Welcome 2009!

This year has flown! I'm excited for the New Year. It's going to be a great year. A lot of changes will happen this next year. My baby sister will leave for her mission. Cameron and Elisabeth will probably be moving, hopefully some where closer :) And who knows what else, but it will be a great year.



Here are some photographic high-lights of 2008 as we say goodbye...

A Little Christmas

This year I ended up in Georgia with my mom and dad for Christmas. Just the 3 of us. I drove down there Tuesday night and came back Sunday. The time went so fast! We spent sometime helping mom out at the parks and just hanging out. We sleep in Christmas Morning, showered and ate breakfast before we opened presents...oh the benefits of a houseful of adults :) Elisabeth said that we were cheating, we aren't supposed to have it so easy on Christmas morning.

Our little Christmas tree.

Christmas didn't feel as much like Christmas at first, but being able to spend the day with family, even if it was only a few of my family members helped. It reminded me what's important. As trite as it may sound, I love my family and if all I got for Christmas was us being together I would be perfectly happy.

Daddy and mommy with their Christmas loot

While I was there we went to the Georgia Military College which was the Civil War GA capitol. The on site museum was closed, but we wandered around the grounds. The old capitol looks like a castle.

Family Photos

As I mentioned in a previous post, my family took family pictures at the wedding in November. It was the complete Durtschi side of the family. I can't remember the last time we had all of us together for a picture. The time of the pictures were very fortunate since grandma passed away just a few short weeks later. It's wonderful to have some great pictures of all of us together to remember her by. Here are a few of my favorites. We bought the rights from the photographer since there are so many of us who want so many different pictures, but to give credit where credit is due, the photographer, Ryan Rampton, of Rampton Photography did a great job on these pictures.

I love the smurks on the kids faces. That epidimize those cute kids :)

Look at Grant and Dallin...they are so tired! It was about midnight to them.

I love pictures of Elisabeth's family. Her kids are so cute.

This is supposed to be our silly picture. It makes me laugh. I love my family.

Gift Opening - Roommate Addition

Since we weren't able to get everyone together at Reed and Brian's for the first gift opening we had another night with Cally (and Chris) and Cat.

Nothing like several "Christmases" to make you smile. :)

December 7, 2008

Visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

In memory and honor of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor we visited Arlington to be among the fallen. It was a beautiful day, but Cold. There were a lot more people there then I had expected.

For the first time we went into the small museum near the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. They had several medals, flags and plaques from various countries.

I am grateful for our service men and women and the sacrifices they make. Going ot Arlington Cemetery reminds me what freedom can cost.

Tree Decorating Extravaganza

My friends Reed and Brian decided to get a real tree again this year and invited us over for the second Annual tree decorating party. We had a wonderful time.

Here are some of the decorators

I love this picture of Mel and I. I never realized that how much Mel and I look alike in terms of face shape, smile and the glasses make us look even more alike.

Merry Christmas!!!

Gift Opening

I have some friends out here who are more like brothers and sisters then just friends. We got a few of us together and did a gift exchange. I had a fantastic time getting gifts and getting laughs over the anticipation of watching them open them.

Brian and Reed gave Jess a huge poster of Edward. She loved it of course...said something about hanging it over her bed.... :)

Mel gave Reed Politically Correct War. Something right up his alley.

Yup...it's true, Mel and I got Reed and Brian Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land

Chilling on the couch waiting for the gift opening to begin.

I got popcorn. Someone knows me well :)

Good times had for all!