Christmas in San Diego

We got home from SLC on Sunday night and then took Monday to re-group. Then early on Tuesday morning the kids and I hit the road for San Diego. We got there in time for lunch followed by lots of present opening. Kai and Rori quickly dove in to the second half of their Santa and grandparent/ great grandparents gifts. Santa finally came through with their highly desired pillow pets. Kai has been asking for one of these since August thanks to their being advertised on tv every 3rd commercial and being in every store and grocery store. Much of the rest of our trip was spent playing with their guitar and dollhouse gifts that they each fell in love with. Kai had also been asking for a "smoothie maker" for months. Let's just say we've had several smoothies since.















The next day we got to join grandma and grandpa at the Holiday Bowl "Battle of the Bands" and luncheon with the players. This is always one of our favorite events. We ended up with front row seats for the Battle of the Bands which meant that we got to visit with each mascot and have a great view of it all. The kids LOVED it.


The next day was the actaul Holiday Bowl. Lance's flight was slightly delayed coming in but he still made it in time to join us for the pre-game meal. Kai sat on Grandpa's lap almost the entire time taking it all in. Rori was content to watch the pre-game and halftime shows and then sit in her own seat and watch a movie on the IPhone most of the rest of the time. It made it lovely for the rest of us to get to actually sit there and watch the game. I can't decide if it is awesome or scary that she knows how to use it almost as well as I do. Kai was excited that Washington pulled off the unexpected win. He had been cheering for them since that is where the Mullins cousins live.







The next day our little family headed to Legoland with my friend Jen and her family. It was super fun to get to visit with them and see how big Patrick and Gretchen are getting. Thanks guys for thinking of us guys!





















Our final day in San Diego we spent hanging out, running some errands, getting in a few of our favorite meals, playing music, and watching Kai play some baseball with grandma and grandpa.





The next morning we packed up and hit the road for the drive home. We had Lance with us on the trip home again which was super nice. It was cold outside but the weather held off until we got home. The kids watched a movie until we stopped for lunch and then both slept the rest of the way home. Christmas is tiring. So, yesterday it was back to school, laundry, groceries etc. We're still working on getting everything put away and back in order.

We had a wonderful holiday! Thanks to everyone who made it all possible!

Christmas in SLC

We had a great Christmas! Lots of traveling, family, friends, food, fun, and presents. It all went by so fast but it does feel like we have been out of the routine of life for some time now. Today I'm busy re-stocking the house with food, doing laundry, and trying to get things put away and cleaned up.

The kids and I started things off by driving by ourselves for the 1st time to SLC. The kids did really great on the long drive and we were grateful that rain was the worst of the weather we faced on the way there. We did have one minor scare when our windshield wipers decided to go out half way between St. George and Cedar City (as in the middle of nowhere). We made it to Cedar City sans wipers which made for some interesting moments in the pouring rain. I would have stopped but I knew it wasn't likely that the rain was going to let up and there was nothing around where we could get help. In Cedar City I was able to buy a replacement fuse (and maybe about 10 extras just incase) and install it myself with a little assurance from Lance on the phone. We were probably in Cedar City for about 45 min. with that, getting gas, and a stop in the McDonalds playland for some food. After that it was smooth sailing although we were slightly nervous to use the wipers too much. Kai and I came up with a game called "see how far you can drive without using your wipers". It is loads of fun.

The next morning we woke up to a white wonderland which was such a treat. The kids had a blast being reunited with snow. Kai really wanted to make a snowman so I let him go at it and was surprised to see how well he did all on his own. Rori seemed to be more interested in eating the snow.













We spent one morning hanging out at the Ottesen's with the Wilkinson's. It was just like old times and we all loved every second of it.



That night Kimberley and the kids came over to make and decorate Christmas cookies with us. We snacked on some but left a good selection for Santa.








Lance flew in on Wednesday night and arrived at his parents house just about 15 minutes before the Mullins pulled in from Seattle. We didn't waste anytime because the next morning we headed up to Brighton for some skiing. Grandma and Grandpa had gotten all the older cousins a ski lesson for Christmas. Rori was sure she was supposed to be part of the big kids group- maybe next year. Lance decided to take advantage of being on the mountain and also got in a morning of skiing. The rest of us watched the lessons, played in the snow, and then headed back inside to watch where it was a little warmer. Kai had a great time and is really developing a love for skiing. If we were still in SLC we would for sure be taking him back up more. Many thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for such a great gift!






That night we headed to Temple Square for our annual tradition of checking out the Christmas lights. We were thrilled that the Wilkinson's were able to join us for the lights and some dinner afterward.









On Christmas Eve day we headed up to the Cabin in Bear Lake. It was a super fun way to spend Christmas. Kai and Rori were in cousin heaven. There was lots of sledding, 4-wheeling, kids club playing and on and on. That night we had a yummy feast, we acted out the nativity, and we opened up cousin gifts and PJ's. It was really fun to all be together.














The next morning Santa had made a visit to the Cabin. There were full stockings and lots of gifts to open. Santa had also left some gifts for our kids in San Diego so boy did they make out. Christmas day involved playing with gifts, super yummy breakfast crepes made by Lance, some hot tub time, and more playing in the snow. We headed back to SLC that afternoon to gear up for our drive back to Vegas the next day.




















On Sunday morning we went to Sacrament meeting in our old Ward. We miss everyone there so much and wish we could have hung out with more of them longer. It was so nice to see the familiar faces. The Pearce's were back in town visiting like us which was neat. Then we hit the road back to Vegas. This time we had Lance with us which really does make it better.

It is strange to see things moving on in Salt Lake without us. It makes us feel time warped in a way. But in some ways it helps with the transition as well. I won't be missing driving in the snow over the next few months, but I will miss watching it fall outside our house window when we are warm and cozy inside.

Kinder Cooking

Kai had been waiting all semester for his turn to be in charge of Kinder Cooking. So to add to all of the holiday fun I went in and helped with it on his last day of school before the Christmas break. That day also happened to be Holiday Pajama day at school. We had been assigned by his teacher to bring in pretzel rods, low-fat cool whip, peanut butter, and lots of different sprinkles to make magic wands. "W" had been the letter of the week that week. The kids dipped one end of the rods in to the cool whip or peanut butter and then decorated with the sprinkles. It was a cute and easy project that they all seemed to enjoy.