HOLDIAY REVIEW: Thanksgiving '08

We spent THANKSGIVING 2008 in California with the Hunts.

Tuesday: Breakfast with Bapa & a Day at the LA ZOO

Warm enough to eat outside on Grandma's patio

Dad gave lots of shoulder rides at the zoo.

I'm probably a wee bit heaver than the kids. Check out Dan's face.

Wednesday: Disneyland

It was a perfect day. Overcast, a little chilly later on, and not super crowded. A miracle for the day before Thanksgiving! In fact, we got there early and rode our first three rides without even waiting in line. Nana, Bapa, Cherry & Rachie helped out with the kids throughout the day so Dan & I could ride some "big kid" rides too. We packed lunch in a cooler and ate out in the parking garage, where Dad snuck a quick nap. Of course the kids were way too riled up to be convinced to do the same. And who can blame them? I love, love, love Disneyland!

We all had a BLAST!

1st ride of the day: Pirates of the Carribean of course.

2nd ride of the day: Splash Mountain - we got SOAKED and it was CHILLY! We dried out eventually, but this explains why my hair is completely frizzed out the entire rest of the day.

Az in Pixie Hollow
Bella in Pixie Hollow. We actually got in trouble for letting them sit on the props - I didn't mind too much.
The girls during their 2 minutes with Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow. We stood in line for that longer than anything else all day! But Az & B thought it was totally worth it!

Submarine ride with Sarah, Sienna, Bella, Nana & Az

Dan, Calvin and I on the Submarine ride before we all dozed off there.
Az, B & Cousin Sienna with Aurora

Mulan & Jasmine would not stop "being in character" and making our kids look the other way over the fence for some reason. I finally had to be a teensy bit rude to make them look my direction.

Az & Cherry on Dumbo. We made it. I would NOT let Azure get out of line to go potty. Am I a mean Disnelyand momma? Maybe a little. But we were there to have fun not to go potty!

Nana & Bella

Hyrum & Pegah came around 1:00 in the afternoon...and took a second to pose with Cal - right after he dumped an entire water bottle on himself. But, what's new?

In line for Small World...an oldie but a goodie!

Calvin's favorite ride of the day: the Carousel, without a doubt! Just look at that smile! That right there makes it ALL worth it!

The end of the day, and we're all still smiling. It was fabulous! I love being with Dan and the kids when everyone is happy and enjoying themselves...everyone really had so much fun.

The crash...waiting for Nana to finish up shopping so we could head to the car. We couldn't complain too much, because she was shopping for our kiddos of course! AND, she took our kids home and put them in bed so we could stay an extra 2 hours and ride Space Mountain 3 times, and hit the Jungle Cruise - which was just as great in the dark.

Thursday: Thanksgiving

I don't have ANY pictures of this...probably because Dan & I were busy fixing Thanksgiving Dinner for the 20 people that were there. Hyrum did come later and make his scrumptious mashed potatoes...but we were pretty much in the kitchen all day...so no pics! Bummer!

The girls helped me set up and decorate tables in Grandma Zena's living room...they were really proud of themselves. They turned out pretty dang cute.

Friday: Bowling in Valencia Bapa & Bella

Bapa was the designated kid bowler...this was Bella's favorite way to send the ball rolling.

Cute little chicas - Azure, Pegah and Charity

We went to Pegah's parents house later on for an INCREDIBLE Persian meal. Her mom must have been cooking for days, honestly. They were so kind and generous with us, I wish we had pictures with them, but we were too busy eating, and eating, and eating some more to take time for snapshots. It really was soooo nice.

Saturday Morning: Seal Beach

I love this beach. We would usually go here or to Huntington growing up...lots of memories. My kids loved it too.The water was seriously chilly. It didn't stop the girls rom taking a swim, but Calvin wasn't too excited.

Sienna, Rachel, Bella, Azure

Grandma Z "holding" Cal. I actually had one hand under him to support his weight. She's a little more frail than she used to be. But she's 90 for crying out loud! That's to be expected!

Saturday Evening: Grandma Zena's 90th Birthday Party

Celebrating with Grandma was really the reason we went out to Cali for Thanksgiving. She truly is an incredible person. A convert to the church, she was a pioneer in her own time. Once she was baptized, there was no stopping her. She is a great example of strength and dilligence, and enduring to the end. She still serves in the church, attends water aerobics and watercolor classes, and is forever an optimist!

She had 2 children (my mom's sister Jan passed away in '98), 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren...and almost all of us were there to party with Grandma for her 90th. Her husband Mac was there as well (her first husband, my Grandmpa Hill, passed away in '94).