Christmas and New Years 2014

This is a ridiculously long post, but what Holiday posts aren't?

This year, we stayed home in Northern California for Christmas, and went down to Southern California to my parents house for New Years. It was definitely a memory-filled couple of weeks with lots of family, my favorite. 

Christmas Eve was spent wrapping presents and dinner with family. Delightful. I let Ellie help wrap some of Caleb's presents which she loved. 

This is how Mickey helped us; always so generous. Love that guy.

Afterward, Tristan and I celebrated with some bubbly. We were in bed by midnight I'd say. Not bad.

Christmas morning, we woke up and showered/bathed (I still don't know how we managed that) and had a great time opening gifts on this sunny morning. 

Stockings.

Lots and lots and lots of stuffed animals. 

They loved their baby Minny and Mickey.

And their wagon!

The aftermath wasn't too bad.

And I loved the following hours spent playing...

...and putting things together...

...and relaxing (all cool, no shooting' bball though)...

...and sharing.

I dub this picture "It's a Wonderful Life."

Then Ellie helped me make rolls. She loves being in the kitchen. Way more than me.  Then we went over to my in-laws and had a cooked goose! Just kidding, but it was definitely a Christmas feast with lots of fun involved. 

Including, but not limited too, a grueling 500 piece puzzle. It took us a few days, but with team work and Mickey's smart brain, we accomplished it! I've decided I like puzzles, but only if Mickey's there. I don't really know why, but I think it's because he always offers hilarious commentary (sometimes a little insulting) that keeps me coming back for more! 

Tristan's dad's gift also provided a big source of entertainment for us over the next few days. Can you spot the helicopter? It took Tristan a little bit to figure out how to not crash it (and then even more on how to control it), but once Mickey took the metaphorical reigns, he was able to add some valuable insights into the maneuvering and controlling of the 6-inch little beast (I can say beast having been struck by the thing). His turn with the helicopter always involved impressive obstacle courses with a lot less crashing than Tristan. I sound like I'm being a little harsh with Tristan's helicopter-navigating skills, but given the opportunity, he wouldn't deny the truthfulness of this paragraph.

Post Christmas days were fun also. I got an RC car from my work Christmas party that has been an endless source of entertainment. While Tristan likes to perform stunts and tricks when it's his turn, I take pleasure in chasing the kids with it and ramming into their bicycles. I'd say Mickey was a mixture of both. And Caleb, sporting his little RC car, was also fun.

After enjoying a few relaxing days...

...and taking down all the Christmas decorations...

...we left Monday morning and took the 7-hour drive to Southern California.

Here's a well-known fact about the boys in my family: they like getting their backs scratched. I mean, who doesn't, but I'd say their's borderlines on obsessive. I don't mind though because they'll pretty much do anything for you if you offer to scratch their back. I'm not sure how Mickey coerced Ellie into doing this, but I applaud you sir. I'm always trying to get her to do that. 

We finally arrived home and were met by my parents and siblings. We were missing my two older brothers who had to work, but we love them anyway. First things first: exchanging gifts.

(After riding the stationary bike with Stevie's beanie on of course. Priorities, people.)

The only two grandkids on my side of the family were, as always, spoiled by their grandparents not only with gifts, but attention and kisses. Ellie and Caleb looooove going to Grammy and Grampy's. Ellie had, in fact, been packing for weeks before it was time to go.

My dad is also really good at spoiling my mom.

Grandkids with their grandparents. Love these four!!

Had to throw in these glam shots of Brittany and Stevie.

And Mickey and Brittany.

And Brittany and Ellie. Haha.

Andrew and Tristan. I'm not sure where the other BIL is!

Warners minus two.

One of the best parts, in my opinion, about being with your family is being with your sisters and mom. Girls need girl time. We did hair, nails, make-up, complimented each other nonstop and generally gushed about the loveliness of each other's hair, blouses, newest nail-polish color, you know, things of high importance.

And grammy spent lots of time spoiling these kids with attention. It was appreciated.

On New Years Eve, we went to the park and embraced our inner-child. It was surprisingly cold the whole week we were down, but that didn't stop us!

