Oh the sunshine state! So Bryce and I flew to Oakland Friday evening where my dad and brother picked us up. We were very excited to be on holiday and be with family. We got home and Spencer and Miriam where already there getting the party started. Then Saturday morning we went back to Oakland to pick up Landon and Shelley. Celeste and Dave flew in a little later, so we played in San Francisco for the day! First, we got lunch - crab, clam chowder, shrimp....oh Fisherman's Wharf! Then we went on a boat tour of the bay.
It was so fun. Then we drove down to San Jose to pick up Celeste and Dave. The Cook Clan was complete! Sunday, we all went to church together. It was fun seeing so many people, but kids I babysat are now in high school or college! Then we came home and had a wonder ham dinner and Christmas evening of sharing memories, stories, and songs!
Monday, we got ready for Christmas Eve and went down to Grandma's house for dinner. It was the first time I had seen the house since it was remodeled and it looked great! We then ate amazing soups and drank as much sparkling cider as we could. Only at Grandma's house! After we did the nativity and it was so cute with all the little kids.
This little shepherd with sheep and dog were just too cute! Kids really do make holidays so magical and special. We then opened presents! My Grandma had made collages of each person from the pictures she had of us. I loved it! She also got me penguin ornaments that I can't wait to use next year!
Christmas morning was filled with excitement and tree was dwarfed by presents for 14 people. It was so fun and took two hours, but it was so fun especially being all together! Then of course the food was amazing. Cinnamon roll for breakfast, sweet'n'sour chicken for dinner, and everything else amazing in between. Unfortunately, as the day went on I started getting sick. Wednesday, I woke up not feeling well, but I pulled it together to go see Les Miserables, which was quite good! Thursday we filmed the music video along with have a birthday party for Shelley, Darin, and Mason. Friday, we said good bye to Spencer and Miriam and the boys along with David and Celeste. It was so sad to have part of the party leave!
Bryce and I then headed down to Concord to see his family. We had a big family dinner with his cousins in Fremont. I tried to be social, but I sounded like death. I also wanted to play with the kids, but I didn't want them to get sick so I tried to keep my distance. Saturday, we had a mini Christmas exchanging gifts and then we went shopping and played frisbee golf. It was a little cold and muddy, but still fun! We also went to the temple to see the lights and ate at a yummy italian place.
Two other highlights of the trip were seeing Blake and Peyton, and eat really good Mexican food (really miss good Mexican in Oregon or anywhere outside of California). Sunday, we went to church and then had a family dinner before we headed back to Santa Rosa.
For New Year's Eve day, we went to Armstrong woods for a picnic and hike, but it was colder than we expected so we ate in the car. That night, we played games and had fun until Midnight. Tuesday morning, Landon and Shelley went back to Utah and our numbers were dwindling quickly! After we went to the Oakland temple and then met up with Bryce's family at Fenton's for lunch and ice cream.
Sadly, our vacation was coming to end and I tried my hardest to not let Wednesday come. But it did and we got packed and headed back to Oregon. But oh the memories, relaxing, and wonderful family times we had. It truly was a Merry Christmas vacation and a Happy New Year!
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