Happy New Year!

This past few weeks since Christmas has been crazy at the Bridges’ home. Lynn’s dad happened to pass away the day after Christmas, so we spent many days up north in SLC/Ogden preparing for and attending the funeral during our break from work and school. We spent a lot of time on the freeway and in hotels and relatives homes. But we did manage to have a wonderful Christmas at home for a few days. Amber came up from Salt Lake and Alexa was here for the break from USU for almost 3 whole weeks! Plus Jayme and Jadi came over on Christmas morning to spend the day….so we had a blast together as a family. Christmas Eve we had our traditional dinner with chicken cheese soup in bread bowls, shrimp, Cheese and crackers, veggies, sparkling cider and a variety of other assorted treat and food items. We ate until we were sick!

We then settled into the family room to watch “Joy to the World” and reflect on what Christmas is really all about. We also choose names for Christmas in our family and we all gave each other our gifts. I LOVE CHRISTMAS EVE, I think even more than Christmas day. We have such a great time together and it feels so warm and perfect to have everyone together, happy and thankful. PLUS… this year EVEN St. George had a white Christmas! BONUS!!!

Every year Lynn and I also buy all the kids a toy and a game for Christmas Eve – we started this tradition when they all got old and boring several years ago. This year we bought a Wii for our Christmas Eve toy!!! They all screamed and were so excited like they were all 10 years old…..not 20, 24 and 27! Lynn and McKay were pretty competitive as usual and were sweating their guts out during their boxing match. We bought three games, Wii Sports, Wii Play and Wii Mario Party.

Jadilyn’s first Christmas was amazing! She loved her new toys and laughed and giggled all day long. She is getting cuter everyday! She thinks her daddy is the funniest thing ever – she is now sticking out her tongue and giggling every time he looks at her. He taught her that “trick” and gets so excited to show us her new “tricks” as he call them – I hope he realizes that she isn’t his dog! He is so proud of his daughter. I got Jadilyn a bib and McKay a t-shirt that says, “I kiss my dog on the mouth” for Christmas. It was his favorite gift (besides his brand new Chaco’s which he never will take off until he needs a new pair).

So, now that January is here -- Alexa is back up in Logan…..FREEZING by the way; Lerin AND McKay (finally….yes….McKay decided it was time to go back to school and FINISH) started back at Dixie and I am on the downhill slide – second semester is underway—woo hoo!! Lynn left for Orlando this week for some business meetings and life is back to the old grind.