Here's Our Report...

So, Google maps reported that the trip from Denver, CO to Kingman, AZ is 13 hours, 6 mintues. Well, they need to add another feature to their map--it's called KIDS! We left at 5:37 a.m. and arrived in Kingman at 9:37 p.m.!!! What a day! The kids did really well, considering they are kids and it's pretty boring (poor Sadie had to stare at the back of the car seat for 16 hours!).

Here's a cute shot of Sadie:

And Morgan, who entertained herself by tattooing her body with stickers:

We made it to Kingman, and, Friday morning, before we left for "Sandy Eggo", Morgan and Grandma Boring made yummy French Toast for breakfast:

On Saturday, the weather was beautiful! Alex and Tyler's wedding and reception was very nice. Santa even came to visit the reception. And, in the words of Morgan, a very scared 2-year old, "I don't want Santa to talk to me."

Here I am with my Aunt Lori, Grandma Miller, and Sadie at the temple.

The happy couple coming out of the temple.
Can you just see Alex and Tyler in 5 years??? I think the best part of the picture is the worried looks on the older 3 girls' faces.

Morgan, Elaena, and Afton kept the party going at the Ginos' house by constantly entertaining at the piano. Here's a picture and following is a video.

Freida....our lifesaver! She just took Sadie when we got to Kingman and we basically didn't have to take care of her until we came home 10 days later! Brian's sister came with us to San Diego so she could go on a blind date with a family friend of mine (Brian Schroeder). Freida won't share details, so we can't report on the date, sorry.

We went as a family to see a living nativity presented by a church in the San Diego area. It was cold, but Sadie stayed comfy! Thank heavens for the Maternity Fast Pass! All 15 of us got to skip the 2 1/2 hour line because Courtney is 8+ months pregnant! They saw her and sent us all to the front of the line!

Morgan's most anticiapted (yet, anti-climactic) event of the trip to San Diego was a ride in Papa's "trailer bike." Here she and Elaena are waiting anxiously to climb in and go for a ride.

We all went to dinner and boy, were we a lively bunch! Here's Damma Ginos with Sadie.

Morgan wrapped all of the gifts to her cousins "all biden mineself!" I think she should work at the gift wrapping booth at the mall next Christmas!

Here's Sadie Ladie on Christmas morning, just relaxing in her jammies.

Morgan accepted the great undertaking of unwrapping ALL the family's gifts. THANKS to everyone for the great Christmas! We are excited to bring it back from AZ someday soon and enjoy it!

Here's Morgan and Aunt Shelles. I don't think we ever got a picture of Michelle and Morgan both looking at the camera.

Saturday, December 27. We got packed up and in the car by 5:30 a.m., prepared for another LONG day home to Denver. 6:05 a.m., all the plans changed. Ever heard the phrase "Deer in the headlights"??? It's real! And, the terrible thing about it is there is no avoiding it! So, we are in limbo, waiting to find out the fate of our Honda Pilot. In fact, I just got off the phone with the insurance adjuster and we likely won't know what they will be doing (totaling it or repairing it) until next Monday!

So, we found flights the day of, for only $100 each! Needless to say, we needed to get back home, so we headed to the airport. This is one time that I am grateful for delayed flights! It took almost 2 hours to get over the Hoover Dam! We left 4 1/2 hours before our flight was supposed to leave and would have missed it, had it not been delayed 40 minutes. We literally walked through security (which, by the way, if you book one-way flights the day of, they have to hand search ALL your bags) and 5 minutes later, we were boarding our plane.

So, as this year is coming to an end, we are grateful for the blessing of family and friends. Everyone has been such wonderful support to help us out. And, we are especially fortunate we weren't hurt. Only the deer and the car.