You have GOT to be kidding...

Every year we sleep around the Christmas Tree one night... what an adventure. Just when I thought that things couldn't get worse after being trapped in a house with everyone all of last week, when we tried to leave on Sunday from Portland to fly to Tucson, Arizona, our flight was canceled about five minutes after we arrived at the airport! We had been checking, knowing that this might be a possibility, but we were all clear on an on time departure after two trips to the airport, ten pieces of checked baggage, and two boys who were up since 6 o'clock going out of their minds with excitement. So our flight was canceled, along with everyone else. The soonest that some of us could get out was 6 the next morning, but with the weather not looking promising...we didn't want to risk it. Well, actually take that back...I wanted to risk it, but Andrew was determined to DRIVE! (It turns out he was right as no flights took off for 3 days...) So, after 3 hours of trying to come up with a plan, we got in two cars without chains and took off for Tucson.

It took us 15 hours to get down to Tucson after having to buy chains and put them on twice (after we had already made it through all of Portland's bad weather going 20 mph. Poor Andrew was dressed for Tucson with shorts and a long sleeved shirt and had to figure out the chains with my dad. But, we arrived at 4:30 in the morning, got 1 and a 1/2 hours of sleep and a flight out of Sacramento. (We couldn't handle another day of driving with everyone:) The boys were both the perfect--they did so much better then I ever could have imagined! Needless to say, it was an exhausting day, but we were so glad to arrive in Tucson and to get to see all my mom's family! I forget how much fun it is to hang out with everyone and really how much they all are! We only have one day left and then we're off to Cleveland! We can't wait to see everyone there too!

Tomorrow we are doing our little Christmas celebration since we are really flying on Christmas. We are all spending $20 on one person (drawing names) and spending an hour shopping with another person for our secret "person." (Spending time...get it from the clip?) We are all trying to simplify Christmas and focus more on what Christmas is really about. Don't get me wrong, I still like giving and receiving gifts, but after watching this clip, you know the right thing to do...even though it might be hard.