December: An Epic Christmas Trip!

We took off to California after church, Sunday, December 19th. We had to run to the house even though we had packed the car before going to church. We grabbed food and a couple of things then locked the door and climbed in the car.

As we were driving down the driveway, Sr. D. asked if there was anything else we had forgotten. Immediately I thought of something! So we drove right back up the driveway and I ran in.

As we were driving BACK down the driveway, Sr. D. asked if there was anything else we had forgotten. Immediately I thought of something! So we drove right back up the driveway and I ran in.

Then, as we were driving back down the driveway, Sr. D. asked if there was anything else we had forgotten. Immediately I thought of something! So we drove right back up the driveway and I ran in. At this point, we started laughing and this repeated itself another 2 or 3 times!

We got a couple of blocks away and were at a red light. (Still in the residential neighborhood) The light turned green and we accelerated and in the intersection, our van's back door opened up and half of our stuff tumbled out into the street. Some really good barbecue sauce in a glass jar was in that stuff and it got on some of the stuff. People at the intersection jumped out of their cars with us and helped get it back in the van. Heather and Taylor couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes!

We finally got all back in order and de-barbecued and were off. Two and a half long days of driving. We stayed in a hotel that had a stray cat outside. I don't know how WE get so lucky! Emily is a stray cat magnet I think. She wanted to take it with us and still holds us in contempt for not allowing it.

The Grand Canyon was awesome! We stopped at one end and went out on the bridge and took some pictures. Actually, Heather took pictures and I think I took some video. If you want to see the pictures, go to her blog at: http://athermusic.blogspot.com/2010/12/grand-canyon-overlook.html
We got to Uncle John's home in Hurricane, Utah Tuesday afternoon and spent a wonderful evening with them, eating paninis, listening to Uncle John and Taylor jam on their guitars, be without electricity for an hour or two because of a dam breaking nearby, and all the other usual things that happen when you visit family. ;) Emily, Alison and Sarah put on a play they made up, we had gourmet cupcakes, and talked guns, food storage, investing and politics.

We had such a great time, I forgot to pull out my camera even once!!! I am so mad!!!! Thank you so much Uncle John, Aunt Val, and Alison, Sarah and Lauren for a wonderful evening! We will visit longer next time and give you earlier warning!:)

After another long day, we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Scott's in Modesto, California!!! Yea! Spencer had flown into Modesto a couple of nights earlier and it was so good to see him again! Uncle James was also there and it was a mini reunion! "We're not all here John."

Here are Heather and Emily ready for bed. This zebra blanket was a Christmas present that day from a patient of Grandpa Scott, and it was a well used and loved blanket the whole time we were there.

We all went down to the office and got adjustments twice while visiting and it was great! The kids really liked the massage table/bed. They almost fought over it. But now they're so mature, they don't fight. :)

This game of Jenga was insane! It went about 20 rounds further than anyone would have guessed! We put two puzzles together as well. It was so fun!

Taylor getting some pointers from Grandpa the pro guitarist.

I don't think I ever see a prettier tree than my mother's. It was perfect.

I had a darling picture right here of a close-up of the tree and a cute Santa ornament, but it somehow got deleted.

Then I tried sticking a video of the kids posing in their new Buc'ees pajama pants, but it messed a ton up, and delayed this post by at least three weeks, so I'm moving forward again.

This is Christmas morning before the rush to see the presents.

Heather did a great photoshoot of Aunt Whitney's family and I had to go along to watch her in action. Uncle James came too and I captured this cute photo.

What fun to have homemade yummy cookies at Grandma's house!! They were the melt-in-your-mouth kind.

One day we went to a place to sled where they blew "snow" on the track. It was a pretty cold day. The kids had fun sledding and I had fun taking pictures and Sr. D had fun buying hot chocolate and drinking it.

It was quite the operation. Here they are getting instructions on what the process was.

You go up this escalator...

get in line on one of the tracks, then slide down for a 15 second thrill...

then jump out of your tube and get off the snow quick and get back in line.

This was a typical scene back at Grandpa and Grandma's

Another day we went to San Francisco (along with every other Californian). It was a gorgeous day! We browsed Pier 39.

Ate some clam chowder at Chowders. Yum!

Then we crossed the Bay and went to the Oakland Temple. It was still decorated for Christmas. The view at night of the Bay and San Francisco all lit up was amazing!

Fun times singing with Grandpa! I love, love, love this!

Such good times, then we had to say goodbye. We drove to Provo and had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa Janis. I didn't remember to pull my camera out, and I'm so mad!!! We had a wonderful dinner with all Utah brothers and sisters.

Taylor and Emily wanted to play in the snow. Aunt Allisa let them borrow her sled.

It was so so wonderful to see so many of you! We love you all so much!