Christmas Rewind and End of 09

We had a terrific Christmas this year! After celebrating with family and friends at the wedding and reception of Stephen's niece, Alexandra, on December 19, we gathered at Stephen's parents' house on December 21 for an early gift exchange with his side of the family. Then, Kumen and Holly arrived on December 23, and we started partying with some of my side of the family. Kumen and Holly's visit couldn't have been more timely. The kids loved having them here, as did the adults. We enjoyed going on long runs, eating out, eating in, movies, football games, board games, card games, and more. We can't wait to reunite soon. Thanks again for coming Santa Ku and Hollister!

I surprised Stephen this year by giving him a high-end acoustic guitar (a "Martin"). He has always wanted one, and at the last minute on Christmas Eve, I decided to get him one. Usually, Stephen is the superior gift-giver, but not this year (though I do love the clothes and Coach purse he got me). I shocked him in a good way!

A funny thing happened when I went to buy the guitar. I called our local guitar shop and asked the owner how long he would be open and if he sold Martin guitars. He said that he was an authorized Martin dealer and that he would keep the shop open for me because of who my husband is, which didn't make a lot of sense to me. Stephen had gone into the shop a few weeks back to buy strings for his other guitar, and I thought that maybe the guy was remembering Stephen from that interaction.

However, when I got to the shop I discovered that the owner thought my husband was a different Stephen Calvert. Apparently there is another guy who is the same age as Stephen, has the same exact name (same spelling), lives in the same area, and is a Christian Rock Music player/youth minister. The guitar shop owner kept insisting that he had played music with my husband at a church and that he knew that my husband had been wanting a Martin guitar for a long time. I still think he thinks I am the one who is confused on this point, but when Stephen goes in to officially register his guitar, he will have to set the owner straight. Anyway, the guy kept the store open for me regardless of who he thought my husband really was, and I was able to make the last-minute purchase. And I am glad I did it.

In other gift news, Zhu Zhu pets invaded the house on Christmas day, as the kids played for hours with mechanical pet hamsters brought from the North Pole. And Granny V got a Snuggie (so did Grandma Sarah for that matter). Everyone ate too much sugar, stayed up too late, and made a big mess of the house, but we sure had a lot of fun doing it!

Once Christmas ended and Kumen and Holly left, I was anxious to take down the decorations, get the house back in order, and prepare for 2010. My Primary President calling is still hectic, but hopefully it will calm down in the new year a bit. We still plan on a little more holiday gluttony (New Yer's Eve and Bowl Games) through the first few days of January. Then back to the normal schedule and routine, and on to healthier eating. Stephen and I are thinking of running the Surfside Half Marathon this February, so the latter will be imperative! It would be our first race together since we ran the Ogden Marathon over 6.5 years ago (which was actually Stephen's last race), our second half marathon together (first was the Moab, Utah Half Marathon in 2001), and my first race since running the Huntsville Half Marathon nearly 2 years ago. We'd better see what Hal has to say about the training regimen.

On a very somber note, our deepest sympathies go out to the Niko family in light of the untimely and sudden passing of Mo's sister. Words fail at times like these. Our most sincere thoughts and prayers are with the Nikos.

We are hoping for a happy and fulfilling 2010. Here are some more pictures from Christmastime 2009: