Feeling neglected?

We had a lovely Christmas, seeing most of our families during the week leading up to Christmas, and coming home just in time for Santa to visit. But this, in combination with research trip the weekend before we left for MO, means the blog has been sorely neglected. We didn't even have internet access for much of our trip, though the locations we stayed at now have wireless internet in their homes, many thanks to Aaron. Gotta love modern technology, and the ability to use it!

So we have a lot of pictures, but none of them are uploaded to the computer yet, so that will be the next post. As for what I've been doing with my time, here's a quick rundown, and maybe you'll forgive my not posting.

Dec. 12: work like crazy to get ready for research trip
Dec. 13: get to school by 6:15 am to be on the boat by 8:00. Realize that bad weather above the ocean means standing at the edge of the ocean is a very bad idea. The cove that usually looks like a swimming pool had 4 ft breakers crashing in the very place I would have been standing. Instead, harness Carlos into helping me clean out the storage locker. Yeah!!!
Dec. 14: get back on the ferry since they may not run it the next day.
Dec. 15: run around like mad to get everything done -- turn in keys and reimbursement forms, go shopping, more shopping, send package, get AJ, pack everything we need for a week in caryy-on only bags (no waiting at baggage pick-up!)
Dec. 16: be up and to the airport, then wait, fly, then wait again, fly again, get the rental car in four inches of snow (I think they punished us for not paying the extra $18/day for the all wheel drive subaru by giving us a rear-wheel drive Grand Marquis.), figure out that we should NOT try to drive all the way to Springfield from KCI with such slippery roads (thanks, Laurenda! and Jason!) crash for the night in Harrisonville.
Dec. 17: get to Mom and Dad's, go out with Aaron (yeah!!!) and harrass Hallie at work.
Dec. 18: shop for Christmas gifts for Missourians (what, you thought I was going to fly stuff from California? not a chance), have Sudholt Christmas, hang out with cousin Josh (fun, fun), laundry.
Dec. 19: get a haircut, go through old stuff I had saved (why, oh, why did I save that crap?), drive to Grandma's house in Columbia, go through things in the house in preparation for future disbursement (happy and sad activity)
Dec. 20: clean up Grandma's house, see her at her apt in Jeff City, go back to Columbia to extended Pabst Christmas, drive to Hannibal, more laundry
Dec. 21: church in Hannibal (and wish I had volunteered to sing), Davidson family Christmas at Joy and Al's, see Susie at her apt, monitor the boys playing Wii
Dec. 22: more shopping, lunch at Sonic (which we don't have in SoCal)
Dec. 23: more laundry, Pabst family Christmas, lots of good times with cousins and in laws
Dec. 24: get to KCI (a four hour trip which turned into five due to unexpected bad roads, no thanks to MO Highway Patrol), run through the rental car return, luck into a shuttle just leaving for the terminal, try to get through the horrid security at KCI, with Levi escaping me and bags I didn't pack (because Aaron did) that are triggering the stupid machine, fly, wait...and wait...and wait, because the second plane is late, fly again, try to get a soda or something but everything is closed because it's Christmas Eve, drag two sleeping boys in the house, put jammies on them, wrap the last of the presents, put everything under the tree. Collapse into my own bed, with my own pillow on top. ahhhhh.

Whew, does that sound busy to you? Not that I think most of you were any less busy, but that's my excuse, and I'm stickin to it. Pictures as soon as I can!