Christmas time for 09' was so great. We did the usual Lawrence Family party and both Abby and Baya did not want anything to do w/ Santa. Abby actually stayed at the back of the gym and wouldn't even get close to a family picture or a gift. Baya cried as we came close! O'well... Santa is not the main reason we have Christmas! The girls enjoyed going to Bryan's work on Christmas Eve and talking to Santa on the Radar and seeing him on the scope. I enjoyed just going in and seeing what it was like where he works. It's pretty high security there. I've only been to his work one other time when he first started. Then we headed to the Sheppard's for Christmas Eve. It was quite a night of wonderful news. Lindsee had been acting a little weird the previous couple days. I thought they were meeting w/ case workers possibly again about adoption. They got up and said they had a little gift for mom and dad before we got the presents all going and the program. (My dad is famous for programs!) Anyway, they opened up a little tin box and pulled out an ultrasound. We were all dumb-founded. It was pure delight, but no one would expect that it was their own ultrasound. She had been feeling a little bit different and took a pregnancy test and was completely surprised to have it positive. They visited Dr. Yamashiro and he confirmed pregnancy and that she was around 11 weeks. It was truly a Christmas miracle. They have been trying for around 13 years and have been blessed through adoption w/ Emma and Dylan and now they were on a new journey of carrying their baby. We were all just so excited... what a Christmas gift!!! Come to find out about a month later, I was also expecting a little one. Kelsie had announced earlier in the fall that she was expecting and so that soon made 3 of us... (then 4 as the months rolled on).
Blakely had a fun 7th birthday at a fancy gym in Daybreak. We hauled 14 kids across town and then back home for movie and pizza. It was a lot of fun and the kids were amazing bouncing all over the place and swinging on the bars. She is a little gymnast and such a darling girl! Happy Birthday Blakely!
Winter brought lots of fun and cold activities. Blakely went skiing w/ mom a couple of times and mom went w/ Lou Lou once for a day of pregnant lady and sore knee woman delight! The girls went on outings to the Zoo in the cold, and the dinasour museum several times. Also we spent a fun night at the BYU basketball game w/ Karri and Aram and Kelsie and kids. It was so great to see baby Anna Rose born to Jen and Andrew and we joined the ranks of pregnancy. Blakely signed up for 2 months of Karate and had a lot of fun w/ that too. Winter is always a tough time in Utah, but we try and find things to pass the gloomy days!
The girls were pretty tickled as usual to come down to all the gifts and excitement of Christmas morning. The Jeep was the big surprise and Baya took right to it! We enjoyed having aunt Ranae w/ us this year too for Christmas and her dog Astro. We continue to run around on Christmas day like crazy people hitting various family parties and opening way too many gifts. We love our families so much and are very grateful for all they do for us. The big gift for our family this year was tickets to Australia and New Zealand. A trip that we would be taking in May with all 3 kids. Always up for an adventure!!!! Merry Christmas!
Call me selfish, but I love to ice skate every year for my birthday! We seem to continue it on as a winter tradition. The last couple of years we've gone to South Jordan outdoor rink because Murray Park closed their outdoor rink. It was a lot of fun this year with family and friends joining in. We ate at the Pie adjacent to the rink and skated away. Blakely is getting to be a good little skater! Baya was happy to be willed around in the stroller on the ice. I guess it's become a winter tradition.
