Full House

The holidays. Every year we alternate what holiday we spend with which family. This year, Christmas was with my family and we hosted.

Fourteen people (only two in diapers), four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Seven kids, ages 2 to 10. Quarters were close and the volume level exceedingly high at times. It was the first time in years that so much of the family was together. Only my brother-in-law and youngest sister were unable to attend.

What a fantastic Christmas! Talking, game playing, eating, laughing. I have the best family. I really do. And, for the record, they are also some of the best cooks. I have the waist-line to prove it.

Most people thought we were crazy to do it. I think we would have been crazy not to. Life is too short and family too important to pass up such a great opportunity.

The only thing better than a holiday with everybody at my house is a holiday with everybody at another family member's house. Thanksgiving next year. Who's going to volunteer?

On a completely unrelated note, last week I played Risk, as I always do, once every 7 to 10 years. Normally that wouldn't be newsworthy except for the fact that I won! For the first time ever, I WON a game of Risk, and won it handily, too. I'm a loser no more.

New Year

Ah, 2014, you couldn't get here fast enough, you wonderful new year, you!

It seems as if we always ring in the new year with somebody getting sick.  Last year my oldest got a stomach bug shortly after midnight.  This year I was out of commission with a terrible cold.

Even with the terrible start to this year, it is already 10 times better than last.  I for one have never looked forward to putting a year behind me more than I have 2013.

I usually think New Year's resolutions are silly.  They're just a thing to do then forget about before the month is up.  This year, however, I am making one and I WILL be sticking to it.

Cheers to a fantastic new year.  May yours be even better than the last.
 

The Other Side

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.  Sometimes you get over there and realize it's not even grass at all.  Instead it's a noxious, green cloud rising from a rotten, foul-smelling, slimy pile of crap.

My Big Return

Since I will no longer be on Facebook, I am going to get back into the habit of updating my blog.  What better way to start than this?

Thank you to my sister for sending this with me.  The Voice and funny sounds, two of my favorite things.  You know me so well, Snodgrass.

Once Every Couple Years Update.

I have a blog!  I guess I've been busy enough the last couple years that I forgot.  Now that I've remembered, and actually found it again, maybe I'll update it more often, like once a year, or perhaps twice.  Gasp!

Here is the short version of what has been going on the last 19 months:

Life, growing kids, laughter.

That's it in a nutshell.

Until next year then.

Roll on

Baby Boy added more miles to his total this week.  We have only 3710 to go to make 12k by 12 months.  I lose a little more sanity with each passing mile.

Long Trip Blues

This was not a good day.  By now, both boys were sick, and we could tell we were getting it, too.  Still, the hubby and I managed to be up plenty early, and made ourselves busy with the packing, as we were headed to Yosemite.  The boys, surprisingly, slept in.

We checked out and were on our way.  This was the part of the trip I had most looked forward to, but now, all I wanted was a plane ticket home.

The traffic was terrible, almost a standstill in places.  Unlike the quirky, Southern California surfer vibe of Long Beach, the drive north through the L.A. area was gross.  Abandoned and rundown buildings, graffiti, and garbage.  Everywhere, garbage.  Does anybody there care that nobody seems to care?

None of us were looking forward to more hours in the van.  Our oldest was bored and sad that all his friends were already almost an hour further down the road.  It was insanely hot outside.  And still, the road stretched on.

The road narrowed and was one curve followed by another.  I'm sure it was pretty, but I couldn't tell.  I had to focus directly ahead of us.  Motion sickness, again.

Finally Yosemite and the giant sequoias.  I had so been looking forward to some sequoias.  Even they didn't help.  We took some pictures to enjoy later and moved on.  It was time to end the day relaxing at a beautiful, historic inn.

That didn't turn out as planned either, but that's a story for another post.

Fish, Fish and More Fish

I cannot believe that we have been back from our trip for a week now.  I stopped writing about it because I was getting a cold by this time and was pretty worn out.  That, and the hotel's internet was down.

We met up with my brother, his wife, and their two adorable kids at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.  It was a really neat place.  Our son especially enjoyed all the little touch pools they have throughout.  Anenomes, rays, jellyfish, he "petted" them all, over and over again.  I could hardly bear to watch, let alone touch one myself!  The boy soaked it all in.  He wants to be a scuba diver, so it really was a great place to take him.  I just wish we hadn't gone on homeschool day.

After we left, we drove down the road a piece until we found a beach.  It was easy enough to find one, but we got separated from my brother's family on the way.  Busy street, no brother, and my phone was in the back of the van, ringing.  Oops!

The beach was WAY cool!  Californians sure know how to do beaches.  Shells were found, sand was dug, pictures taken and feet waded out into the Pacific.  My boy has now been to both oceans.  Unfortunately, we had very little time at the beach, as we promised the kiddo he could swim at the pool.  Next trip, we are spending more time, hours, at the beach.

Off to the hotel during rush hour.  What do we do?  Miss our exit!  Did I mention rush hour?  Craziness!  The husband is good, though, and got us back where we needed to be.

Ended with some Bubba Gump's to go.  It was yummy.  I just wish we could have had the extra time with my brother's family.

From the Anaheim portion of the trip, we learned that we needed more time there.  We were definitely rushed the whole stay.  Even our visit with my brother was rushed.  As much as we all enjoyed the aquarium, our time may have been better spent relaxing at the beach.

Connected

After 48 hours without internet, and 24 hours without cell phone service, I am back.  I am far too tired to care that I am again "wired," so I'm logging off and going to bed, in our last hotel of the trip.  Bon nuit.

California Adventure

So much fun.  So little energy left.

Toy Story Mania, still one of the most amusing rides I've been on.  I laugh like a little girl.  A Bug's Land, the best shade in the whole park.  Nice place to kick back and nurse the baby.

Tower of Terror, a ride I have avoided for years.  Not this time.  I rode it. . . twice!  It helped to go with good friends for support, and some of their kids, so I wasn't the most terrified in the group.

Long afternoon nap at the hotel.  Back to the park for the Wonderful World of Color.  Spectacular!  Sore legs, colds, aching knee, sunburn, all fogotten for a few magical moments.  Disney knows how to end the day like no other.

Off to dream in color.