Hello, here is Part I of our 3 week vacation in Utah. There were so many wonderful things that I have had a hard time summarizing. I figured since this is partly my journal right now that I don't just want to do a collage of pictures, but rather a brief description of what we did each day. Then I tried to only pick one picture for each day, and found myself liking too many photos. This has taken me a long time, but it is worth it. (The previous picture was taken by Melanie Walton on the 26th. I think this picture is rather perfect, I love how it captures the sweetness of Anna, she truly is happy and loving like this every day! Mel, is an amazing photographer! Check out her photography blog- I have a link! )Anyway on to the reason for this post....
Dec. 17th- Anna's first flight and dinner with the K fam, it was SO great to reconnect with family again. The cousins seemed HUGE and Anna loved seeing them.
18th- Jackson's school performance. Dave did not feel well today and spent most of the day on the couch. He had been fighting a cold and we think he got the stomach flu. At this point we didn't realize how many people would also endure this gross bug throughout the holiday season! We soon foung out. In the evening we went to Sydney and Caitlynn's dance performance and dinner at Wingers. The girls were SO beautiful and danced well. Thanks Chris and Holly!
19th- Christmas "service" get- together @ Miners with cookies and pizza (the pizza was interesting, we went to Nick and Willey's and they were out of power, we had them make a take n' bake" pizza in the dark with light of cell phones and charged us cash. hilarious!) We got together to go caroling, but it was too cold and snowy so we just hung out which was nice to reconnect with everyone. This also started what became known as Dave and Heidi's pig out season. Anna loved playing with her cousins, these photos were actually taken on the 23rd (I know this is not useful information to most of you, but it will help me in the future.)
20th- Girlfriend's lunch @ Tori's Parent's home (we missed all who weren't able to be there!), Utah verses Weber State (Just Heidi and Dave went while Anna had tow blowouts with Auntie KJ... sorry sister! Thanks again for your care!), Hung out with parents in the evening.
20th- Girlfriend's lunch @ Tori's Parent's home (we missed all who weren't able to be there!), Utah verses Weber State (Just Heidi and Dave went while Anna had tow blowouts with Auntie KJ... sorry sister! Thanks again for your care!), Hung out with parents in the evening.
21st- Church at our Bountiful Ward and Dinner and "Dark Knight" movie @ Thomas's home. Anna slept almost the whole time we were there. Thanks Melissa and Wy, we miss living so close to you. This picture below is actually from Christmas day, but I wanted to post a picture of one of Anna's biggest fans, meet Hannah... she acutally didn't feel well the night we were there and spent most of the time in bed. Poor girl.
22nd- "little little Christmas eve" with the K fam- gingerbread trees, caramel apples, and lots of sick family members, the cutest pelican toy from the best "aunties,"a new Christmas book, and Pjs.
23rd-"Little Christmas Eve" with Miners and Storheims. Yummy Ham, treats, bells, nativity, and visits from JoAnn's siblings, which we always enjoy, especially this year because we acutally lived with them and had more time to talk. I love the next pictures, it shows how BIG this family is getting and this is missing one of the siblings who has 5 kids!
24th- Shelby's (My Cousin's daughter) Birthday party, Errands, Christmas Eve Turkey dinner with just us and part of the K fam (only Mom, Dad, and KJ), little "playschool" nativity, Grandpa reading from the bible, wrapping presents, Sleeping over at K home, Anna discovering she can crawl with things in her mouth.
25- CHRISTMAS!!! Anna slept in longer than expected! We watched girl cousins open "Santa's gifts" then downstairs for Grandma and Grandpa and sibling gifts, breakfast with K fam, Grandma W, cousins- Matt, Mandi, and Shelby and Aunt Sue. Pack up and headed to Miners for lunch and presents from Papa and JoJo (which Anna slept through!) Hung out the rest of the evening and watched "Traitor." Went on a midnight walk in the snow! It was so peaceful and beautiful! We unfortunelty didn't get a good family photo on Christmas, but these were some of the fun snapshots taken. Some of our gifts this year included, Utah clothes- Anna got her first Ute sweatshirt, tickets to "Wicked," framed family portrait, new clothes, coat, shoes, books, money, and lots of toys for Anna. We felt very blessed.
26th- Snowed in! Hung out all day, Anna took great naps. Friend's party at Waltons. (This picture is not too flattering, but is shows our beautiful outfits for the "ugly sweater party-which not everyone got the memo about so we only wore them until we could take a picture). Anna loved playing with all her friends.
This picture shows how exhausted Anna was throughout the trip, she played hard and was content and happy then within 2 minutes after driving in the car she would be out cold. Also, I have to note that this trip was her first time riding in a "big girl carseat!" She loved it.
27th- Surprise Party for Brooke. Hung out at K family's and watched Jackson 5 movie and a snipet of the worst show on cable called "Big Ed's Polka Show"- highly recommended for a good laugh!) Then Heidi got the stomach flu until Sunday night. Anna loves her new toys and her Daddy these pictures where when he walked in the room and she noticed him! It is the cutest relationship, I love to see them interact.
28th- Heidi spent most of the day in bed with the stomach bug, but felt well "enough" to go to Grandma W. for "her Christmas party." Anna got her first doll! Thanks G ma, it was fun to be there with everyone.
29th- Holly chopped Heidi's hair, Heidi loved spending time with Mandi and Shelby (cousins), Annual Temple Square visit with Bjorklunds and lets not forget the delicious dinner @ Cafe Rio! I miss that place! 
Well that is it for now... more fun on the way hopefully in the next day or two!
