Holidays 2009!

So I realized I haven't written for a while and that is mainly for two reasons. Reason #1 is that we haven't had a reliable internet connection that is required for uploading and posting blogs/pictures/etc. Reason #2 is that we don't have a laptop with a working battery so our computer is not very portable to even bring it to a place that has a connection available. However, reason #2 is now SOLVED as I am now typing on my brand spanking new Toshiba laptop computer! Merry Christmas to US!

So speaking of Christmas, we had an excellent holiday back in Minnesota with family. Dereck and I flew up about 10 days before Christmas after dropping the dog off with a friend. We were sad to leave him but we didn't want to try driving all the way home like last year again... but it worked out because between our friend and the dog kennel, Marty was kept safe, happy, and healthy. Our flight was uneventful as were the first few days of the trip, just getting settled back "home" and enjoying time with our parents and Dereck's brother. It was great to have time to see friends and even some unexpected family down in the cities before Christmas too! All our gifts arrived undamaged and ready to be wrapped up and put under the tree. Dereck and I got our first Christmas tree together and set it up in my parent's living room. Even though it wasn't at our own home it was nice to do that holiday tradition together for the first time!

Christmas eve was supposed to be spent at Dereck's grandparent's house in Benson, MN, but due to a nasty snowstorm that blew in we decided not to make the drive. A combination of bad weather and us being a bit apprehensive after last year's bad weather roll-over accident made for a potentially dangerous trip in our eyes and it just wasn't worth it. Luckily nobody else had any issues getting there though and Grandma and Grandpa Beam had plenty of company. Dereck's parents ended up driving up there the day before Christmas eve, and we had a little present opening event before they hit the road, which was fun and everybody got just what they wanted! Christmas day was spent making two GIANT snowmen in my front yard with my Dad and then some waiting around for Mark and Valerie to make the slow drive up to Little Falls. Luckily they were coming from the south so they drove thru more rain than snow and had a safe trip. We opened up presents, had Christmas dinner, and even had a few intense games of Scrabble and Pictionary. The next day we had our traditional Christmas walk thru the state park which was eventful and very memorable for all of us (especially the Tree my dad ran right into! ouch!)

It seems like the days after Christmas flew bye so fast! I spent an afternoon shopping with my friend Maria, another afternoon shopping with my Mom, and Dereck and I spent a day going to Benson to finally see Grandma and Grandpa. Dereck's brother Sean had a nordic ski meet New Years Eve Day and it was fun (and very COLD) to watch him compete. We rang in 2010 at my friend Maria's which was fun to be a bit low-key and have time to visit, laugh, and catch up with her and her husband. We even got to play with her boys for a while too, and we always love seeing them!

New Years Day was spent driving down to the cities to have a quick visit with Genevieve and my godson Devon before she brought us to the airport for our flight back to Texas. I was so sad to leave everybody, since this will most likely be my last trip home before we move to Japan. But it was a good trip and we had a lot of fun and got to see a lot of friends and family. We were also very excited to see Marty again since it had been 17 days and that is the longest I'd ever been away from him. Our flight back was good and it was nice to be greated by 50 degree temperatures! We had a great Texas steak dinner that night before heading to bed. Jan 2nd was the last of our "Christmas Vacation" and we picked up Marty at the kennel. He was happy to see us but I think we were happier to see him! Then that afternoon Dereck and I went to see the touring Broadway production of The Lion King which was just amazing! It was part of my present from him and it was just perfect. We got back into Corpus that evening and were glad to be back on familiar turf.

It was a very eventful 2009 for us- Dereck getting his wings, us getting married and living together for the first time, plus moving twice in 7 months. We know 2010 will be great and though its started off at a nice, relaxing pace, its about to pick up pretty quick in the next few weeks! More on that to come....