California Trip

We made it out to California by 10:30am on Christmas day! We had the chance to visit with 3 of my siblings and enjoy some Yuba City highlights.

Christmas Day Orange Rolls: We've been having these for Christmas breakfast for as long asI can remember.

 

Katie, Mom, April, Derek and Davin

Cousins and Presents: I had told Jared and Lydia to really not expect things because we already celebrated but my sister Katie sweetly went out and made sure they had stockings.  It was very thoughtful of her. 

Jared, Alexis, Kaylee, and Lydia

Mark and Alexis

Lydia, Jamie and Mark.

 Lydia and Jared both love Jamie my mom's dog and Eleanor Katie's dog.  They are always in their top favorite thing about visiting California. We took them on quite a few walks which was nice and they loved doing.  I went on quite a few runs while we were there which was really great.  My Mom's new neighborhood is great for running It is flat and there are some many ways you can make new and longer loops.  I never had to double back on any roads.  It was really refreshing. 

Makes the trip worth it. 

Lydia and Marmee

We met up with friends from Virginia who recently moved out to Northern California.  We went to Brocks, the best ice cream shop in Yuba City and then to two different parks to play.  It was really nice to hang out with the Whites and we are happy it worked out.  

We took Jared and Lydia to the Penny Candy Store in Live Oak.  I remember stopping here frequently growing up.  It is about 10 minutes North of Yuba City and was right on the way to our Doctor's office so my Mom kindly let us stop a lot. Besides a fresh coat of paint on the outside the inside looks exactly the same.  Old.  But I chatted with the guy at the register for a few minutes and he told me a little bit about the history of the shop which was fun. It has been the Penny Candy Store since at least 1983 and they (his parents first) have owned it since 2003 which is quite awhile. 

There was a car parked right in front of the sign which bugged me but at least we got a picture.  This wall has looked exactly like this for as long as I can remember. It has lots of old nostalgic candies and Jared and Lydia thought it was amazing. I did not see any candy for just a penny but there was a lot of options and some cheaper pricing. Mostly it was just about stopping somewhere I have childhood memories of. 

Mark and I got to go to the Sacramento Temple which was really great.  We did a session together which hasn't happened in a long time. I love that temple and am so grateful my Mom and Katie were willing to watch Jared and Lydia while we went.  It is great they could have some one on one time with my Mom and Katie.  We snuck in a lunch date as well.

We visited my Dad's gravesite with my Mom and then had lunch at In N Out a place they enjoyed going together and we try to always stop by. 

One night we made homemade pizza at Davin and Tara's house and watched a movie with them which was really nice.  I never end up getting as much time with my siblings as I hope for but what we did have was great.  We played games, went to church with my Mom and had some good visiting. I am glad it all worked out and that we could make my Mom so happy.  

We had planned to stay a little longer but I was getting ready to get home, dead time is hard for me and flights were losing seats.  We ended up taking a red eye to Detroit all together and then flying to Florida together.  Florida was always the plan for Jared and Mark but Lydia and I had no reason to go there but you go where there are seats.  After Florida Lydia and I flew to Atlanta (we never left the airport) and then to Charlottesville.  It was a long exhausting day.  We ran into really dicey weather into Detroit with lots of turbulence.  Jared and many other passengers all got sick. It was gross. I felt awful for Jared and was so relieved I had a bag in my seat he could use and that he was right in front of me.  We all felt pretty sick by the time we landed.  Lydia and I went to bed at 8:20 and slept well past 8:00. 

One of Jared's Christmas presents was a trip to Florida to go to the Orange bowl to see UVA play. Mark ran into a friend at church (who happens to be a coach for UVA football) a few weeks before Christmas and he told Mark he could get him tickets so Mark went for it.  He gave Jared an orange with his name on it Christmas morning which Jared totally didn't get.  After a few clues he figured it out and was super excited.  They had a great time at the game and I hope it will be a big memory for Jared.  UVA lost but they really showed up to the game which made it more fun. 

We're looking forward to lots of adventures and new memories in 2020. 

Christmas Eve/Day in Virginia

We managed to fit in all our Christmas morning activities into today, Christmas Eve.  We began our morning with snuggles together in our bed singing Christmas carols and watching Nativity videos together. Next came stockings, present scavenger hunt, then orange rolls for breakfast.  After breakfast we opened our presents under the tree.  Jared and Lyda got some fun surprises in their stockings and we were able to trick them pretty good with the scavenger hunt clues.  Jared was sure he would be able to figure them all out right away but more than once he went to the wrong spot and had to sit and think about the clue before running off to find the next one. We added a twist this year by scrambling some of the words in the clues which added another level of trickery. This is one tradition that we do not need to update! They were pleased with their presents and were very sincere in their thank you's which was really nice.

Scavenger hunt presents

After our family festivities we got ready for the day and headed over to an assisted living facility in town to sing Christmas songs, play BINGO and visit with the residents.  Part way through our visit Lydia asked Mark if he would switch BINGO cards with her which he did not thinking much about it.  The very next round he got a BINGO.  Lydia was not pleased that she gave away her card. It went well and we were glad we could participate. It was nice to go serve a bit on Christmas day.  

