SoCal, Chloee and early Christmas fun

Let me start of by saying, I have one fantastic husband.  Books me a flight and sends me to my kids for a week since they can't come home for Christmas.  I packed all of their Christmas, checked an extra bag and headed for sun, warmth and all the lovin I could get!

Warning - a lot of pictures....... you can totally skip this if you want to

Aren't they just the cutest family?  I'm sad that they can't come home, yet it gives them a chance to establish their own traditions.  We had them open our gifts the first night.  We skyped in Splenda and videotaped it all.  So much fun to see them happy!

At the USMC family Holiday Festival (of which I wrote a little bit about here), we noticed that they hung the sign that had been made in October.  Handprints of the children of Marine's.  We found Chloee's right off

We had lazy mornings just snuggling, having "conversations", and playing games

Lunch at McSlop shop is always good

Taking in a movie.....  I loved the Muppet Movie, but Chloee was a little bored.  I think it was really targeted to those of us that grew up watching the show.

Some playing at the park

A burying Mimi in the pillow pets

 

Their ward party was "A night in Bethlehem"  Including a small petting zoo outside at the entrance

Chloee wasn't particularly interested in petting anything.  Not even the bunny.  We tried, but she wanted nothing to do with them

They started the decorations outside with the tiki torches and palm fronds everywhere

The missionaries were stationed at the entrance and gave you your gold coins to enter the town and purchase your food

I have never seen something decorated so nicely and as authentic as you could possibly get within a ward cultural hall.  Almost everyone was in costume (we weren't)

They had a large canopy over the city

And a cobble stone path through town

Families brought their own blankets to spread out and eat on

Lot's of scenery to make you feel like you really were in a different place.  This one was set up so you could pose for pictures if you wanted

In the center of the town was a water well.  You could get fresh water for your drinking glass from there if you wanted.  NGL - pretty cool

At the start of the food line.  Chloee asking for her kids meal : )

It was a nice dinner that many ward members pitched in to provide.  Pulled pork over rice, salad, veggies, fruits, pita bread and hummus and then a variety of desserts to choose from

After we ate, and before the program, Chloee was humming with happiness and silliness!  "Take a picture of me Mimi" was repeated over and over again!

Seriously, aren't those the most gorgeous eyes you have ever seen?

The young men were dressed as the Roman soldiers - nice touch

For the program they played a video depicting the birth of Jesus and then we all sang a few hymns

After that, the kids all lined up in a different area of the building to see Santa!

Chloee found a friend from her Primary class

At home, Chloee had made a Christmas countdown and loved taking a ring off every morning

We tried to build a gingerbread house from a kit

It was fun, but the end result was an EPIC fail!  Chloee didn't care, she still loved it!

My days went by way too fast!  Before I could even blink it was time to take me back to the airport! : (

I'm so glad that Splenda makes it a priority for us to visit.  I'm glad that they are as close as they are (Can you imagine if he got stationed in Japan?)  And I'm more than glad to be able to be a small part of their cute family!

Merry Christmas to my SoCal kids!

Thanksgiving day 2011 - Wrap up

HAH!  Since I did no Halloween post, I felt the urge to include theeee Cutest Care Bear in all the land!

So, when Corbin got married and had Chloee, and Luke left on his mission, I decided it was time to break off from the extended family dinners and do our own.  Since we all know, I don't cook very well and I am usually doing some sort of Turkey Trot the morning of the big day, I voted we make a new tradition of....wait for it......The Golden Corral.

I knew Corb, Kar and Chloee wouldn't be coming in for Thanksgiving, Tuffy and 'Tana would be going to her family so that left Luke, Splenda and me.   Splenda's family was having the HUGE get together since fam from LV were coming.  I succumbed to the peer pressure and so that's where we ended up.

I made my famous pumpkin dessert, baked a Marie Callendar's frozen pie and whipped up a huge batch of mashed potatoes.  I grabbed some boxes of Stove Top stuffing since I heard a rumor that it hadn't been assigned and since we all know how high class I am, the boxes were on hand in case, indeed the rumor was true.

(I'm tellin ya - that the real shiz right here.  The bomb.com!  One of the very few things I can make and am proud of!)

Splenda's sister reserved the local LDS meeting house, and between her and his Mom, they had the place all decorated and looking nice by the time we got there.

And to start it off right.......

Any guesses where my place is?  Thanks to my SIL from LV!  She had my back.  Yes, she did!

I don't know about your family gatherings, but this group can never start on time.  Dinner was set at 2pm, but we didn't eat until 3:30.  Which, in part is frustrating, but does allow time for chatting, laughs and a lot of screwing around.

I was glad that Tuff and 'Tan were able to join us for a little bit.  By the time we actually ate, they were scarfing and hustling off to her family.

Clearly, I DO NOT LIKE MY FOOD TO TOUCH!

And where's the stuffing?  Splenda took matters into his hands and got those boxes whipped up!

After sufficiently feasting on yummy, traditional food, it was time to bring out the desserts!

Oh mama - there was some good ones!

My funny nephews (and a niece)

And then, if you can believe it, Jan asked for some help making some snowflakes for her RS activity.  After Splenda made me pee a little by asking if it required ovaries, I decided to give it a try.  That's right, I actually attempted to make a 'craft'

Let the record reflect that there is indeed some Christmas foil in my hands, WITH SCISSORS and I am cutting a snowflake. 

I only could manage three of them, but hey - I consider it a Thanksgiving miracle

After cleaning up, we headed to ANOTHER local LDS meetinghouse and joined 'Tana's family just in time for a rousing game of dodgeball! 

EVERY family should play dodgeball on Thanksgiving - it.is.AWESOME!

Luke and Tuffy discussing strategies

The other team in action

Jumping and dodging and huckin balls - all fun stuff

Making another run for it!

Dayton's team had everyone out but him.  He had all four balls so he was lining up and deciding his best strategy.  The fun rules were that if you actually shot and made a basket with the dodgeball, your entire team could come back in.  Made for some dang good fun! And the best line of the night?  Poor kid takes a ball in the face, some quiet tears as he heads off to the sidelines, a shout from the other team "It's okay, I hit him, but it's okay, he's my kid"

I don't know who that woman was but I fell in love with her.

Later at my house, Splenda, Luke, Mike, Rosa, Robert, Ryan, and eventually Tuffy and 'Tana came over.  I forgot to get a picture but imagine if you will - all 8 of us, plus 3 dogs packed into my bedroom, on the bed, the floor and chairs watching the Thanksgiving episode of Modern Family.  SO FUN!

After our guests left, Luke pulled up the movie Memento and amazingly I was able to stay awake for it.  I didn't get it and it had to be explained, but overall - good film.

What a great day it was.  We got a few minutes on Skype with our SoCal kids, lot's of time with Splenda's side, and then family time with just my kids. 

Best part?  I slept in while Splenda hit the Black Friday doorbusters  - perfect ending!