Christmas in Texas

We are home in Japan, this New Year's morning. I'm up at 2:00 am because we arrived in Misawa this morning at 9 and I foolishly took a long nap this afternoon. Yes I know you're not supposed to nap the day you get back, as it just makes it harder to recover from jet lag, but I just couldn't help it! We spent New Year's Eve with our buddies; our new "old" buddies Hyatt and Nicole are now here in Japan with us and spent the evening just as jet lagged as we were. We're so excited that they are here!

Christmas was wonderful... Except for getting everybody sick with the bug we seem to have caught on the flight over...we are so so sorry about that everybody! Our 24 hour nemesis swept through both the Robinson and the Schulz household, and unfortunately kind of ruined the few days we had together, health wise. We were sad to spend such a short time making everybody feel ucky. It was a pretty rough trip this time. It was a tough trip coming back. 36 hours of travel with a 9 month old is way harder than the same trip with a 4 month old! Even with two of us, we were struggling not to get frustrated. When we got to Tokyo last night, it was all we could do to check into the airport hotel and drop. It was, however, so great to watch both grandmas really enjoy playing with Sadie. We had a lot of fun in Round Rock...Sadie's MiMi gave her lots of shaved ice and she ate a whole huge cookie by herself. We ate barbecue and Mexican food like it should be with Brian's family. Brian spent some time with Bretton with cigars and hot tub conversation. We got to see Staci, who is getting married in April! Congratulations to Staci and Tim on their engagement.


Brian got baptized Christmas Eve. The night was really special since Joe, Lauren's husband, baptized him. He's waited for a long time to do it. Lauren and Luke also did a song that Lauren wrote that was just awesome, and my mom and Goppy coordinated to do the Christmas story from Isaiah. She recited a whole chapter from memory, and Goppy gave us kind of a summary of research he has done about the prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament. My Nana gave a testimony about the past year and her struggle with rheumatoid arthritis and my dad presided over the Lord's supper and gave each of us a blessing. It was precious and wonderful and truly the right thing for this year.

I also loved holding and talking to my nephew Jackson Payne. We got to drink lots of soda from the fountain with crushed ice from Quik Trip. We went to Taco Cabana and Macaroni Grill. I went shopping a LOT and Sadie brought home lots of toys.

Thankyou to everyone who endured the sickness to let us stay at your home and be with you for the holiday. We love you all and miss you already.