So, we drove to Salt Lake City from Pocatello, flew to Denver, and flew to Little Rock on Monday. (There was a fuel leak on the plane we were supposed to take out of Denver, so we left a few hours late, but hey–that’s OK with me.) My sister Anna picked us up from the airport, and my family met us there just to say “hi.” We spent the night at my Papa’s house with Anna. We visited with Papa for a while, ate breakfast, looked at his antlers and eagles (ask me) and then ventured to my Granny and Pa’s house for a Christmas feast. At my Granny and Pa’s in Grapevine, AR there were:
my Dad
his wife, Rhonda
my cousins Chuck and Heather
their respective significant others, Lori and Mike
my aunt Robin
Granny and Pa
my half-brother, Oliver, and his wife, Meredith, and their baby boy, Layne
Anna, Justin, and me!

We had lots of goodies to eat: dressing, chicken, ham, potato salad, black-eyed peas, creamed corn, rolls, sweet tea, pecan pie, and coconut cake (Granny’s famous cake, and my personal favorite).

We talked, ate, opened gifts, and took pictures–lots of pictures–as we enjoyed the 72 degree afternoon. I got a sweater, earrings, money, a spice rack, some more money, a Wal-Mart gift card and a goodie mug.

Anna drove us up to Heber, and CJ followed us from Jacksonville. We spent the evening at my parents’ house opening our gifts and stockings. We got a Lowe’s gift card, a Hastings gift card, a free night at the Abbe house bed and breakfast, a Radio Shack gift card, and Old Navy gift card, a Sonic gift card, a Jitterbug coffee house gift certificate, and some other assorted goodies.

Today we slept in, but we walked to the coffee shop (.75 miles–I know because of my pedometer!) and I graded a couple of senior papers. When we walked back (in the sunny, warm December sun), I had some lunch, took a bath, and helped mom for two minutes on the big Christmas dinner. We at tonight with Anna, Daron, CJ, Aaron, Dad, Mom, and Justin. We had smoked turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, baked beans, apple pie, cranberry sauce, biscuits, a relish tray, and mashed potatoes and gravy. After dinner, Justin and I gave out our gifts, and then we just hung out. CJ jammed on the guitar, Daron did his now-famous “riverdance,” Aaron quoted half of Napolean Dynamite to a “t” (he does Kip especially well), and we all took a turn on Dad’s flight simulator. After coffee and biscotti, Anna’s friends Matt and Shannon came over, two must-haves for a par-tay of the Grubbs’ family type. Mom got her birds, Hop-sing and Belle, out for some visiting time, and then Daron and CJ had to go. Matt, Shannon, Anna and I got restless and we went out for a cruise. We drove around the cemetary to try to scare Shannon (it didn’t work), then we pulled down a much-coveted sign from a light pole (it’s now Shannon’s dorm room, I’m sure). We went to the municipal airport and took turns attempting to climb a (very tall) airport beacon light ladder. (I’ll post pictures ASAP.) Shannon had to go to the bathroom, so we went to Wal-Mart (my high school reunion location).

Upon returning home, Anna had to go back to Jonesboro to work on a project. I’m supposed to be in bed–dad’s taking me up in a plane tomorrow. *Scared!*

Update: I’ve logged in at least 2.07 miles, 5, 962 steps (only half of my goal!), 36 minutes of aerobic activity, and 114 calories today! This isn’t counting our evening jaunt to the airport/Wal-Mart.

Sunday: 760 steps
Monday: 5,744 steps
Tuesday: 2,978 steps