Merry Christmas 2013

You know how good it feels when everything just falls into place and goes smoothly? Well, that is the best way to describe this years Christmas vacation. It was the best yet. Everything was fun, exciting, memorable, and full of love. We left around 6 Saturday morning. The kids slept until Price, and then were up for the day. They were pretty happy in the car and so we drove until Richfield. We fueled up, got breakfast, and assumed Bronson would nap as soon as he ate. Well, he didn't. He and Brilee played and had so much fun. We stopped in Mesquite and ate a yummy lunch of cheap prime rib. While we waited for our food Jake and I each took a turn gambling. I lost three dollars and Jake won $50. So, it was a win! After we ate we let the kids soak up the sun and play outside around the fountain. Finally, we loaded them back up. We headed to the car wash and then hit the road again. This time Bronson was asleep almost instantly. He slept until Barstow and Brilee fell asleep in Baker to the bottom of Cajon Pass. So, we decided to just make it all the way to Del's. That is a long drive. The kids started getting restless about the same time traffic was getting AWFUL! The last 45 minutes were the only hard part of the whole drive. We made it, and were thrilled to be pulling into Del and Kirks. Del had made a yummy dinner for us, and the kids just ran around inside and outside loving being out of the car and in warm weather. My parents and Stacia showed up about an hour behind us. They ate and then we went to see the decorated houses around their block. Bronson walked the whole mile. He didn't want to be carried and just walked and yelled "I run, run, run!" He also loved the lights and would get excited and yell "The lights!" and point them out to us. It was so cute. After the walk we were exhausted. Jake couldn't even stay awake, and so we made our way to the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. (Del and Kirk had free rooms.) It was amazing! We all slept so good, and had a hard time waking up the next morning. Jake and I decided to not set any alarms and just let the kids wake us. My parents got to Del's around 8, and we were there around 8:30. We walked to the best breakfast restaurant in the world, The Coffee Cup, and were seated pretty fast. The kids devoured their oatmeal and we all loved our food too. Bronson grabbed a handful of Jake's potatoes that had been mixed with scrambled eggs and ate it. We all held our breath waiting for him to have a reaction, but he never did. We were shocked, and thrilled! We then went back to Del and Kirk's house. Del, Stac, Jake, my Dad, and I went to Costco, Trader Joe's, and Starbucks while the kids, Grammy, and Kirk stayed back to play. We finished our last minute shopping and then went back. We wanted another walk so we headed to a near by dog beach. It was just under 2 miles away. Bri did good and walked a lot, and Bronson rode in the stroller. I knew the walk home would be hard because Bri would be tired and we would have to carry her. We got to the beach and the kids were so thrilled. Bronson LOVED the sand, and enjoyed the water. Anytime we would make a tower out of sand he would laugh and crush it. Bri couldn't stay out of the water. We told her only her feet, but watched her get more brave, and even more curious by the minute. Finally, she jumped in. Quickly followed by yelling, "EWWWEWW Disgusting!" and running out of the water freezing. Thank goodness Kirk thinks ahead and had brought a towel. We took her clothes off her, wrapped her in the towel, put her in the stroller, and quickly headed off the beach. We had passed a Children's Place right before the beach so I knew where to get her clothes. She and I ran into the beach while everyone else stopped at a bakery. I found her a cute Frozen shirt on clearance and a pair of sweats on clearance. We dressed her and went and found the rest of the group. Jake told me had given Bronson some cupcake and again no reaction. We took a shortcut on the way back. It was quick for everyone but Jake and Brilee who took a detour to try and catch a Parrot. While everyone got lunch ready I went and had my car cleaned. I got back and we loaded back into the car to head up to Lake Arrowhead. It is about a 2 hour drive up the hill and again the kids were good. We were excited to be in Arrowhead with Gma, Gpa, and Aunt Jackie. The kids walked in and made themselves right at home! We ate my favorite food (Grandpa's spaghetti) and hung out all evening. The kids slept all night and Bri was thrilled to wake up early to find Gma in the kitchen making pies. Bronson went and found her and asked where his advent was first thing. We also were shocked to see our Elf had