Christmas was wonderful. No one sick. Lots of family and food:) New Year's Eve not so lucky. . .two sick people (stomach flu) so we had to cancel all the party plans we had. Chris had the stomach flu during the week. He was extremely sick, he was in tonnnnsss of pain. I rarely see him in as much pain as he was in. Thank goodness it only lasts 24 hours. For New's Eve we did are traditional family "fry everything." Cheese sticks, won tons, corn dogs, chocolate in won ton wrappers, onion rings, pizza rolls etc. etc. whatever you can think of and won't burn down the house. The draw back to "frying everything" is that you and the house smell bad for days:)

Megan has us running her around places, especially to work. Her car requires $4,000 worth of repairs. $500 deductible. Will take it to be fixed soon (after she leaves:) The owner of Chick-fil-a in Jordan Landing (please eat there, if you live close:) hired Meg to work there for a MONTH!! What a nice guy. Answer to my prayer. Meg is funny she compares McDonald's to Chick fil a. One is Chick fil a is cleaner and they use fresh chicken:) (that's a plus, hee, hee) She misses McDonald's fast pace and their never ending menu - she used to be able to make her own concoctions and she wants to put a drink machine by the drive up window of Chick fil a to make it more efficient. Chris and I are soooo grateful to the owner. Really, who would hire someone knowing that they are leaving for China in a month? Can't say enough nice things (ya, I'm crying:)

Last Friday Tay had something very, very, very exciting happen to him. Tay's Lieutenant from CAP called and asked him if he could be at the airport in an hour to fly a plane!!!! Of course we hustled and got Tay there. After flight instruction, picking the route and then checking the plane he, and another cadet and the flight instructor took off. The first cadet flew the plane to the Logan airport and then Tay flew it back to Salt Lake. It was wonderful! There was NNNOOOOO way that smile was coming off of Tay's face. He smiled, and smiled and smiled. He wasn't scared or sick. Chris and I learned while there that if you do get sick in the air and there is no bag you are to open your shirt and throw up in it:) It makes for easier cleanup. LOL. At high speeds I guess it gets all over. The flight instructor has family in Logan so he had them fly over their house - his grand kids were outside waving as he and the cadet took the plane in circles. What an awesome experience. Tay definitely wants to be a pilot:)
Took Meg to get a physical and to the International Travel Center to get four shots. Poor girl. We learned a lot. A nurse talks to you for about 45 minutes and goes over all the lovely germs that you could get and what to do. She also gave Meg a prescription that she can take if she drinks the water etc. etc (gets sick:) Also gave her the phone number and address to the embassy and told her to put it in her phone, suitcase, purse etc. I was feeling "a little" panicky by that time. I know she's going to have a ton of fun and learn lots of things. But hey, I cried when she went to Provo!! Boy, am I in trouble!
Katie has been asking to get her ears pierced for awhile so during the holiday break we took her to the mall and got them done. We told her it would hurt. She didn't even cry!! And they did one at a time. She was sooo excited about picking the pink flower earrings. She hasn't screamed "much" since:)
Today, was such a nice day outside that Chris took down the Christmas lights. He has been taking the boys to play basketball at the gym for the past two days and has again been helping with Jr. Jazz. We are now back to being busy:) Today, I worked in Jacob's classroom and then Chris and I both worked in Katie's. She wanted "Dad" to come. Meg is in Provo for the next two days learning about China. She is leaving either Jan. 30 or 31st. We go off track soon which will make things easier - except Jacob still has early morning orchestra and of course I still have a high schooler and middle schooler.
Last night we found out that Chris' younger brother has cancer:( They are doing tests and determining what they will do. Chris' older sister had colon cancer a couple of years ago! Gotta find a cure!!!
Here's my new quote that I hope to live by:) "Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can. Working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Love ya, Ricki