It All Happened So Fast!!!

The Man in the middle!

The Holidays came and went so fast, just like the storms that came with it. On the day of Caleb's school program a major storm also hit. He like half of the class almost didn't make it to sing. He literally walked up and got his hat as they started to sing. So cute, I sound like a Grandma don't I? Afterwards we waited for class pictures and he got his candy cane.

That night we celebrated Christmas early with Rachel and Cameron since they were headed to Maryland to be with his family this year.

We had to have them open this without some of the other sisters because they were getting one also. Part of the Family Preparation theme for this Christmas.

Cyd and Ken finally got there after it seemed like we planned on them coming forever! We threw a baby shower for her the next day, uncertain how many would come because it was so close to Christmas we were so pleased with all who came to help make this a special occasion for her. They got some nice things. I really didn't seem like she was expecting until we were able to see her and have the shower. We are excited for them. It was great to be with extended family for a little while.

Just visiting afterwards!

The boys were enthralled with the Christmas Train as always. It is certainly a train year!

Who can resist a current picture of the "Cousins Clud"

The Cousin's Clud plus a generation.

We had one opportunity to get a family picture and it was only with the immediate family because of work schedules. My hopes for a new picture of the family just didn't work out. We all just fell in on a relaxing dad. Even if it was for a few minutes it was great to have them there all around us. Aren't they great? Aren't we blessed?

Natalie had a work related party and they had extra room on the Trolley so she called us and invited us to come and take a ride to see the lights. It was fun despite how cold the weather was outside.


Then we celebrated the birthday early as well.

After we took Rachel and Cameron to the airport we went to church in Jessica's ward to hear her musical presentation again this year. We later had dinner together and then played games the rest of the evening. It was a relaxing and fun evening. The boys really liked the WI that Ken brought out to play.

And the stockings were hung with care.

Baby Jensen won't go without! It was great fun to see them open this box full of "neutral" colored baby items to get them started. Sorry we made you cry Cyd.

Santa decided that the boys loved trains so much that we needed to have some for them to play with at our house. He was right it was a big hit. The engineer and his assistants quickly assembled it. Three generations of brains sitting there together!

After the day of gifts and our wonderful family dinner we finally got to the stockings, usually filled with even more of the good stuff.

Ken seemed to think so.

We had a traditional "Smith" breakfast thanks to Rosemarie and Patti. It was so fun to see the extended family, some again in a week after the shower what a treat! I caught these guys just before they had to leave.

A quiet moment!

All lined up for the great food.

Two guys I just don't get to see enough of anymore, life is crazy isn't it?

Catch them when you can!

Just hanging out. Love to see these moments!

Aren't they cute together?


So glad to meet the newest member of the family.
We missed Denny and Nichole and their family and Rachel and Cameron as well.

It's amazing the positions that she can fall asleep in, just like her older sister and dad.

We had so much fun with our first game night that we had more before everyone started to go home. This was a Cat in the Hat game we gave the boys, it was really cute. The "Trickamastick" was a hit.

Wow grandpa you're good!


Ticket To Ride is one of the family favorites right now. After the boys played their version and went to bed the adults got serious. It was a lot of fun.

Dr. Dave was planning his next move. I actually missed the silly expression just before the flash.

One of the sweet things we were able to do was to attend Kassie and Wesley's wedding. ( Another daughter married.) Congratulations to them.

Kerry had to fly back to Honolulu on New Year's Eve to get ready for a mega month in January. The rest of us went to Natalie's house for a Fondue dinner, way too much food! He kept walking around with the Santa hat and it was too cute too pass up!

I was able to distract him momentarily for an end of the year picture. What cute boys!

Everyone fixing dinner and spending a little more time together before these two had to head home.

Time for Guitar Hero, this time he really got into it.

So did Ken and Natalie wouldn't let me video her this time.

After awhile we moved homes so the boys could go to bed and we could play games and celebrate the New Year. It was weird celebrating without my Sweetheart there.

The day I was dreading! Rebecca had already said Goodbye and so I was already emotional after we had lunch we had to head to the airport. The two weeks had blown by so quickly! It was time for Cyd and Ken to return home and for all of us to return to reality once again. After the picture was taken I unfortunately lost it and fell apart. Darn those Hiatt genes!

It was a great time to be with everyone not sure how soon it will happen again, just have to hope it isn't as long as I fear it might be.

I am so grateful for such a great family. It has been a wonderful year and I hope that everyone has a Happy and Healthy 2009.