We went to California for Christmas this year. Shane had to repair a floor in Los Angeles (Compton to be exact; not the best part of town), so we had 2 choices; Christmas in California WITH Dad, and all of the family there OR Christmas in Idaho ALL ALONE IN THE SNOW. Actually, I guess there really wasn't a choice at all. . .
We left a day later than expected; snow can be a big deterrent. We drove to Las Vegas and spent the night - me, Shane, Tacey, Dallin, McCade and Koda - yes, the dog got to go get warm too. Actually, we love him and all, but we really would like to find someone willing to babysit him. He has become a much better traveler though; doogie Valium certainly helps, and it did give him the opportunity to play with one of his other favorite humans - ANDREA!
We got up VERY early the next morning; that wasn't all that hard considering we didn't sleep really well at the hotel anyway. I think it was due to the unfortunate events that transpired on our trip down last year.
(For those of you that don't know, we stayed in what will always be referred to as The-City-That-Should-Not-Be-Slept-In and awoke the next morning to find we were the victims of a great deal of theft. Lots of computers, iPods, phones, cameras, personal information - basically VERY important stuff stolen. All-in-all about $7,000.00. HOWEVER, we were grateful that they seemed to not be able to see Christmas presents, so the trip was still nice for the kids.)
Anyway, this year, EVERY small noise made us jump; not very restful. We drove Shane to L.A. and then I drove myself and the kids down to San Diego. Ahhhh, a real couch and meals that are prepared by a loving mother not some random teenager whom is working for minimum wage. Then Monday after a long, painful trip on the treadmill, Andrea and I hit the ground running and braved the Christmas shopping crowds with a pre-shopping energy stop at Cotijas - I LOVE that place! Shane was able to leave the jobsite and come down to San Diego that night. On Tuesday, Shane and I went shopping; just time together, it was nice. Then we went out to dinner as a family to Fuddruckers, YUMMY! 
I was so full when we left! McCade wasn't, but we WON'T go into that. . . lets just say that the Fuddruckers story will be one we will pull out and tell him and his wife when he has an uncooperative, willful child. Wednesday was Christmas Eve. It is ALWAYS a marathon from about noon on Christmas Eve until the morning of the 26th - so HERE IT GOES!
I was so full when we left! McCade wasn't, but we WON'T go into that. . . lets just say that the Fuddruckers story will be one we will pull out and tell him and his wife when he has an uncooperative, willful child. Wednesday was Christmas Eve. It is ALWAYS a marathon from about noon on Christmas Eve until the morning of the 26th - so HERE IT GOES!We started the day with a trip to the Wild Animal Park. 
We got year passes LAST Christmas, and they were some of the best gifts we have EVER received. 
We made a very passionate plea for the same things this year (stay tuned to see if we get our wish. . .) We hiked up to Condor Ridge, we had never done that before. 
We had a great time looking at all the different gardens they have up there. It air was cool, so the animals were active. No one was in the park, so we just walked and looked and had fun!
Poor Shane, as always, was on call. 
He saw most of the Wild Animal Park like this. The best part was watching a ferret (I can't remember what kind), named Snake get fed. My PERSONAL favorite was McCade's pronounciation of Sumatran when we were looking for the tigers.
We got year passes LAST Christmas, and they were some of the best gifts we have EVER received. We made a very passionate plea for the same things this year (stay tuned to see if we get our wish. . .) We hiked up to Condor Ridge, we had never done that before. We had a great time looking at all the different gardens they have up there. It air was cool, so the animals were active. No one was in the park, so we just walked and looked and had fun!Poor Shane, as always, was on call. He saw most of the Wild Animal Park like this. The best part was watching a ferret (I can't remember what kind), named Snake get fed. My PERSONAL favorite was McCade's pronounciation of Sumatran when we were looking for the tigers.There are a lot of welcome freeloaders at the Wild Animal Park.
We were walking, enjoying the day when we came upon this herd (?) of deer. They are San Diego natives, and enjoy the safety and plentiful food within the park. We walked quietly and slowly; they let us get pretty darn close to them.
McCade then took possession of the camera; I have alot of random pictures of trees, and rocks and whatnot - this is one he took of his favorite animals; Giraffes.
Yep, you've probably seen a picture similar to this in an earlier blog. We try to stop at the same places and take basically the same pictures. It is fun to see how they have all grown through the years.
We always go see a movie on Christmas Eve, this year it was 'Bolt' in Disney Digital 3D. These are our cool 3D glasses. The kids are showing how cool they really are. . . Then back to the house for tamales (more yum) and then a trip down to my Godmother's house for a Christmas Eve similar to the ones I remember from when I was a little girl. When I was a little girl Santa ALWAYS took a little side trip and brought me a little present at my house earlier in the evening. It was a really nice thing to be able to relax and enjoy Christmas and sleep because I didn't have to worry about whether or not he was going to show up! Well, now he makes the stop at my Godmother's house. He, being the all-knowing person he is, knew the kids were going to be there and brought little gifts for them. 
Now, the proof that this is THE REAL Santa is that neither Shane nor I nor my sister Andrea took any presents with us when we went there. The real Santa knows you are going to be there and is prepared.
Tacey gets tired of trying to convince people she is Mexican; I can identify with that problem. Granted, it is a much harder sell with big blue eyes. This is Tacey and my grandma (her great-grandma). She wanted this picture so she could prove to her friends that she is Mexican. 
I got to see and spend a little time with cousins I haven't seen in way too long; it was a Christmas present for my heart. . .Then back to my Mom's house to sleep and get ready for Santa!
The next morning, the kids were ordered not to bother anyone before 7:00 am. When we finally did let them get up, we made them sit at the top of the stairs and wait while we all looked at their presents and stockings from Santa. Now that I am a parent, I get great joy in torturing my children the same way I was tortured as a child.
Heh, heh, heh
Picture at the top of the stairs; even Koda posed for the picture.
Dallin
McCade
We were all happy to have our Zoo/Wild Animal Park Memberships renewed. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then we went to my Dad's house for MORE Christmas. I don't seem to have any pictures from there. Maybe because I was too busy eating and opening presents and pretending I was my grandpa and chasing every piece of trash to keep some semblance of order. Then back to my Mom's house for traditional turkey and all the appropriate side dishes.
The next day Shane had to leave again, and we just tried to recuperate from all the Christmas. On Saturday my cute cousin Cindy got married. I have to say it has been a long time since I saw a couple so excited at their own wedding. It was fun.
Okay, so now I need to get up early to go watch the boys play basketball and get Tacey to work - but that is information for the upcoming blog I will post tomorrow!
'Night!
Danielle
