Memory #1 ~ Diamonds!!! My loving husband surprised me with tiny diamond earrings and a certificate to get a second ear piercing. Something that I have wanted to do for a long time but never took the time and money to go do it. He also got me a beautiful heart "diamond accented" necklace (I LOVE hearts!!!!). I got him a game w/expansion; which we promptly played as soon as we were done opening presents :-).
Memory #2 ~ ROAD TRIP!!! We love taking road trips together. Hours in the car together with no distractions, no one else around, just the two of us and hours to talk, laugh and just be together!!!!
Memory #3 ~ Spending the night in a motel with my sister and her family. Getting to run around outside in the cold morning to help my nephews run off some of their energy. Watching them find the one patch of ice in the parking lot and slide and fall down MANY times because they thought it was fun!!!
Memory #4 ~ Pulling into my parents driveway and seeing a car parked with an Arizona license plate. Wait a minute!!!! My brother and sister-in-law aren't supposed to have been able to make the trip!!! Guess what??? They surprised everyone and drove through the night!!!!
Memory #5 ~ Seeing my dad stand in the living room with tears in his eyes (and some escaping down his cheeks) as he realizes that ALL of his children and grandchildren will be together for Christmas for the first time in SEVEN years!!! My eyes tear up every time I think about how happy my dad was!!! What a special moment!!!!
Memory #6 ~ Sitting around my parents table. They bought a large table as an anniversary present to themselves several years ago with the future dream of having all their children w/spouses and grandchildren come visit and having room to all sit at the same table. This is the first time that we have all been together at their house to sit around that table. We enjoyed the wonderful meals my mom prepared over the weekend and we enjoyed the blessing of being together again!!!
Memory #7 ~ Sleeping on an air mattress that we "filled up" with a blow drier. {btw. I don't recommend the blow drier method.) Waking up twice in the night to refill it. Grateful for a room to sleep in :-).
Memory #8 ~ Christmas morning breakfast of my mom's Danish. Yummy!!!!
Memory #9 ~ Playing Away in a Manger on the piano while my 3-year-old nephew, Ben, played the kazoo. He learned to play it on Saturday night and was enthralled with it. He's actually really good!!!! (I have a video of this posted on my Facebook page, but because it's my sister's recording, I can't share it here. Sorry!!)
Memory #10 ~ Attending my parents church and getting to meet many of the people they are now ministering with there.
Memory #11 ~ Getting to see some long-time family friends that I hadn't seen in probably over 8 years.
Memory #12 ~ Having a family picture taken.
Memory #13 ~ Taking TONS of pictures in front of the Christmas tree while my nephews Ben & Joseph try to patiently wait to open all the presents.
Memory #14 ~ Trying to get a nice picture with two squirmy 3-year-olds.
Memory #15 ~ Listening to my daddy read the Christmas story.
Memory #16 ~ Watching Ben and Joseph learn how to pop the bubbles on bubble wrap :-).
Memory #17 ~ Eating the Spritz cookies my mom made. Double YUMMY!!!!
Memory #18 ~ Lying lazily around the house.
Memory #19 ~ Watching my husband and my dad play a baseball game together on the Wii.
Memory #20 ~ Sleeping in and then staying in my pjs for most of the morning (Dec. 26th)
Memory #21 ~ Driving to my in-laws house and having Nathan do the driving among those CRAZY Colorado drivers!!!!
Memory #22 ~ Playing Slamwich with my 10-year-old nephew Greg. (He was better than I was!!!)
Memory #23 ~ Opening presents with Dad & Mom Maxwell.
Memory #24 ~ Watching my hubby cuddle with our nieces and hearing him say "If we get a girl, I think we're in trouble. I'm going to be such a sucker!!!!" :-) :-) :-)
Memory #25 ~ Driving to my favorite place. Home!!!!