After that we made our way to the Charles' for a lovely brunch.  We enjoyed a quick visit with some great people.  We couldn't stay too long because we had made plans to host a Christmas Eve campfire with the Mikkelsen's.  I had noticed last week that we were going to have amazing weather this week and thought it would be really fun to do a campfire.  Shortly after we moved into this house we thought it wold be fun to hold a campfire on New Years Eve/Day, sort of a Winter Picnic but so far we have only managed to do that once.  A Christmas Eve campfire worked just as well even if it was a little untraditional.  Although there is that whole song about hosting parties and toasting marshmallows so maybe it wasn't that untraditional.  We roasted little smokies and grilled cheese and ham sliders and made smores.  It was so nice to be outside today!  The kids had fun exploring the woods, playing sports, and roasting things. As we made sure the fire was out we sang Christmas songs together which was nice.

We didn't intend for this day to be so busy but with our travel plans changing more got added to the day.  We fly out early tomorrow for California.  We are scheduled to land there around 10:30 then we will head to my Mom's house to celebrate with my family. Jared and Lydia are really excited to spend time in CA which makes me happy.  

Christmas Eve Early

A few weeks ago we decided that we would go visit my family in California after Christmas. The plan was to fly out either the 26th or 27th whichever had more seats available but as is typical with stand by flying we had to change our plans.  We are now catching the first flight out of Charlottesville Christmas morning.  This is not ideal but it is our best chance to make it out there.  Because of this we moved up our Christmas Eve (and Christmas day) celebrations.  We had a delicious ham dinner Monday night (the 23rd) and Jared and Lydia opened up their sibling gifts.  We ate by candlelight, (which I always mean to do but frequently forget) which was fun and festive and the food turned out great.  They were both happy with their gifts but we need to find a way to make this gift giving more thoughtful.  This year the three of us went to the store together to buy the gifts. It works better if we go one at a time which I knew, but it just wasn't happening and I wanted to get it done.  Maybe they take a trip to the store together and show each other things they like and then they choose one on a different trip?  But how many trips do we want to take to the store? I'll have to think about it.

After dinner we hung up the last of the 25 days of Christ Ornaments on the little tree and each picked a carol to sing together.  We did pretty well throughout the month but the last 3 days we have been off.  I still enjoy this little daily devotional but think it needs some adjusting as well.  Maybe it would be nice to have Jared and Lydia take days reading the thought as well as Mark and I.  It's interesting to see how traditions need to be adjusted as a family gets older.  Looking back over the month has made me feel like a few do need some changes.  I do love our traditions though and feel like they strengthen our family.  Tonight at dinner I asked Jared and Lydia what their favorite thing was about Christmas (besides presents) and Jared said watching movies, decorating the tree and making treats. Lydia said snuggling in our bed Christmas morning and reading/watching the nativity before presents. Mark's is caroling.  I like the decorating and the food and singing songs/watching videos about the nativity together.  Even though we try to bring Christ into the season as much as possible presents are still winning in our house.  I think it may stay that way for awhile still. At least they do enjoy other things as well.

Christmas Season highlights

Its been another great December!

Crafts and treats.
We did our annual ice cream cone trees and reindeer donuts.  We didn't do many crafts this year but made a cute 3-D reindeer and a stained glass nativity we handed out to ward members with a treat. We chose a different treat to make each Sunday and took a card and plate of cookies to a different family. It was fun and likely a new tradition we will add in.  Saturday ended up being a big baking day and it was fun and delicious.  I prefer cutting out cookies and Jared and Lydia prefer decorating them so we make a good team. Although we both end up doing each task.

In order: April, Lydia, Mark and Jared

Christmas Parties

 Friday we went over to the Hendricks to celebrate school being out for Christmas. We met up with the Shaws and Farnsworth's and all the kids (15!) had a really fun time together.  They decorated cookies, watched the Polar Express and then we had dinner together.  It was a fun get together.  We are so glad the Hendricks moved here.  Christa is really sweet and so patient and Jared really enjoys meeting up with her three older boys.

About half the kids.  It was impressive how well that many kids interacted together. 

Sunday we hosted the Bishopric members after church for lunch.  Originally all the members of the Bishopric were going to attend but then the Reids had to leave town for a funeral and the Struble's couldn't make it because Susan was really sick. We had a waffle bar and I made some chicken to go along with it. The Shaw's had never had chicken and waffles and I was happy to introduce them to it.  It is my most favorite meal. 

Christmas Caroling  

Sunday night we were able to do our annual caroling with the Players and Papins.  We visited 2 families in our ward and 2 families in the 1st ward.  Mark and Liz have this awesome history but our schedules do not match up well so Christmas caroling is our for sure chance to catch up with them and it was really nice.  We stayed there much later then we normally would but with no school the next day we decided to make the most of our time.  We visited the most with Liz and it was just really great.  She is a really wonderful person to be around. 

