Christmas 2012

We packed a lot in to the first 2 days of our trip and it took us a few days to recover.  Tyler's family headed out to El Paso and the Mullins and Grandpa moved to a hotel in Del Mar which was great.  A horrible cold/ flu/ fever thing unfortunately slowly swept through us, but we were able to take it slow and get in more fun things in San Diego.

On Christmas Eve the kids were quick and easy to get to bed after we had dinner with everyone. They knew that Santa doesn't come if kids are awake and they weren't about to risk it. In the morning we opened presents with Mom, Dad, and Whitney. The kids were so excited to have finally made it to Christmas and had a great time sorting out the gifts and opening everything. They really are at such fun and magical ages- I wish we could bottle it all up forever. They were thrilled with every gift and often equally as thrilled for each other or any of the rest of us. After presents all the adults were put to work trying to put things together or get things out of boxes-why in the world do they make even simple kids things so difficult to get out or set up?

After some good playing and phone calls to family in Illinois and Indiana we headed over to the hotel to have lunch with Grandpa and the Mullins. The kids had fun catching up on Christmas gifts and the adults got to have a relaxing visit. Then it was time to take Grandpa and Lance to the airport so they could get back to their work in SLC and Vegas. We were sad to see them both go but grateful for the time we had. We could have done without the sickness, but we were especially grateful for the success of the football game and Sea World days.

The next day the kids and I went with Grandma and Grandpa Whitney to the Holiday Bowl (the other Football Bowl Game in San Diego) Battle of the Bands and Luncheon with the football players. We ate with some UCLA players so we were ready to cheer for them at the game the next day. The next morning we went and had breakfast and said goodbye to the Mullins. We would have liked to have spent a bit more healthy time with them but we were glad to have gotten a little extra time with them.

The original plan had been for Zuri and I to stay home with Whitney for the Holiday Bowl game as I thought 1 bowl game was probably all I could handle with Zuri. At the last minute Mom and Dad ended up with some extra tickets and a babysitter for Whitney so Zuri and I ended up going. The girls and I had been fighting the illness so I wasn't sure how it would all go, but it ended up being great. Zuri sat on my lap the whole time (maybe because she was a little sick) and the pregame and half time shows were awesome. Kai got to have my Dad's full attention and ask him all about the game. I was glad that it had all worked out so well.

The next day the kids and I hit the road to go back home.  We were sad to see our trip come to an end, but glad we got to do so many fun things with all of our family in San Diego.  Mom, Dad, and Whitney were so great letting us invade their home, feeding us, helping coordinate all the football activities and more, and helping us make things special for the kids.

We missed Grandma Utah very much this Christmas, but felt like she would have been happy to see us all together making good memories.