California Love

I hope you are all humming that song as you begin to read about our visit to Cali because we love California and we definitely were very loved while visiting there.

First and foremost, it was so so so nice to be with Brandon again!

When we woke up in the morning, this was the first few minutes daddy had with Lisi:


We really loved celebrating Christmas with our different family units and enjoying their traditions. The Woodlands have a Christmas Eve extravaganza complete with shrimp cocktail, cranberry chicken, sweet potatoes, steak, and several pies for dessert! They also do a reading of the Christmas story from Luke, singing of Christmas songs, and we all share a talent/activity/tradition. This year I was asked to talk about Chanukah and Brandon's dad and Grandpa talked about their Swedish heritage.




We had a wonderful week with the Woodlands: got to visit with all of Brandon's siblings (first we arrived, then a few days later Sean came (and the brothers got to bond playing basketball, etc.),

then a few days after that Shari and Ammon came!), we hung out with his paternal grandparents two different times,

saw my dad and Bev for a few hours one day,


and even got to take a 24 hour trip to Pacific Grove/Monterey for our anniversary leaving Lisi with the Woodlands (a first to leave her for a full day and night without us!)




Their house was beautifully decorated for Christmas, complete with a Christmas tree Debbie and Carl had cut down, nativities Alyse could play with, Debbie's Christmas village houses all lit up, fireplace warming us up during the cool evenings, and as much hot chocolate and homemade cinnamon rolls as you could want. We got outside every day to enjoy the mild temperatures and went running, to the park, and to Santa Cruz to hang out and see the sea lions.

It was a treat to be able to all be there at the same time and Brandon's folks were so accomodating to all of us! Sean even slept on an air mattress for several nights so Alyse could continue to have her own room. And, Alyse got really spoiled with all of the attention she got from all of her uncles


and her Aunt Shari...

For some reason I don't have pictures of Lisi with Uncle Ammon, but let me just say she LOVED him snd smiled when he walked in the room!

Goes without saying that Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Carl spoiled her too :)




Grandma Debbie has a collection of toys and books she's started for Alyse and all the other grandkids that will be joining the family some day...Alyse loved being able to hang out in the living room and play with the toys!


Then, we all headed to Utah together...