Cali for Christmas

We decided to go to California for Christmas.  It had been a while(over a year and a half)since we'd seen our families.  I didn't take as many pictures as I'd wished, but we enjoyed our visit.  We were able to see most of our family with only the exception of Marci, who was sick and Greg's family who are in Hawaii.  I was excited that uncle Ted and Grandma Carole came down for Christmas too.  Christmas Eve was such a fun night.  We had Pizza and root beer floats(with some awesome root beer Ted brought called So-Duh made by a friend of his in northern California.)  Then each of the families did a little talent or skit and the kids participated in the Christmas Story play.  Tyler was Samuel, Kyle was a wise man, Kory was Joseph and Trey and Makai were shepherds.  It was super cute.  The kids got along really well with their cousins.  It was fun to see how quickly they began playing even after so much time.  Each of the cousins have matured and grown up so much.  We also got to meet the latest addition, Eli...I mean 'Rocky', no Eli...no 'Rocky'.  Well, it's one of those.  (Now we just need to meet Carl.)  Christmas Eve was a wonderful evening. 

Then we headed to Nana's to spend Christmas morning with Nana and James family.  The kids had fun opening presents together.  Nana did all the shopping for Christmas and the boys loved her gifts.  Makai opened the first gift of Christmas.

 

Then Julie and Emjae.  They both got dress up outfits.  I had to laugh.  Emjae loved her dress up outfit and wore it most of the day in fact.  However, Julie was only interested in the Chocolate from her stocking. They each have such different personalities.  The other good part was it was easy to keep our toys separate...girl toys theirs, boy toys ours!

One of our favorite parts of the trip was the day we took the boys to the beach.  Monty found an awesome beach that neither of us had ever been to, but we will go to again. I was surprised by how warm it was.  I packed so wrong for the week.  Mind you the week I packed it was FREEZING here.  When we got to California they were having a warm spell.  The kids were dying for shorts.  Kory said, "Mom, can you promise that next time we come to California you'll pack us some shorts."  I told him, "Sure, next time we come to California he can pack his own stuff!"  Anyway, I digress...the beach was beautiful.  Monty and I have said several times we love Colorado, but we MISS the beach.  It was so wonderful to see it again.  This was Makai's first trip to the beach, well, he went when he was super little like 5 months, but his first trip since then.  He was not sure of the idea at first.

Notice his the uneasiness in his face.

Dad to the rescue trying to teach him the joys of the ocean.

Still unsure of the idea.

I love his face in this picture.  It's his new face and in this photo it screams, "What in the world?  Should I try it?"

Slowly but surely he inched his way...

Until he was jumping and splashing and laughing just like his brothers.

 

 

 

 

(Notice his car...a.k.a. his security blanket.  We tried to take it several times worried he would drop it and would end up out to sea, but he wouldn't let go.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other boys needed no introduction to the ocean.  They were so ecstatic to be there.  Never have you seen such excitement.

For the record the water was freezing!  The didn't mind one bit!!

 

JOY!

Trey was in heaven!

I LOVE this picture.  Kyle showing Tyler something on the rock with Trey and Kory playing in the background.  This moment made my day!

The Fab Five!!

I never want to forget this moment.  Great kids.

 We love Colorado, but we still MISS the beach!:)

The following evening we spent with Nana.  The only day of our visit she wasn't sick.  Then we went to see Andy and Nikki and enjoyed an evening with Nikki's sister and kids as well.  Then we saw Grandpa Tini.  Although it was short we enjoyed the visit.  On the way home we stopped to see Uncle Tj and Auntie Dora.  They were true sports as Trey was sick and threw up in their house a couple times.  They were so kind and we felt so bad--so sorry you guys.  They got the boys some wood puzzles which they love and taught us about couponing.  They are champs at it.  They hooked us up with some fun stuff when we left.  Thanks. That night we stayed in Saint George and slept on a bed that felt like a cloud!  The next morning we stopped by my grandma's for about an hour to say hi and then finished the night taking Monty's sister out to dinner.  The next morning we traveled home with a few more sick kids, but all was well.  There were many tender mercies making the trip possible and we loved seeing everyone again.  Great trip.