Family Holiday 2006, Part Deuce

We were blessed to be able to see the Hawkins family for Christmas this year, and were able to spend more time with them than we have in a long time. We left home (FL) late on Friday night with Peyton and Jackson in tow, and arrived in SC after 1 a.m., only to find Sherrie (mom) and Jessica were still out Christmas shopping. (December was a very busy month for all of us). We had a wondeful time sharing meals together, attending Christmas Eve service at Midland Valley-the beautiful church where Matt and I got married, and opening gifts on Christmas morning. I must say though that I think a record for longest-time-taken-to-open-gifts must have been made, because both Grandma Salter and I were both overwhelmed and had to take several breaks just to be able to continue. The theme of this year seemed to be "Christmas 2006 Rrrrrrocks-with Crocs!" with Matthew buying everyone the shoes, if you didn't figure that out. We also got to share our baby's newly chosen name with both families on Christmas morning--Noah Thomas Hawkins. It was a special time to be able to spend this part of his pregnancy with family.

We were all together through Thursday, at which time Jessica and Jonathon left to go on to his family's in MS, taking Grandma Salter back to Alabama on the way. Matthew also left to drive back to Florida, with both dogs, and a car-full, and I mean FULL, of baby furniture and Christmas gifts. I stayed for an extra day and a half in SC and then met my husband and the youth group in Columbia for a 4-day ski trip to West Virginia. No I didn't ski, but I didn't want to be stuck at home by myself, either. Despite pitiful skiing conditions, we had a great time and the kids were in good spirits. The only part that was really difficult was the 14 hour drive home to Florida. When we arrived home on Jan. the 2nd, I counted I had been gone for 12 days! My poor kitty Moseley was so glad to see us!