California Christmas Break 2023

We went to California during Christmas break.

We started off with an early 4:30 a.m. wake up time so the kids could go do baptisms with the youth from our ward.  We picked them up at the temple and then went to Kneaders for breakfast.  This was our "reward" for reading 30 days in the Book of Mormon. Their french toast is sooooo good!

We stopped at a gas station in Las Vegas where they had the replica of the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.  Emily wanted her picture taken by it.

Tyler and Emily at the Barstow McDonalds.

Eating breakfast at Grandma's house

I had to take a picture of this picture of Darrell's mom and dad-Carol and Wayne-when they were younger.  Tyler looks an awful lot like Wayne.

We had a fun time recreating pictures.  

 

Especially at our favorite neighborhood park.

 

 

And we just enjoyed creating new memories at the park.

 

  

 

 

 

We went to Medieval Times with Carol and Darrell's sister-Brenda.  It was so fun!

 

 

We were rooting for the Green Knight.

We were served a tomato bisque and garlic bread, a half of a chicken, corn on the cob and a half potato wedge, plus a yummy eclair for dessert.

 

 

We saw a VERY decorated house.

 

Our gift exchange with Grandma and Brenda.

When the kids were little, they would take turns sleeping with the adults.  Now they just have a sleepover on the front floor.

One day we took the AquaLink water taxi from Los Alamitos Bay to downtown Long Beach and back.  It was a rainy day and we mostly stayed inside the boat on the way over,  but then the sun came out and we went out on the deck on the way back.

 

 

 

 

Cyprus High School varsity team was playing at a tournament about an hour away, so Tyler and I went to the final game.  It was fun to be there to see them win.

 

New Years Eve was a rainy day.  We mainly just stayed inside, watched bowl games, did puzzles and played games.

Our New Years Eve dinner of lasagna and a yummy cake from Costco.

We rang in the New Year with tiaras, horns and "champagne poppers."

I had to take a picture of Carol's traditional stuffed bear display.

We were able to gather with Brenda and her family (we were just missing Jeff's wife Farrin) for family pictures.  It was so wonderful to be together and the pictures turned out beautifully!

Carol with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Back row: Matt, Carol, Addison, David and Jeff

Front row: Megan, Emily, Tyler and Kayden

Brenda, Carol and Darrell

Us with Carol

Afterwards Steve and Brenda treated us to pizza at Me and Ed's. I apparently didn't get a picture of all of us, but I did get one of the kids playing the video games with Kayden.

We stopped in Primm, NV on the way back and tried Pinkbox Donuts.

 

We always love when we can visit California and it's always hard to come back.