Christmas Time Epistle

Christmas time has been very busy, but wonderful this year.  Our friend Leslie drove us to the airport on Dec 17th and we flew to Denver then into Salt Lake City.  We stayed that first night with Bryce's family, and had a big sleepover with everyone - Grandma & Grandpa Allen, Bryce, Owen and Me, Aunt StacyAnn, Uncle Craig and Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Jonathan, and Uncle Garrett.  It was the first time that the whole family had been together since Craig left on his mission over 4 years ago, so it was a very enjoyable night.  Because of the time on the airplane and in the car, Owen's schedule was completely thrown off, so even he stayed up until almost midnight, and the rest of us stayed up playing games as long as we could.

The next day my mom and sisters (Grandma Royer, Aunt Nita, Aunt Emily, and Aunt Mary) picked us up and we went to Brigham City to visit with Grandma & Grandpa Christensen for a couple of days.  On Saturday (Dec 19th), Uncle Danny, Aunt Aleena and Cousin Memphis came up to Brigham City as well and we had a birthday party for Grandpa Christensen (his 80th birthday) since none of us were going to be able to go to the party that Grandma was throwing for him after Christmas.  We had a wonderful party and a wonderful visit. 

Sunday morning we left Brigham City, traveled to Pleasant Grove, where we went to church with Aunt Julie and Uncle Monte.  After church we traveled the rest of the way to Blanding, where we had a had a nice visit for about a week and a half.  We were there on the 23rd when Uncle Bradley came home from his mission and on Christmas.  It was fun watching Owen figure out how to open Christmas presents and play with all of his new books and toys.  I also enjoyed being able to spend the day with my family, since we haven't spend Christmas day with my family since we got married 6 years ago.  Christmas afternoon we went sledding and Owen loved the snow.  He even went down the hill a couple of times with just his snow suit.  We stayed in Blanding until the 30th, then drove the Jeep (which is driving perfectly by the way) up to Kaysville.  We are still in Kaysville now, after having a wonderful New Years and we are looking forward to staying here until the end of the week at least. 

I don't have all of my pictures uploaded to the computer yet, but here are a few of the ones that I have so far this year.

Owen reading with Uncle Benny and Aunt Emily - he found a book at Grandma Royer's house that had a train on the back and he wanted everyone to read it to him.

Grandpa Royer trying to look meek after Christmas Dinner.

The Royer Family Singers - we sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in church the week that Bradley spoke after his mission.

The Royer Family: Top Row - Jennie, Bryce, Owen, Bradley, Benny, D.J. Middle Row - Uncle David, Grandma Mary, Uncle Eric, Grandpa Royer (Bruce), Grandma Royer (Peggy). Bottom Row - Sandy, Mary, Emily, Nita