South Carolina

Nick & I were able to go to South Carolina for Christmas this year. Not as warm as I was hoping but it was great to be around family. Here are some of the things that we did in South Carolina:

• watched Ernest takes Christmas (my first time seeing it)
• got to play with nieces and nephew
• went to Charleston-Fort Sumpter, Market Street, & ofcourse outlet shopping
• went to the sealing of our niece Rachael to Jason & SueAnne-probably on of the highlights of the trip
• had a much needed girls night out-went and saw Blindside (highly recommend it)
• had a great day after Christmas Christmas with 6 out of the 7 brothers
• got the best Christmas present ever from Nick's parents-Harley Davidson Baby clothes w/a durag (that's how we told the siblings that we are prego)

We came back on New Years Eve and spent that night with my family hanging out and playing Mario Cart.

Christmas Treats

Here's a pic of some of the treats I made this year. Thanks Jen for the Santa cookie idea & the peppermint/cany cane fudge idea too! And Thanks to Susan for helping me make the Santa cookies! It was a lot of fun

The very late Christmas letter

Dear Family and Friends,

As we look back on 2008 we realize that we have seen many changes for the Joyner family. With a brother home from a mission, new nephew, potential niece, and a new sister-in-law we can't believe how much our family has expanded!

Heather has had the opportunity to see her family every three months this year. It started off with a baby blessing and a homecoming in March. The baby blessing was for Heather's sister, which makes it nephew #2 for us. And the homecoming was of her brother, who returned from the Hartford Connecticut mission.

In June, it was the Anderson Family Reunion (heather's maternal side of the family) held in Snowbird, Utah. Heather enjoyed seeing family she hadn't seen in two years or more, not to mention the late nights playing games. Unfortunately, Nick had just started his third season in concessions for the Helena Brewers and missed out on all the fun.

July we celebrated our third anniversary with a trip to Spokane, WA. We had fun eating at diner set to a 1950's theme, shopping, and watching the new batman movie on the IMAX. We also found out that one of Nick's brother became a foster parent for a little girl and is currently in the process of adopting her.

We added a sister-in-law in August when one of Nick's younger brothers got married in the Rexburg, Idaho Temple. It also turned into a mini-family reunion for Nick's family that lives in the west and his mother met them in Rexburg.

In September we made a surprise trip to Utah to visit family of both Nick and Heather's. And in October, Heather's parents came for a visit. We took them to the old Montana Prison, and up to the top of Mount Helena.

Heather is still working at the Cancer Treatment Center. For the most part loving her job. She loves working with the patients and seeing them overcome this trial that they have in their life. It gives her great strength to realize that life has a lot to offer and we shouldn't take it for granted.

Nick is still serving as the Elders Quorum Secretary, and Heather has just been called to Cub Scouting after serving all year in the nursery. She looks forward to going to Relief Society and figuring out what happens in Cub Scouts.

As this year comes to an end we hope that this season the Lord will bless you and your family with much happiness and joy.

With Love,

The Montana Joyner’s