Well as of yesterday the girls and I are without a computer. I figured one less thing to fight about.
I think we might ask santa for a new one...or maybe we'll wait for an after christmas sale! We will be using my computer at work or going to the library for a bit until we can afford a new computer.
Hopefully everyone had an amazing holiday and
BLACK FRIDAY experience!
I have never done the crazy shopping day - but maybe there's one for me to try out in the not too distant future!
I guess since I am doing a post, I might as well update everyone...MINUS the pictures! Maybe someone can teach me how to do it on a computer that is different than my own!
The girls only had school for Monday & Tuesday last week.
On Monday we decided to start the holiday season off right... we went on the Heber Creeper's rendition of "The Polar Express". It was so much fun! Even though there was no snow and I did not wear my PJ's...it sure brought the spirit of the season to life. When you arrive at the train station, you board the train. They started off singing Christmas Carols and then they introduce your chef & elves that would be on the train with you. Our elves were "ginger & snap". Our chef's name was "Rupert". The elves went around to each child on the train and asked them what they wanted from Santa for Christmas. (They forgot to ask me...so, Santa if you're reading this, I either want a new computer or a new digital camera...mine is dying.) As the train starts heading to the "North Pole", they pass out the MOS YUMMY chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa. Once everyone was finished, the elves passed out the story, "The Polar Express". There was a narrator on each train car that read the story along with a fun little CD that went along with the book. then we arrived @ the North Pole, Mrs. Claus got on the train and passed out the recipe for the cookies. (They had joy, and a sprinkle of giggles and stuff like that...so I don't think I could make them too well) Then guess who hopped on the train? SANTA! Such fun! Tara's nephew Tucker was on the train with us. I wish I could post the picture I snapped of him looking @ Santa! It was the TRUE spirit of the holiday! Such innocence & awe! Then Santa hopped off of the train and we went back to the train station. We all went out to dinner at a local favorite..."the train" afterwards.
Wednesday the neighbors came over and played for most of the day. We baked sugar cookies. mmm! I love to watch kids do cookie cut outs, and you know, they were entertained literally for hours! The cookies turned out sooo good...even thought the dough was played with for WAY too long!
Thursday we SLEPT IN! That was the best part of the ENTIRE WEEKEND! Justin took the girls for half of the day. They helped him bake pies to take to Michelle's house for Thanksgiving. Once the girls got back home, we got ready to go to Justin's Mom & Dad's house for dinner. At first I felt weird being there, but I know I am loved by them and I love them and the support the whole family has shown for the girls and I. We had a really fun and relaxing time. Then we went home and watched Home Alone & Home Alone 2.
Friday the girls & I put up most of our Christmas stuff. My parents had gotten us a hotel room at the Hilton in downtown SLC. We had the vice presidential suite! Talk about WOWZA! It was like the size of the main level of my house! Gigantor! It was truely fun! The girls would have been happy to swim from dusk till dawn, but we went to temple square to see lights, the mall, costco, and we watched MammaMia! ... TWO times! I love MammaMia! We popped popcorn and just had a good time! Thank you mom & dad! (oh and btw, the girls did swim for about 4 1/2 hours total)
Saturday afternoon I started to feel as if I had been hit by a truck. We ended up staying a second night in SLC I was so sick! We got back home on Sunday morning and I was sick all day. Justin's parents came and got the girls and took them to the big extended family Christmas Party. I was bummed I couldn't go, but did not want to spread my nasty germs. I slept from 1:30 - 7:00 pm...obviously my body needed it.
And now, it's back to the routine...Holiday is over! So, there's the Epps Girls update until I can get back to a computer...I really want to figure out how to post some of the pictures...we'll see how quickly I become a computer pro!
on the back side of one of the boats up on land it read, "WE'RE OK". It made my heart just ache for all of the loss those people went through.
Well, I thought that was bad. My brother in law and neice are both ham-radio operators (sorry if that's not what you guys are called...??) They were asked to help in Galveston after Ike. The whole family volunteered for so many hours cleaning up. My sister made food for so many families. I can't believe the strength their family has! Never thinking of themselves...just helping, no matter what. The Galveston area is in their stake and over 100 people in their stake completely lost their homes. They actually lived in the ward building for weeks. I cannot even imagine. 
As we left Galveston for the day, there was a gas station. (not the one pictured above...it was a ton worse!) It was completely mangled. The rain was so bad I couldn't get a good picture of it.(I am not used to sheets of rain falling down. My sister said it was not that bad! I'm used to UT rain!) Anyway, it would have been a perfect description of all of the damage they endured. 
