California, Here We Come!

We left our house on December 11th for a two day road trip to Southern California. We stayed at Steph's mom's house for 10 nights before heading north to spend Christmas with Greg's family. We were there for 5 nights before taking the two day trip home.

Please grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, relax, and enjoy our trip! Beware, it's a loooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggg post!

Day 1

First stop - Taco Bell!
It's very rare that our children fall asleep in the car, but it actually happened by 9pm this day!


Day 2

We stayed in Yreka, CA overnight and on the road the next day, we enjoyed the scenery, including Mt. Shasta covered in snow!

Day 3

We really wanted to arrive by Saturday morning so that we could attend the annual Johnson/Anderson Christmas party that happened to be in Redlands this year. We were on our way out the door when one of our children (who shall remain nameless) locked the bathroom door and closed it while the toilet was running and needed to be stopped. Here's Steph taking the doorknob off to get into the bathroom!Here we are at the wonderful Bruckners. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of Ev and Joanne!
Day 4

We spent some time with Grandpa Mel and Grandma Mimi!

After dinner, we visited with some friends of ours whose husbands were Greg's roommates while we were dating.

The Coates Family
The Powells
This is the Balian Mansion in Altadena. I (Steph) grew up about 1/2 mile south of here and it was an annual tradition to visit this spectacle of lights.
Day 5

Greg's parents were in Southern California for the Saturday get together, so they stayed down there in anticipation of us going to Disneyland on Tuesday. Unfortunately, while Seattle was getting the snowstorm of the decade, we ended up with a few rainy days! We made the most of it and Grandma Pauline and Grandpa Clayton hung out with us at Steph's mom's house.

The Grandma's - Grandma Pauline and Grandma Louise

(photograph taken by Caroline)
Playing Mexican Train dominoes

For dinner that night, we joined some of Greg's college friends.

The Gillis-Smith Family

The deVos Family

Day 6

We had planned on going to Disneyland on Tuesday, but the weather was still iffy, so we postponed it until Thursday. Our first stop was for lunch at our favorite: In 'n Out!

Next stop - Travel Town!

You can't tell, but we really are all on this train!

Almost right next to Travel Town, is the cemetery where some of Steph's family is buried. We visited and showed Caroline who she was named after - Steph's wonderful Grandma Caroline who passed away about 6 months before she was born.
That night after the kids were in bed, I was able to visit with an old friend from Jr. High that I had recently gotten back in touch with on Facebook!
Day 7Wednesday brought more rain to Southern California. (What happened to sunny and 70 degrees?!) We took the kids to the Santa Anita (now Westfield) Mall to burn off some energy. They played and walked, rode the double decker carousel and the little train. Trevor was asleep at Grandma Louise's through this adventure.

They had a chance to talk to Santa too!

That night, we all went to eat at Chili's Restaurant. Caroline has decided to take up photography, so here are some of her recent portraits.

While we were at Chili's, we gave the kids sweatshirts with Disney characters as our way to surprise them with the next day's trip to Disneyland. Grandma Louise is holding Trevor, who is eating a coaster. Yum.

After the kids went to bed, I had a chance to go out with my friend Peggy. We taught together at Foothill Christian before our family moved to Washington and she and her husband also sang at our wedding!

Day 8

Day 9

Grandma and Grandpa's truck and trailer. They stopped by before heading home!

We bought Trevor a souvenir Mickey Mouse while at Disneyland!

Day 10

We spent Saturday with Anne and Lance, and their boys Josh and Sam.

Day 11

We took the kids to the Monrovia Historical Museum on Sunday. This is where Greg and I were married July 13, 1996! It was fun to share this with the kids and it so happened that the museum was open for a few hours right when we stopped by, so we were able to get a bit of Monrovia history.

There is an adjacent park that we also enjoyed! Unfortunately, Trevor was napping at Grandma's house once again!
Rubios for dinner!

Day 12

Before we left for Greg's parents, Grandma Louise gave the kids some crazy remote control cars. They love them!

On the road again...

Day 13

Trevor had a cough and cold the entire trip thus far. Once we arrived in the Modesto area, we decided it was best to have him see a doctor. He was diagnosed with croup and some wheezing. Both required some medication and we are so thankful that we took him in!

That night, we took a walk down Christmas Tree Lane near Grandma Pauline's and Grandpa Clayton's house.



Day 14

Uncle Don, Aunt Paula, Vanessa and Rebecca arrived late the night before. The cousins had a blast playing together!

Making Christmas cookies with Grandma.
Caroline
Erica
Kyle
Rebecca
Vanessa
My lovely tree!
All dressed up for the Christmas Eve service!
The kids always get new pajamas on Christmas Eve!



Having fun with Uncle Don!
Each child chose one of their cookies to leave out for Santa and the reindeer.
We read a book of "Silent Night" before going to bed.

Day 15

Christmas Morning!

Santa and the reindeer ate all of the cookies and carrots! He even drank all of his milk!

Discovering the presents and stockings...








Here are a few pictures of the kids with their gifts.

A new Mickey Mouse outfit for Trevor!

Lincoln Logs for Kyle!
Erica was SO pleasantly surprised to receive this coat and boots to go with it!

A sing-a-long CD player for Caroline!

Grandma Pauline worked hard all year to make these beautiful sweaters for all of her grandkids!
Later in the day, Grandma was teaching Erica how to knit.
Caroline was a snow princess!
Trevor wouldn't stop climbing up on the bench near the TV.

Kyle couldn't stop playing with his new trash truck!

Later that night, it was time for some Mexican Train!
Day 16

Our kids opened up the rest of their Chanukah presents from Grandma Louise the next morning.
Sleeping Beauty toy figurines and...
a Sleeping Beauty DVD!
Fun socks for Steph and a cute outfit for Trevor!
A book about the Night Sky
Some glow in the dark stars and a moon for their room!
Travel Scrabble!
A Digital Photo Album for Greg!

Later that afternoon, we had an Open House at Clayton and Pauline's for any and all of the extended family in the area.

Cousin Steve with Christina and Rebecca. Cindy had to work. :( Uncle Reuben and Aunt Marilyn
Aunt Paula (finally got her in a picture!) with Aunt Maureen
Cousin Mike
Cousin David with Camryn and Trevor
Aunt Paula with Caroline
Cousins!
Cousin Debbie, Marissa and their friend, Julio.
A Playdough parade!
Uncle Bob, Aunt Maureen and cousin Avery.
Aunt Joanne, Juliet and David with Camryn and Caitlin, Jason and Cheryl
Later that night, Mike gave us a tour of the firestation!

We ended the night with Greg's lifelong friend, Dan, coming over for a visit!

Day 17

All good things must come to an end, and on Saturday, we had to leave to head home to Washington while Don, Paula and the girls headed off to more vacation in Hawaii!

Grandma and Grandpa with all of their grandkids!

On the road once more!

Day 18
We stayed in Grant's Pass, Oregon at this lovely little Holiday Inn Express. So tired after a long vacation!

This is somewhere just on the north end of Salem, Oregon. Greg did a great job taking this picture while I was driving up I-5!

And we are home! We've been home now for two weeks and after the initial adjustment to not being around friends and family 24/7, we are back into somewhat of a routine. We will always cherish our memories from this trip!

If you looked through this entire post and all of the pictures, thank you!