After picking up the kids from school we went home to drop off back backs and finish loading up. We grabbed some breakfast tacos for the road and we took off. The kids were tired from school and Connor was ready for a nap.
We pulled into a beautiful Embassy Suites late that night. Had a good sleep and then got up for breakfast and getting on the road. When we got to the car in the morning we noticed that Elfie the Elf moved a bit and decorated the van.
We made it to New Mexico this day, and on to Arizona!
The first temple we stopped at was the Gila Valley temple in the middle of nowhere Arizona. The temple was literally on the side of the road we were driving through and it was the best first temple to stop at.
We did in fact make it to Uncle Jake's house and got to play with cousins that night. Unfortunately, poor Eden was the first to catch a stomach bug and was up through the night sick. We had to make some plan changes and roll with it, but we were glad we were able to see everyone we could.
Part of the plan changes meant a short in the van visit to Grandma and Grandad Sapp, and then no big cousin get together. We took off the next morning for Aunt Shannon's to prepare for our trip up to Grandma's. We had to load cars, and pack up.
We decided to make some stops at temple's along the way with our sweet sick Eden who was a good sport.
The next temple was the Mesa Arizona temple where Grandma and Grandpa Heaton were sealed! It is under MAJOR renovations and we wanted to see how they were coming. It was completely tore up! Can't wait to see it when it is done. Poor Eden was sick and stayed in the car.
When we stopped at Grandma's house, Eden told her how pretty her earrings were and so Grandma Sapp took off her earrings right there and gave them to sweet Eden. It was sweet seeing a compliment turn into a special gift for her, which was so nice because not even a couple hours later she was back to feeling so miserable.
You can't keep us down for long. The next morning we were feeling better and ready to get on the road, so we decorated Grandma's and Aunt Shannon's car like Elfie did and we got on the road.
On this road trip we had several memorable moments. The first was Elara throwing up in the middle of the Indian reservation with no where to stop. Poor girl got so sick, but felt better thankfully after she threw up.
The second memorable moment was when the kids saw snow on the ground for the first time in a very long time.
The 3rd moment was a split last minute decision to go and visit my Dad's grave. I'm so glad we did because we didn't have time on the way home and it was fun to be there with all the cousins. The head stone turned out beautiful and I'm so glad we could stop.
When we got to Aunt Shelly's house all of my kids were feeling really sick, so we hurried on to Grandma's house where Kael got sick that night and Elara still didn't feel great.
The next day we stayed at Grandma's sick and helped to decorate everything for Christmas.
On the 24th Shannon and I went shopping to get all the food ready. Grandma made Eden a cherry pie, which she ate for breakfast for about the next 3 days. We had preparations all day and kids playing together at Aunt Shelly's house. Then we had dinner at Aunt Shelly's, took the kids caroling at Grandma's neighborhood, and then did a cousin gift exchange where they all got ornaments to remember this year.
Christmas Eve Dinner
All the presents were brought out and everyone was in jammies ready for bed and for Santa Clause to come. It was such a fun and exhausting night. This was probably the latest the kids had ever stayed up on Christmas Eve.
All 3 sisters bought matching leggings and t-shirt. It was so comfy I just wore it to bed for Christmas Eve.
Santa Clause did indeed come to Grandma's house. Elara got her scrapbook and extra film for her camera. Eden got her much wanted pogo stick.
Kael got some legos and a robot arm to build.
Connor got spider-man and lots of Paw Patrols.
Mom got a stocking full of goodness.
This year certainly was a year to be spoiled rotten that is for certain.
Inside each stocking were treats, mud face masks for all the girls, wall stickers for their bedrooms, a little toy like hatichmals for the girls and so much stuff.
It was so fun waking up and hearing the kids excited little voices. However, poor Connor got to be the lucky one and woke up feeling sick, so instead of going out of the room for presents he went to the toilet. Thankfully it didn't start the pukes until after we were able to facetime Derek and open all the presents.
He sure was happy to have all his presents though and was quite content to be sick and play with all of his new toys.
Each kid got a new book or set of books. Eden got an art drawing tablet that lights up the background picture. She is becoming such a great little artist.
Elara asks for a baby doll every year. She LOVES babies and is going to be a great Mommy someday. This baby she wanted pees on the potty. It's totally ridiculous, but she loves it and takes such good care of her. It really was a magical Christmas.
