Salt Lake Surprise!!!!

Girls shopping day. Every Christmas season my mom, sisters and grandma and I spend a day together going shopping. It is a wonderful day. Time to spend chatting, buying, eating....it is great. Last year I was not able to make it seeing as how I was in California. This year since I was not able to make it home for Chris' baptism and Thanksgiving I decided that I wanted to go for this shopping day. James and I decided to make it happen. So four weeks ago I talked to my mom and sisters about changing the day so that I could make it. Karen was not able to get that day off (but said she would call in sick...so nice!) but my mom and I decided to trick all of the other girls and tell them that I could not do it but then fly in on the date that they had already set. We still had to make sure that James could arrange his schedule for work so that the kids had someone home with them. I hung up the phone with my mom and said to James 'Lets trick mom too'. So when we found out that James could get the days off I called my dad (in Africa at 4:00 a.m.) to see if he could pick me up from the airport. He could. I called my mom (after much roll-playing with James) and told her that because it was the Christmas season they would not give the weekend off to James since he was not considered a senior agent. I then went off on his work and got myself so worked up that I really almost started crying! My dad later told me that my mom was really concerned with how depressed she though I was! ha! I am good!!! So for three weeks I kept the secret that I was coming. For those of you who don't know, I have a terrible time keeping my own secrets from my mom and sister. I get pregnant and they know 3 seconds later...no secrets for me....however, I was totally able to do this! I left Friday morning for San Diego and then flew to Salt Lake and got in at 4:00 p.m. First of all, can I say FREEZING?!!!!!! The whole time I was there I was cold! My dad got to the airport and took me home where we first surprised my mom. When she heard my voice she thought that I was my sister Katie. When she turned around and saw me she started to cry and said I was rude. When I saw Jayci she looked for a few seconds and then started to scream (right in my ear...I am now deaf on one side). My grandma and grandpa were pleasantly surprised (I am hoping the pleasantly is right). They all found out on Friday and we decided to surprise everyone else on Saturday...the shopping day! Karen came in to my mom's house and I walked out of the back and she just stood and looked at me for a second and then her mouth dropped open. Josh came and dropped Katie off for lunch and I walked up behind him and put my arms around him. He said that he thought I was one of his ex-girlfriends. Dork. Then Katie turned around and it took her a few seconds to register and then she said 'I just mailed you your Christmas package!'. lol The only person who was not surprised was Chris....someone tipped him off! We had a wonderful day shopping. I was not planning on buying anything and ended up leaving with a ring, necklace and a pair of earring for myself! This was thanks to my mom, Jayci and Karen prodding me! (yes, it makes it easier if I blame them and not me!) We spent Sunday afternoon and evening together and then I had to say goodbye to most of them! :( On Monday it snowed! It was wonderful!!!!! I actually prayed that it would snow, so I was thrilled. My mom and I were up high on the Bountiful bench that day and I almost fell on my bum in the snow and then our car went sliding out of a parking lot right into the street totally facing the wrong way. Oh, how I miss snow! It was such a wonderful visit. I loved being able to see my nieces and nephews (how I miss them) and I loved spending time with my family. I was also able to see James' mom and one of his sisters and that was really nice. I left early Tuesday and flew back in to San Diego. It was a great flight until we started flying over the cities to land. We were bouncing up and down and then started rocking side to side. I almost threw up! When I got off the plane I finally started to warm up! It was pretty hot that day and it was the 1st time in 5 days that I was warm! I missed James and my kids, but it was so nice to go there. I loved seeing my family, shopping with the girls and seeing some snow. It helped to bring the Christmas spirit.