Christmas, New Years and Arizona

These past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activities. Travis, Elena and I all headed out to NC for Christmas. Elena did fairly well on her first plane ride(s). Our trip out to NC was definitely interesting. When we checked our bags they didn't assign us seats, so through security we go and to the desk to get our seats. After standing in line three times, they finally gave us seats in first class. Only because no body wanted to upgrade, lucky us. When we were on our way to Indianapolis, we had to make an emergency stop in Denver because some lady managed to knock herself unconscious in the bathroom at the back of the plane. Still to this day I have yet to figure out how she managed that because there were no witnesses. We were in Denver for probably about an hour and a half almost 2 hours because they had to get new equipment that was used and paperwork had to be filed. Instead of having a 2 1/2-3 hr layover in Indianapolis we got there 30 minutes before our next flight took off. We were lucky because our new gate was just across the hallway. We didn't have our tickets for our next flight, so while we were standing there the guy that was helping the people who needed assistance onto the airplane asked us if we were the Christensen's. We looked at him with puzzlement and said your tickets are on the desk, just grab them. How awesome. We definitely were not dressed for the cold weather that was in NC when we first arrived. it was in the 30s with snow on the ground. We're in sweaters. Poor Elena was really cold because she was just in her jammies. Christmas was a lot of fun and Elena made bank on new toys and what not. She's at the stage where she doesn't really care what she gets, she just wanted to go back to sleep. he he.

Elena, Travis and I on Christmas

Travis and I got home from NC on the 27th of Decemeber, started the massive loads of laundry then headed to his parents house in Utah on the 31st. We were home 3 days before we started our next road trip up. Travis, David, Hanna and I all went out and shot the guns Travis had brought with him. That was a lot of fun, I managed to do really well shooting his M4 for the first time. While in Utah my sister and my grandmother down in Phoenix told me that my grandpa had gone down hill really fast and would be lucky if he lasted more then a week.

That call was on Friday January 1st. Two days later Sunday January 3rd, my sister calls me at 415a to let me know that Grandpa had passed away earlier that evening. After Elena's doctor's appointment on Tuesday 1/5/10 I started my 5 1/2 hour drive down to Phoenix. That is definitely a long drive to take by yourself. Our whole family got together Wednesday night probably for the first time in about 12 years or so. Definitely an interesting dinner party at my other Grandpa's house. I saw my Aunt Carrie for the first time in I think 10 years, my dad and his wife in 5 years and my other Grandfather in about 2 years. It was good to see everybody. My grandpa George's funeral was on Friday 8 January at the Veteran's Cemetry in Northern Phoenix. It was a nice military funeral. Hearing the taps for the first time in person will definitely bring a tear to your eye. I finally got home yesterday. It was great to see everybody after so many years.

RIP George Allen Reed

9.24.27-1.3.10