That night after we had fun just hanging out at Grandma's the girls and I tried out one of our mud masks. It was a lot of fun. We even took a picture showing how we felt that we were all sick over Christmas.
Derek was able to have some celebrations with the OR staff in Bagram.
Where's Waldo?
For Christmas they had yummy ham, but it was still cafeteria food, but yummy none the less.
So, without having kids and a wife around to pester him to few hours he actually does have off Derek has been hitting the gym a lot. It's kind of his second home now and has become a nice hobby while he is away. I'm glad he has some outlet for while he is gone.
The next kids got to go spend the day at Aunt Shelly's house while Connor and I stayed home sick. It was the best Christmas present to just lay down and sleep with Connor. I napped and cleaned and it was wonderful. While the big kids got to play with cousins.
Connor got some sweet magnet tiles that are super fun and loves all of his fun toys.
left to right:
Uncle Jonathan, Ronon, Jenna, Regan, Kaylee, Eden, Kael, Nathan, Megan, Isaac, Jeffrey, Me holding Elara, Aunt Shelly, Emma, Rebekah, Sarah, Ben, and Jacob. 16 of 24 cousins. Not bad.
After the kickball game we all went to lunch at Arctic Circle. My Mom met us there with Connor. He was so excited to eat food and got ice cream. However, it was a little premature because he threw up on the way out the door. So, back to the house we went to hide.
The next day Shannon and I took our kiddos swimming and Eden got to try out her new mermaid fin and tail, and Kael used his new flippers. Indoor heated pools are the BEST!
Connor finally got to play at the cousins house and had all kinds of fun.
That Friday the 28th I was able to take Eden skiing for the first time as one of her Christmas presents! It was such a great experience. I love being able to give the kids experiences as presents for Christmas. Kael was going to come, but then I remembered his fear of heights and thought he wouldn't love the lift chair, so he opted out for when he is a little older.
We got to go with Aunt Emily, Uncle Josh, Aunt Shelly, Aunt Shannon, and Rebekah.
After our skiing trip we did a tradition I have always done to go to Denny's after and get some food.
We stayed up so late. It was painful, bot so worth it to see Eden's face.
The next morning we packed up and headed for Grammy's house in Salt Lake City. The kids were doing so great driving all over and being in the car stuck. I'm so proud of them and how they were just great sports during the entire trip.
Before we left I made a pit stop and visited with my best friend from high school Ashley Gafa/Higbee. I wish I had time to bring the kids to play with her kiddos and life just got so busy and all of us being sick was just a downer, BUT it was the absolute best to be with Ashley even though it was so short. She ALWAYS brings a smile to my face and makes the world better.
On the drive we were able to stop in Cedar City, and see the new temple there, which made it temple number 4 for us to stop at.
There was snow in Cedar City and the kids walked through it in the parking lot. We barely had coats on and shoes, so it was freezing and Connor just stomped right through it so excited! Then, he reached his sweet little hands down into that freezing cold snow and grabbed handfuls of snow. Then, realizing how cold it was dropped it and held his hands in the air and yelled ahhhhh and started crying. It was so funny yet sad at the same time. They were just so excited to see snow again.
We are freezing Mom, but it's so fun!
The next morning Sunday the 30th we were able to go see the Fowler's. It was so fun and much needed to see more cousins! We think cousins are the best!
Don't mind my blurry terrible picture taking skills. We had to get pictures for Derek to see faces of everyone. I'm not sure what they feed these kids, but they get to be older and bigger every time we see them. Gwyn was only 3 or 4 when I first met her and now she is 16 almost 17! I'm not sure where the time went.
After visiting for a while we drove to a duck pond and fed the ducks and got to have the kids play in the snow for a bit. The kids were in heaven.
Her silly face because she was so happy.
Left to Right: Kael, Garek, Eden, Gemma, Gwyn, Gracie, Elara, Me and Connor.
Next stop was the Bartholomew's that are friends from medical school time. I totally spaced getting a picture and regret it now. The next stop was our old stomping grounds area visiting the Bell's. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends who stay in touch with us.
The kids warmed up with hot coco as it snowed outside.
We felt so loved and it was so nice to be among friends.
Raquel and me in the back.
Kael, Connor, Eden, Elara, Sammi, Andi, Benji holding Naomi.