followed us to California… well he actually road with us. He brought movies from Santa to make the kids drive go by faster. Then he was in the coffee pot in the hotel, and hanging in the wreath at Gma's. Brilee was so excited that he had come with us! Stac and Jackie got to Gma's and so we ran to Jensen's to order Christmas donuts and get some Starbucks. We got back to the house and realized we had left Bronson's boots in Long Beach so Jake, Bronson, Jackie, Gpa, and I headed to the village. Jackie and Gpa went to finish a little shopping and we bought shoes. Chuck and Carol came to visit and it was great catching up with them. After Bronson's nap Gma, Jackie, Jake, and I took the kids to Tavern Bay to let them play in the sand with their beach toys. They had soooo much fun! I just loved sitting in the warm weather. Then we went to a local cousins house to visit. We loved getting to know them better, and their house was so nice! We spent the rest of the evening hanging out. We slept good and woke up bright and early for Christmas Eve! We started our day playing in the Village. Jake and Stac took the kids on the go karts, and then the kids road a couple other rides. Bri loved them, and I think Bronson liked them too. He acted half bored half scared, but he didn't cry so I considered it a win! We then fed the ducks and headed back to Gma's. Del and Ann were there and Del and Kirk showed up soon after. We visited and put Bronson down for a nap. Stac, Jake, and I decided to go walk "Sucks" (an long time standing hike my parents like to take in Lake Arrowhead). Jake crossed the fence at a different spot than Stac and I so when we were all back on the trail again Stac said "You know Jake's going to try and scare us." Sure enough, he is no where to be seen so I agree with her. We keep walking and after about a mile we kinda start to wonder where he could be. He never showed up. At one point we heard him whistle so we knew he was fine. We got back to the truck, and no Jake. We drove up the road, and there he was! He said he heard Stac say "You know Jake is going to scare us." So he decided to try and get ahead of us again, but then he couldn't run up the steep hill fast enough and never could. haha, Dork! We got back and cooked up a big special Christmas meal. We ate, the kids got their jammie's from the elf, took baths, and got ready for bed. As we were watching A Christmas Story Bri got a special message from Santa. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. Santa talked about Brilee's year, showed how much she had grown, and then declared she was on the nice list. Bronson made it too. She went to bed soooooo thrilled. We were glad Bri was sleeping when Stac got her message from Santa saying she was on the naughty list. It would have crushed her! I laid the kiddos down at 8, and I was shocked when both kids were OUT quickly! We slept great again and woke up a few minutes before Gma was ready for us. We killed time in our room waiting to hear the special bells. Bri was jumping up and down when she heard the bells. She was so cute seeing Santa had come. She and Bronson were spoiled rotten… and we are so grateful to all of our family who make Christmas so wonderful for our kids and for us. It was wonderful. Bri opened Saige first and was the happiest little girl on the planet. Bronson opened some dump trucks and was over it. He just played with them and kept going into the bedroom to play with them. Bri did awesome this year and didn't even need any help. She was so sweet and geinuinly grateful for everything she received. We spent the rest of Christmas watching movies, playing with toys, visiting, and just enjoying the Christmas spirit. It was such a good day. Thursday morning Gma, Jackie, Stac, and I headed down the hill for our traditional shopping day! It was everything it always is… fun! We got some good deals, found cute clothes, and had a great time together. We were back up the hill around 4, and the Woestmans came to visit. I love seeing them and hanging out! It was so great. Then it was time to pack the car and get ready to come home. Bronson woke up cranky Friday morning, and I was worried the drive home would be hard. He stayed cranky all day, but was never too bad. He only napped 2 hours the whole time, but we kept him entertained. Thank goodness for Brilee and their new stuffed animal Wolfee. (Last year was miserable coming home, and so this year seemed like a real treat!) We got home to cold weather, but it's always nice to be home. The kids and I slept so good last night, and today they acted like it was Christmas again as I unpacked all their fun toys! LOVE YOU ALL, THANKS!!!!!

 Eating at Del and Kirk's

 Tavern Bay

 

The midget mirrors are always fun!