Happy New Year! Seriously.

2009 was absurdly long, slow and painful for many people - not just our narrow circle. The whole world complained - all year long - and so did we. For us, business was slow, the weather didn't cooperate and there was never enough money, time or patience to get things done properly. There were some truly great moments in 2009, but many, many teeth-grinding, heart aching moments as well. 

We are so thankful to have been able to enjoy a wonderful December after clawing and scratching our way through the rest of the year.

At the beginning of December Grant and I, with the help of many, were able to go away without kids for the first time in eight years. We went to Vegas while Bumpa held down the fort for 5 days! He then went home to sleep for a week straight only to be back to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas morning with us. Jason & Maho arrived on the 29th, whipped DKM into a week-long frenzy and celebrated Drew's birthday & New Years.

Pictures are better than yap - so here they are.

Vegas Marathon - 30,000 runners on the strip at 6am.

Free beer at the finish line: 8am

The only thing cool about The Exalibur is this photo

 

Every single person who goes to Vegas has this shot.

Ta-da! Santa came through again.

Mara didn't care. She slept until 9:30.

But she was excited to find out everything left under the tree was all hers!

Bumpa's hit! Mara loves Jack.

Jason brought Drew his first pair of boxing gloves, 
hand tape & a shirt from his gym in Japan.

Maho gave Kai, Grant & I awesome Japanese haircuts

Drew's birthday serenade. 8 years old!!
"Then why does your shirt say 6?" - Kai

Roasting marshmallows on New Years Eve

(Yes, Kai has some in her hair)

3 very excited kids

One little princess very much in love with Jason, Monty Ho-Ho & "The Pan"