Me and Patrick. Patrick went to medical school with Derek and their family is one that we cherish so much. They were able to visit us in San Antonio, and we hope to have many more visits.
Me and Raquel one of my favorite people.
The next day the 31st was a great day and it was the best way to end the year 2018.
We were able to spend time with Grammy. The girls hatched their hatchimal babies and then we took off for the zoo with Grammy.
Eden's hatched pretty fast. Elara's took a little more work, and it was really fun! It's even better the girls love their hatchibabies OUTSIDE the egg just as much as inside. It was torture for them to wait a couple days after Christmas, but it was worth the wait.
Elara got a Cheetree boy, and Eden got a Foxfin girl.
On the drive to the zoo we stopped at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Temple number 5 for us.
Next stop the zoo!
If you look closely you can see a great big lion lying down.
I'm not sure who has the bigger muscles Kael...
The Sea Lions were so fun!
These leopards were amazing. We had been to this zoo about a hundred times through medical school and somehow I missed this spot of the zoo.
It was so cold, but then we would go into a building and warm up for a bit. I always loved going to Hogle Zoo in the winter because it would basically be empty and we could go at our pace and there weren't any crowds. It was almost like our own private tour. It was fun taking the kids again. Only Kael really remembered the zoo. We drove past our old apartment building and play ground.
Then, we went to take a picture in front of the Salt Lake City temple.
We parked in front of the Conference Center and I made the kids take a picture. Connor and Elara were grumpy and tired so they stayed in the car. We only had a short term parking so we really had to hussle to get the pictures.
Conference Center
It is SO beautiful and the grounds are beautiful and I miss being able to put my kids in a stroller and just walk around temple square. We ran this time.
It was such a great memory and experience for us even though it was so short. I'm so grateful we took the time to stop at these temples. I hope the kids can look back and remember, and remember how important the temple is and the promises we make there.
We then went back to Grammy's house and spent one more night. In the morning we gathered all our stuff and drove back to Grandma's house.
We still had to pack up Christmas and get ready for the long long drive back home. We were headed straight back to Texas. On the 2nd Grandma took the kids out so I could sleep in and then work on packing everything up. Oh it was so needed. My body was beginning to fail me after being sick for almost 2 months at this point. I was tired, and knowing I had a long 2 day drive ahead I just needed the sleep.
That evening though Grandma took us all to a fun dinosaur park. We then went to see temple #7 my favorite temple ever.
The St. George temple.
This is where Derek and I were married and sealed.
This is where I took out my endowments.
This is beautiful to me.
Fun fact all the temples we stopped at had nativity scenes displayed.
It really was a great way to end our Utah trip. We had so much fun with so many people. We are so blessed to have such a fun and loving family.
The next morning the kids got measured on Grandma's wall and we took off.
We had a long day of driving to get to Albuquerque, New Mexico, but we made it. It was late, but we stopped at temple number 8 the Albuquerque, New Mexico temple!
It was so hard to get an ok photo in the dark, but at least we got something.
We got checked in and slept ok. Then, got breakfast in the morning and were on the road again. I was starting to feel pretty lousy by this point. We thankfully made it to temple #9 the next afternoon.
The Lubbock, Texas temple. This temple was one of the smallest and shared a parking lot with a local church building. It was so fun to say we went to 9 temples in 4 different states! I'm so glad we drove to Lubbock just to be able to say that this trip.
The next day we all basically looked like the next two pictures.
I'm so grateful for my Mom helping us make this trip possible and all the family and friends we were able to visit and stay with. We needed this time. It was hard being sick, but looking back I only have good memories.
We literally crashed hard the rest of the weekend prepping to go back to school on the next Tuesday. It was hard having to get ready for school and a whole new year, but after so much joy it's easier to have a good attitude about life. I got to the doctor and got some medicine and life just keeps plugging along. We miss Derek terribly. The only thing that will heal our hearts is when we are reunited. We are eagerly anticipating that day and cannot wait. But, for now we will keep on keeping on and know we can do hard things. We have been so blessed while he is away. We have been safe, protected, loved, cared for by so many people. We have earthly angels and heavenly angels protecting and helping us along our journey. Does that make it easy? Absolutely not. But, I will say 2018 did end really quite fantastic even with Derek far away. We are learning and growing as a family and that is why we are here on this earth, so we must be doing something right.
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