my parents were both working and most of my friends weren't home just yet so I just spent a lot of time relaxing, something that was definitely missing last semester!

The first big thing to happen was on Monday night, when we had a combined FHE with Brenda and Dave and some of their family. Brenda's son Mike was there with his wife and kids and then Tisha's son KJ was also there. (he is the one in the bucket above) He discovered that he could get lots of laughs by climbing into the bucket and trying to hide inside of it so he continued doing it for quite a while! We had a short spiritual thought followed by a viewing of a classic, Mr Krueger's Christmas and some yummy zucchini cake. It was fun to spend some time with Brenda's family and especially Mike's family, who I don't remember a lot from when I was younger.

Does anyone recognize this amazing Santa Claus?

Anyone...Anyone? He's probably my favorite Santa Claus ever!!

It's my Daddy! He played Santa Claus at Fry's for two days while I was home for Christmas and I couldn't resist going and seeing him in action as Santa! I mean he was Santa for so long for me and now I get to see him really be Santa Claus for so many other little kids! It was really cute!

On the first Wednesday of break, I finally got to see my favorite person from high school... Becky! I love this girl so much, she is incridible and she has been there for me through so many different times in my life and I am so glad that we have stayed friends!

For Christmas Eve this year we spend the evening over at Jen and Adam's for dinner, Christmas Eve traditions, and games. It was really fun to send some time chasing these little guys around again, it has been a while since I got to do that! I was surprised at how quickly they accepted me and were begging me to follow them again to see what they were going to do next! I can't believe how big they have gotten!

Christmas was just me and Mom and Dad so it wasn't too big this year, we only opened a few presents on Christmas and then left the rest for Sunday when Megan would join us. We spend Christmas just spending time together, Mom and I played lots of games, and we all watched some movies together. We also had some really yummy food, and went to see some of our amazing family! Saturday Mom and I went to Brenda's grandaughter's baptism. That was about all...then late Saturday night Meg got into town. Sunday Megan realized that she forgot her church clothes at home so she stayed home from church. Then just a little before we left we got a call telling us that Mhari was in labor!! We were so excited!! Mom and I took our phones with us to church and anxiously awaited any news about Andrew's birth. We got home without hearing much, so we waited some more. Finally we got some news about a brand new baby boy! He is adorable!! basically Mhari looks way too good to have just had a baby, but the whole family looks completely wonderful! Especially Andrew Keenan Fleischman! I am already in love with this little kid! I haven't met him yet and it has only been a month and a half but I am in love!

Monday and Tuesday Mom took the day off of work so we just spent some time with Meg. Meg had to leave Tuesday night to get back to work, so while Mom went through the temple with Randall, Meg and I walked around the temple to see the lights. I ran in to some old friends so I got distracted for a while but it was still fun. At the temple I ran in to Heather, a friend from high school, who I haven't seen since the summer after graduation, and Eric my friend who got back from his mission a few months ago. They were both being hosts at the temple for their stake. It was fun to see them and to find out how Heather has been for the last little while and how school has been going for her. Then I had to say bye to Meg It was sad to say bye, but it was good to have some time to spend with her!

The second Wednesday of the break, I got together with some of my amazing friends from High School! I love these kids! hannah, Derrick, Drake, Becky and I became friends when we were all in Footloose together my junior year. Then senior year Derrick and I had 4 classes together, AP English, Gov/Econ, Advanced Vocal Ensemble, and Concert Choir. Drake and I had 2 classes togehter, AP English and Concert Choir. Becky and I had one class together as well as being in the same ward togheter. And she was my 2nd counselor in the Laurel presidency. I didn't get to see Hannah too much during senior year, but whenever we did see each other it was so much fun! Anyway, we all got together went to Red Robin for some dinner (or in my case a drink and their bottomless fries) then we went back to Hannah's apartment for a while. earlier, as we were driving to Hannah's we had been talking about when we were in Footlosoe and how it would be fun to watch it. So Hannah told us that she had video from our production and we couldn't resist watching it so we put the video in and took a little trip back in time to March 2007! It was great although kind of silly! These four people are wonderful and I plan to keep in touch with them for a very long time!!

Eric and I spent New Years Eve at a YSA ice skating pary. Ice skating is always fun, so it was a fun night.

I love this woman so very much! She is probably the most amazing woman that I have ever known and I look up to her so very much! Thanks mom for all that you do for me and for being the beautiful and amazing lady that you are! I hope you always remember how much you mean to me!

Mom and Dad took me to the Bailey's house on New Years where I met up with Maddie and Rachel Lake, and Rachel's mom to drive up to Flag. Rachel used to live in my ward in Mesa, but it was before I had moved there. She was however good friends with some of my ward friends, for example, Becky and her were like the best of friends, so I have heard about her for years from them. Then at the beginning of this school year I started talking to a girl in my ward who I have talked about before, Bridgit. Bridgit and I found a connection through Rachel because Rachel is one of Bridgit's best friends in Flagstaff.

So we drove to Flagstaff that night, where I stayed the night with Rachel's family. It was a really fun night, we talked for a while, (it was nice to get to know them and now be able to have a picture anytime someone talks about the Lakes, whether it is Bridgit or Becky) we also had lots of food, and watched Up and then Rachel, Maddi and I all squished into Rachel's bed and slept for a really long time!

This is after a long drive from Flagstaff to Provo, long, but good! We talked about anything and everything and it was really great!!

Overall it was a great break! I had fun being with my friends and more importantly my family and I just loved being in Arizona for a while enjoying the sunshine, and the one day of down pour! The most exciting part of the break was definitely the late Christmas present that we got in the form of an addition to our family! I love my little nephew so much!