The day after Christmas Josh, Becca, and I rented a car and drove to PA to spend a week with my family. Becca and I were sick about half of our time in PA. My siblings were there in shifts. Jon and Ashleigh went back to SC on Wednesday, so we overlapped with them one full day. Sam, Ashley, and Colette came for New Year’s weekend. Dan and Isabelle did not get up to PA this year. I didn’t take a single picture in PA  but had over 500 pictures from the week from other people. So nice when everyone else is taking the pictures.

We all enjoyed being with everyone. Becca loved having lots of people to interact with. She had been looking forward to being at Aunt Emily’s house since Thanksgiving. Becca loved running around the house in a circle (through the dinner room and into the kitchen). I’ll recount one funny conversation she had with my dad. Becca has a habit of slamming the toilet lid down when she’s finished using the potty. My dad was concerned about the porcelain and turned to Becca and said, “Becca try not to slam . . . oh nevermind, you’re a sweetie, you can do whatever you like.” I love how grandchildren change people.

Tuesday we had Christmas with the gang who was in town. Mom saved the cinnamon rolls for the day, we read the Christmas story and sang carols. This was the second time for Dad, Mom, Emily, Jon, Ashleigh, Joey, and Lauren to read the Christmas story and sing; they did another whole round for us. Becca enjoyed putting the flannelgraph up. Becca also enjoyed my parents’ dog Toby. She would call him loudly, “Toby, come back!” She now also says “big dogs scare you, little dogs don’t scare you.”

Becca loved opening her presents — actually she enjoyed opening anyone’s presents who would let her help. But she did show concern for others. She got a baby doll and was then told that the other present was for the doll (doll clothes). Becca sat the doll in front of the presents and tried to help her open the gift. It was really cute.

Uncle Joey was a big hit. For the second year, he gave Becca a candy cane. Last year he gave Becca her first candy cane. He also let Becca have some of his Mountain Dew (she spit it out). Who knows what else he gave her . . . got to watch those young single uncles! Uncle Joey gave Becca a pair of pink Converse shoes and an ‘apple computer.’ The shoes are a little big (smallest size available), so Becca will get to grow into them.

Thursday we took a trip to NJ to visit with Grandma Sutter, Uncle John, and some of the other Sutter family members.

Friday Sam, Ashley, and Colette arrived. Becca seemed to enjoy trying to teach Collette big girl things. Becca would roll on the floor with Colette – very cute.

We had Christmas again with Sam, Ashley, and Colette – it was a shortened version. They gave Becca a train and she loves it. It’s the perfect size for our apartment and Becca enjoys putting her Nativity pieces in it for a ride. Sam gave Josh a book that he instantly started reading. He just finished it the other day.

Monday night Aunt Emily, Uncle Joey, and Lauren babysat Becca while Josh and I went out to dinner with Dad and Mom (thanks Grandma B). We all enjoyed our steaks, while Josh is still wishing he had ordered a steak instead of a hamburger. Becca did great – this is when the Mountain Dew incident took place. Tuesday afternoon we flew back to Texas.

Ok – you made it (or I should say I’ve made it through posting and getting all these pictures up!). We had a great time visiting with family, but it is truly wonderful to be back home with nice water pressure, all the hot water we want, and lots of heat when it’s cold – our poor parents who own their own houses and have to pay for their utilities! (Not that we froze or couldn’t take hot showers at our parents’ houses, of course!) We’re looking forward to all God has in store for our family in 2012. His will be done.