Ellie, Caleb, and my mom swinging 'til they couldn't swing no more.

And my mom, spinning Mickey on the spinny thing. (Which consequently gave him a headache the rest of the night.)

Andrew and Stevie on a twisting object and Mickey on a turning device. (I'm running out of names for these strange, but exciting park equipment. I've never seen a park quite like it!)

Tristan doing what he does best; being the best dad.

Also this park literally had an outdoor exercise area (for kids 12 and up) that we obviously had to mess around on.

Britt, Ellie, and Stevie. She loves her aunties.

Also, I have to post this hilarious vid of Mickey playing with Ellie.

This was yet another strange play-thing at the park. But you know kids, they can be imaginative. And by kids I mean educated adult men.

This is when Britt, Stevie, and Andrew ganged up and bucked Mickey right off. I wish I could tell you he landed on his face because it looks like it's going that way! But I took a consecutive picture and he regained his balance and was perfectly fine. Sorry Mick, always rootin' for your demise apparently! Older sister can't help herself, it's in the blood.

New Years Eve was great! Okay, I don't really know. The only time I got out was to go to the park. I actually was bed-ridden with a massive headache that tylenol wouldn't alleviate. And being pregnant (post to follow), we're quite limited on what we can consume. Both medicinally and food-wise. Thank goodness for my husband and family, who took really good care of Caleb and Ellie and allowed them to enjoy the holiday. I heard them playing games downstairs as I lay in bed contemplating life and it's adventures, and was so grateful to hear lots of laughter and praises being made by my siblings for my little ones. I thought I loved them, but this takes it to a whole new level. So all was not totally lost! Especially because the next day I was back to normal and able to enjoy my vacay! 

On New Years day we went to Scandia! Which is like the Disneyland of Ontario and its surrounding cities. Well maybe Six flags would be a better comparative. No, not even that. It's just too unique. This was the place to be as kids and teenagers, reasonable price with big and little kid rides. Ellie and Caleb loved it, and so did the older people.

It was great because there was basically no one there which meant no lines! Mickey and Tristan are the only ones on that roller coaster ride up there. 

We also hit up some go carts! Caleb was too little, but Ellie was able to ride with an adult and loved it. It wasn't fast enough for her I guess because she kept telling Tristan and grammy to go faster!

I got this great shot of Mickey, my mom, and Britt right after a fun ride that involved Mickey somehow bumping Brittany to the side and then she had to be towed back because she didn't have enough power to get up the next hill. He was pretty proud of himself, obviously. And if anyone knows Brittany, then we weren't surprised she had to be towed back. 

Ellie with her various racing partners. 

She's a cool cat.

Am I right or am I right? 

Ellie and Gma on the dumbo ride. (It actually wasn't dumbo but that's what Ellie called it).

This place has a mini roller coaster that was perfect for my little four-year old. And 27-year olds. And 24-year olds with his pregnant 25-year old sister. See? Rides for all ages!
Mickey's face in the picture on the left... one of the many reasons I miss him.

Britt, Stevie, and me. Sisters. We love each other. Always have.

(Really though, we never fought while growing up, and we certainly don't now.)

I think this might have been Ellie's favorite ride. Caleb loved it too. My mom and I loved it mainly because the kids loved it.

The carousel's always a hit!

Even for grandmas. Man, I love her. 

Mickey and Andrew spent considerable amount of time in the arcade. I like how Tristan is creeper-status watching them. 

Course the kiddos loved the arcade too. 

My mom wears her sunglasses inside too; she's just hipster that way, don't follow no rules.

We left for a few hours and had lunch/naps and then came back for more fun!

I meeeeean, how excited is Ellie by this expression??

And my mom's? Victory!

The next day we had to un-expectantly leave a day early. We were so sad to leave, especially since it was my mom's birthday. I swear her kids always leave her on her day of birth. It ain't right. One day, we will all make it up to you mom, that's a promise. But at least we had a great week filled with many more memories than these pictures show. Not many things more important than bonding with your family. Even just sitting around talking is a treat.

I will end with this video because I love my mom's excitement at the end. We love you mom!