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Our actual New Years Eve was spent at Ben & Becky's house. We went to lunch at Cafe Paesan, then to the Provo Beach Resort to let the kids play for awhile, followed by an appetizer dinner. We tucked the kids in around 9:00--they were ready! We got to FaceTime with Chrissie & Riley, started playing Words with Friends (at Riley's recommendation), & we rang in the new Year with slush again! (this time a banana version which I very much liked & Greyson was dying to try). Welcome 2012!!!

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Today our numbers started dwindling as everyone packed to leave... the Dixons & Mom & Dad spent the day packing the moving truck in St. George, getting ready to begin the trek to Texas in the morning. The rest of us visited some more (& Brett showed us some awesome rope tricks from his glory days in the Tucson Boys Chorus--he's still got it!). Darin & Vince played their tie-breaker golf game (day 3 in a row!). Tonight the Heflins drove back to Arizona, we & the Williams drove to Orem, & Brett & Kristi-Lynn flew to NYC. The photo above was the only one I snapped today... such a shame. Thanks to Becky for taking these below. Also not pictured: Boulder Station, where we slept the last 3 nights... It was nice! Though we only went there to sleep, shower & get ready, so no pics. 

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 Happy (early) New Year! Today's fun-filled day included a trip to the park, an obstacle course set up & timed by Becky in the backyard, some game playing, a white elephant gift exchange with all gifts furnished by Brett (from his boxes of stuff that Mom & Dad have been storing for him), a special FaceTime chat with Chrissie on the big screen TV from Riley's hospital room, set up by Brett (Riley was asleep, following a transfusion, but we got to see him & a tour of the room too), our real gift exchange from our drawn names, which Chrissie still participated in by video, tasty New Yearsy food, including slush which we used to toast the new year at approximately 9:00pm... on December 29. 

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The cousins got lots of outside playing time in Las Vegas--it was a balmy 70 degrees. So fun to see everyone again... & to see Brett, Kristi-Lynn & Sadie with baby Colton for the first time! Susie & Will were on packing detail while their kids were here to play, Becky & Ben's family had arrived yesterday, & Patty & Vance's family popped over at will. We definitely missed seeing Riley & Chrissie this trip... they were ever on our minds, & it was great of Vince to come with the rest of the kids!

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 We had various views on our 11 hour drive today... and the kids were great! We left around 9:00am,  stopped in Twin Falls for lunch at Cafe Rio, then stopped in Ely, NV for gas & some exercise at the McDonalds play place. We arrived before 8:00pm. The kids were great! (Did I already say that?)

Time to get back in the car... hence, the sad face.

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A relaxing day of laundry, packing, cleaning, tying up loose ends & playing with new toys.

Tomorrow we drive!

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The kids didn't wake up until after 8:30 this morning, so Darin & I had had our showers & were ready before they even got up! We had a fun morning opening some presents, had our traditional bubble bread & went to church at 11:00, then back home to finish opening presents & had an early dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes & green beans. I really enjoyed having Sacrament meeting today--definitely fitting on Christmas day (although I'm glad it wasn't me that had to speak!!)

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We put on our red & green & took an impromptu Christmas card picture today with the tripod. Darin created the card, I wrote a quick update, & we emailed it out. No ordering, no stamps, done in a couple hours... I could get used to this! Tonight we drove around & looked at Christmas lights, came home & watched some Christmas videos including Joy to the World, & the new Bible videos on lds.org, then the kids set out their stockings, milk & cookies for Santa & opened one present each (pj's!).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This year seemed to just fly right by! Gavin turned five in June & started Kindergarten in the fall. He loves it! He takes the role of "big brother" seriously & is a great helper. We celebrated the arrival of Greyson in July & are having fun watching him grow--he's a really happy guy & the perfect addition to our family. Ellie turned two in October & keeps us on our toes. She's a smart little gal, & she makes sure there's never a dull moment here! Darin enjoys his work at Scentsy & spent 94 days out of the country this year in China (84 days) & France & Italy (10 days), so homecomings were always extra exciting for us all! Angie loves being a mom to 3 great kids & stays plenty busy juggling kids & calling. We enjoyed spending time with family on a 4-day cruise in November to celebrate the homecoming of Angie's parents from their South Carolina mission, then spent Thanksgiving week with some of our Bishop family in California. We are grateful for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives & for this time of year, in which we celebrate His birth & His life. We are blessed to know you & hope this finds you well. We wish you all the best for 2012!

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 We got a babysitter for a couple of hours this afternoon, originally to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, but thanks to Darin's still-adjusting body clock, he had done it all at Walmart at 6:00am this morning. So, we went to lunch at Flatbread Community Oven & called it our anniversary celebration (our 19th anniversary... which had gone mostly uncelebrated on the 18th, with Darin in China). Notice the bandaid on Darin's nose... he had visited my dermatologist's office today & they took a biopsy of a spot on his nose that had been looking suspicious. The picture below has nothing to do with any of this... just thought it was cute!

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Yesterday morning (the day after Darin came home), our car wouldn't start. Luckily, school was out, & I didn't have anywhere else I had to be. Darin checked the battery (which seemed to be fine) & some other things, but there was just no sound at all when trying to start the car. So today we had it towed to the nearest repair shop... and when they called Darin later, they said they could find nothing wrong. It had started the first time for them! Strange... but we'll call it a Christmas miracle. We had it back by 5:00 this afternoon.

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Darin usually brings home some different kind of treat when he goes to China. This time it was mango/orange & blueberry/raspberry Oreos. They were interesting... but I prefer the original!

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Today was Gavin's class Christmas party (also with a Polar Express theme) & the last day of school! They ate waffles, made bracelets, colored ornaments & played, "Don't Eat Pete." But the highlight of the day was after school, when we got to go pick up Dad from the airport after being gone 21 days! 

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Is this guy not the cutest ever? I submit that he is, indeed... and the sweetest ever too.

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No church for us today... Ellie got sick three times in the night, between 3:30 & 5:00am, then the last time around 8:00am. She tried to take it easy all day (a challenge for her) & seemed to be back to normal!

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 Our fun activity today was raking leaves... at least it was nice out--a high of 42°!