Hello. . . It's the McGhies

I would say that I'm shocked that I let a whole month pass by without posting on this blog but in reality the time went by so quickly and we were so incredibly busy that it's really not all that surprising.  Between a craft show, holiday sales, custom orders, multiple post office trips, Holiday parties, school Christmas programs, finals, laundry, holiday cooking, Christmas shopping, wrapping, packing, delivering goodie plates, getting sick (still sick), driving up to Washington and back as well as the countless other items I forgot to mention, we... have... been... swamped!  But that's ok.  Aside from the getting sick part we have had a really enjoyable time.

We stayed home for Christmas this year which is the first time doing so for our family.  Even though it was very nice and relaxing to actually be home for Christmas, Christmas day was somewhat hectic and frustrating for me.  Ok, so really it was the getting kids ready for church and then sacrament meeting that was hectic.  We were actually late to church for the first time ever.  I am a punctual person and that morning everything just seemed to prevent us (me and the kids) from getting there on time including being short a car seat. 

Once there at church and in an empty seat (not our usual spot), the kids started a brawl while the sacrament was being passed.  They NEVER do that.  Full out hitting and yelling.  And yes, or course Bryce was sitting up on the stand and there was no one sitting with me to help. I felt like hiding under the pew.  Help did come eventually.  When I had to get up to play the piano for the Primary kids to sing, wonderful Megan Cluff swooped in help.  (THANK YOU MEGAN!)  After the primary children sang, I spoke for a little bit on my testimony of the Savior's birth, and then spent the rest of the meeting out in the foyer with all three kids who just did not want to get along.  Since church was just an hour long on Christmas, I ended up going back home feeling drained and frustrated.  I don't wish away the days but I do look forward to the time when I can actually get something out of church again. We went home and I cooked Christmas dinner for the family and the missionaries.  We had a very enjoyable time and the day ended up being very nice.

The next day we drove up to Zillah, Washington to visit our friends the Iversons.  It was a very, very long drive but worth it.  The Iversons are our closest friends and we hadn't seen them since they moved up to Washington about six months ago.  It was almost as if no time had passed and I think we spent every night except one playing games and staying up way too late.  While there we went to Toppinesh, Granger, Tri-Cities (???) and Yakima.  Bryce got to see the Columbia River Temple, and we also got to visit the Yakima Cultural Center (I think that is what it is called).  We spent a week up there and actually just got home yesterday at 3:30am. 

Well I may do another Zillah post, especially to explain the above picture, but for now I'm going to call this good.  I've got more laundry to do (go figure hu?).