December in California 2013 {catch up}

 

We left Christmas day to drive out to California for Mason's family get together with all his cousins and Aunts and Uncles. We stopped half way in Mesquite, NV for the night and then drove the rest of the way to Orange county where we spent the night in a hotel. Mason got to have a jam session with his old drummer Vega out there and then we headed south to Coronado for the family party. Mason's parents were already out in California for Christmas so we met up with them when we got there. We got to stay on the army base there because Mason's Grandpa is a veteran. It was so nice and right on the beach. We stayed the night and the next day was the family party. It was so nice to see everyone and visit. We stayed one more night and then headed North to Livermore, CA to see my sister.

We spent New years with my sister and her family, it was so fun to see my big sister pregnant at the same time as me. I helped her a little bit to get ready for her baby. Her kids played so great with Max and Jack we were so sad to leave.

 The beach in December!

 Mason's cousin's baby, Rebecca

 Jack, always with Grandpa

 Playground on the beach

 At Aunt Becky's and uncle Shane's!

 Sweet Analynn loving Jack. 

And poor Jack scraped up his nose tripping in his sandals in a parking lot

 Pregnant sisters!

 

 Jonah

 Isaiah

 Analynn

 New Years Eve

 New Years day

 

 

 On the road home...

Cali-forn-i-a

Last Thursday we took off in the motor home with Mason's family, we drove all day and arrived in southern California to spend the weekend. We spent some time with Mason's Grandparents who live out in Moreno Valley. Then it was off to camp in the RV at The Dunes in Newport Beach.

The quick trip was for a reception for Mason's sister who got married back here. So Friday evening we got to The Dunes. My two sisters and my nephews and niece also came down from Northern California to see us and also give us my brothers computer to take back. It was so fun to spend all of Saturday with them. Since we didn't have a car and my sisters car only fit her family, we just hung around our camp area We played on the beach, played arcade games, and had a very adventurous ride on a bike car. It was so short but I am so glad we got to see them.
Saturday night was the reception on the beach. It turned out so nice, I wish we would have stayed longer but Max was tired and so were we so we headed back to the motor home early. But we heard that it was an awesome party and everyone danced till the very end.

So yes a very short trip (I wanted to see you JO!).
On our drive home it got pretty crazy, kids ready to not be stuck in a car and over tired. But we stopped at a Casino Buffet in Mesquite, the food was good and we ran into a famous clown also enjoying the buffet. The kids thought it was so cool and he gave Max and Savannah a postcard of him when they went and said hi(he was a non talking clown also). Max was so overtired and was being so funny, running over to the clown with his postcard pointing out and saying "this is you!" it was pretty cute.
So till next time California (and I will see you Jo...and Disneyland).

Jonah pushing Jack, they are so cute with Jack

Me and my Analynn, I miss her already!

 

Max's two sides of cousins

 

 

Me sisteer Emily!

Jumping Jonah Jahosafat 

Jumping Isaiah

Jumping Analynn the ninja

 

On our way home stopping for a break

 

a cowboy, a top hat, and a tea party

Having Mason's sister Tresa back from Afghanistan has been so great. We missed her a lot and it's fun to have someone else to hang out with.

The other day Tresa planned an awesome tea party for the kids. The day before we went to the DI and got hats and dresses for the girls and a tie for Max.
I found cute cowboy hats so I had Jack wear one.
Max and the girls took the tea party pretty seriously, pinky's up and all. It was awesome.
Tresa did such a good job keeping up the illusion of the fancy tea party and her playlist of Disney songs playing in the background made it fun.