The Wilcox Family

Ringing in the New Year the same old way, in bed at 10. The kids quietly downstairs whispering good wishes to each other. Ha! In my dreams! Happy New Year to all! We undecorated today. Always sad to put it all away. Nice to have the house back in order. The cat is sad to see the tree go away. She liked sitting under it. Ann was especially helpful today. She totally rocked the Wii tennis world. Emily and Mary did all of my errands for me. Thanks! Chris cleaned the visitors bathroom. Mike carried boxes up and down the stairs.

We arrived home safely, and I think we are all glad to be home, especially Kitty. Ruff is happy, but dogs don't hold grudges, and we are his masters and he loves us! Jana Graham Photography did the family photo and I can hardly wait to see them! She did a Senior Session for Emily and pics of the kids, just the girls, each kid individually, the parents and the whole family. It was COLD, but it was fun! So glad the new year is here. Things to look forward to in 2010: Emily graduates from College; Mary graduates from High School! Family Reunion in June with the Wilcoxes. Emily and Mary are pushing for a trip to Hawaii, I think we'll just send them! Who knows what else is in store, but it should all be wonderful. We'll wait and see what life throws at us. Ann looked cute today with her hair straightened! We all decided that getting gussied up takes us way too much time!

First, on Sunday, we went to visit my cousin Daryn. He recently acquired a quilt that our Great Grandmother, grandmothers and great aunts had embroidered and quilted and I wanted to see it. Now I know from whence my talent comes! Then we went to breakfast. It was fun to see him. Then we went to church. A good sacrament meeting at the Anaheim 4th ward. Then we went to the Disneyland Christmas Parade and saw the taking down the flag ceremony and a few bands play before the parade! Then we watched a couple of movies in the room. On Monday we knew it would be our last day in the park so we planned accordingly. We made a list of must do's and rides to repeat, and then started bright and early at 9 a.m. Let me see if I can remember everything. Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Jedi Training Academy, Space Mountain, shopping, eating, Sleeping Beauty Castle, what else? Oh, in California Adventure we did Soaring over California, Californ...

Oh my goodness, yesterday we started off running and didn't stop until quite late! We got to the park at 9:00 a.m. in Tomorrowland and spent the morning in Disneyland. We did so many things I don't know if I can list them all. Space Mountain, Star Tours, The Buzz Lightyear ride, The Matterhorn, and more. Then we had lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. Nice to sit for an hour. Then we went to California Adventureland where Mike, Chris, Emily and I rode THE TOWER OF TERROR. We got on because Chris survived it yesterday, so we thought it would be super easy. WRONG. Holy cow! I didn't think I was going to be able to walk off the ride I was shaking so hard! :0) It was fun. We rode the Micky Mouse Ferris Wheel in a swinging gondola, which we renamed the Mickey Mouse Wheel of Terror! :0) We did the Toy Story ride. We did the tortilla factory tour and the sourdough bread tour, I can't even remember what all we did. The lines are long. There are millions of people, o...

We got out of bed at 6 a.m. Thanks, Chris. Santa was good to us this year. We opened presents. I made a really good quiche recipe that had a hash brown crust. Got the recipe out of the newspaper in Caldwell, Idaho. Then we packed, in between hunts on the new Big Game Hunter for Wii, and headed out the door at 10 a.m. for the airport. Brought the kids to sunny California! Spent the afternoon at Disneyland. We did lovely rides like the Teacups and Dumbo and Pinnochio, which broke down and we had to walk out. We all rode the Thunder Mountain! It is really nice to be all grown up, we buddied up, Mary was my buddy, and we were all able to ride the rides together. No one had to sit out with the short kid, or the stroller! Chris and Mike did the Hollywood Tower of Terror. I think I'm gonna try it today! I will be wearing my contacts today because yesterday while Mary's hands were in the air on Thunder Mountain she bumped into me and knocked my glasses askew and I had to...

Christopher made this bookcase for Michael for Christmas! We've kept it a secret for days and days. We had a lot of help from Jack Loveland, a man in our ward with power tools. Chris glued and screwed it together and stained it. Special thanks to Gordon for helping us think through the plans and make only one trip to the Home Depot! Yay for Chris and a little shout out to the mother!

Emily dug out her flute and Mary grabbed her violin and they played Christmas carols. It was beautiful. Mary is quite accomplished with that violin. She can sit down at the piano and play beautifully, and it leaves the rest of us wondering. How does she do that so easily?

I am now officially ready for Christmas. It was important to get it done so I can go to Idaho this weekend and not fret about things left undone. I am off to Idaho to Ellen's wedding. Emily is driving up from Salt Lake and we will drive through the frigid cold together in her little Toyota. I hope she lets me run the heater! :0) I am flying to Boise. Instead of taking eleven hours, it will only take five! Yay! Kids are doing well. Mike is doing well. I am doing well. Mary is applying to Universities all over the US and Emily will be applying for jobs soon. Two graduates in one year, oh my. Just a note, spread the word, our Christmas cards aren't going out until the New Year because we are having a family picture taken on December 30. Yay! I do feel bad about not sending out cards, but I do enjoy sending a picture every year. I'm glad we are still hearing from friends and family far away.