Charlottesville Municipal Band Christmas Concert

I attended this concert myself a few weeks ago.  I have had it on our list the past few years and am really glad I was able to go.  We had attended the "Joy To The World" concert the previous week so I let Jared and Lydia choose if they wanted to go to this concert or stay home with Mark and they chose to stay home with Mark.  Their loss!  The song selection was great and the audience sing along was really fun.  Next year I plan to have us all go.  These concerts are funny because so much of the audience is 60 + years old.  I had a lovely time chatting with my seat mates who were very friendly.  You do have to get there early though.  I got there 15 minutes early and the house was full.  

Gingerbread houses and Christmas Lights

Each year we take a trip downtown to check out the gingerbread house display at The Omni.  Its funny to go there now because for work I occasionally reserve rooms there for guest speakers whereas I previously had no connection except for the gingerbread houses.  This year we met up with Laura and her kids.  The theme was "Christmas Around the World."  Some of the entries were based off places we have visited which was a fun twist.  Normally we park near a playground and play for awhile but it was freezing cold and had been raining all day so we parked at the hotel which was great because they have free parking for the event.  We did not stay long but are glad we went.

Jared's favorite:

Lydia's favorite: 

My favorite:

We also handed out our"Best Christmas Lights" award and checked out the house in Ruckersville that goes all out and did a quick walk around. It's really fun when people work really hard on their lights. 

2019 Best Christmas Lights Winner:

Giving out the award was fun but we had a rough evening.  On our way to visit a family from our ward before looking at lights two deers ran across the road and right into our car.  There doesn't seem to be any real damage but it really put a damper on the evening.  This was the first time in 5 years of living here that we have hit a deer.  There have been multiple close calls and sightings but no such luck this time.  Lydia did not fully agree on this house but sometimes majority rules.  She was pacified when the owner (finally, it took quite a few knocks) came to the door with his three dogs and one was a husky.  He seemed very surprised to receive the award.  This neighborhood was pretty far out there so I imagine he did not expect anyone to really notice his lights. 

Once the award was handed out we headed over to a specific house in Greene County that does an LED light show.  The show was fun and they really liked it but it was a drive to get out there. Jared and Lydia frequently read when we are in the car which is fine but they both get carsick, especially Jared so its hard for me to understand why they insist on reading while we are driving around. This night it was particularly annoying because the whole point was to be enjoying the lights and time together. Plus its dark out! They have these Christmas light bulb necklaces that they were wearing and were using them for light but seriously.  They both felt carsick and did not enjoy driving around much.  It was the first time we went out to give the ward and came away wondering if we would do it next year.  It was just an off night. 

Ruckersville:

I love how high they hang these up in their trees.

Iwo Jima Memorial,Georgetown and Mount Vernon

The Marine Corp Memorial, (The Iwo Jima Memorial) is right outside Arlington Cemetery.  Mark had previously visited it but Lydia, Jared and I had not.  We stopped by it on our way back to our car. Its a really impressive, iconic memorial and it was nice to have a chance to stop by it.  It doesn't fit into most trips into DC since it is across the river.

We also stopped by Georgetown Cupcakes for a treat.  We had yet to take Jared and Lydia there and now we can cross it off the list.  They are good cupcakes but really pricey.  They did have some fun seasonal flavors so that is what we focused on. We then walked around the main shopping area of Georgetown to check out some window displays and eat lunch.  It was during this time that it rained the hardest of the day so it was not the most enjoyable walk.  The  neighborhoods in Georgetown are super cute though. After eating we jumped back in the car and headed to Alexandria.  I had read online that it was a good place to stop for Christmas decorations but I think we ended up in the wrong part of town.  Southern Living listed it as one of the most Christmas towns over here but I didn't see it.  We spontaneously decided that since we were on that side of the river we should stop in and tour Mount Vernon.  When I got up Saturday morning I did not think I would be touring a presidential home but when you live in VA it's not that hard to find that happening.

It turns out that Saturday December 14th was an awesome day to visit Mount Vernon.  First they had a 20% off admission code online.  Second they had an amazing, beautiful display of themed Christmas trees and an awesome gingerbread replica of Mount Vernon.  Third there was a camel on grounds because as the wealthiest man in the Commonwealth Gen. Washington thought it would be fun to bring a camel to his home for family and friends.  Fourth, there was a reenactment camp set up and fifth it was actually the 221st anniversary of George Washington's death! We had no idea this was the case when we decided to go.  Jared and Lydia were not thrilled to be visiting another presidents house but did end up enjoying the tour.

Washington was really into Symmetry and Jared liked that too.

The view from the back patio:

This Key is from Bastille Prison in France  and was sent to Washington from the Marquis De Lafayette.  Washington hung it in his main entryway above a sketch of the Bastille Prison. To Washington the key represented a "global surge of liberty."Lafayette sent it along with the sketch and said the following: 

"Give me leave, My dear General, to present you With a picture of the Bastille just as it looked a few days after I Had ordered its demolition, with the Main Kea of that fortress of despotism—it is a tribute Which I owe as A Son to My Adoptive father, as an aid de Camp to My General, as a Missionary of liberty to its patriarch.”

Mount Vernon is my favorite of the presidential homes nearby. Jared and Lydia agree.  It has such a great view.  Mark says he likes Monticello the best.  The tour was nice and we lucked out with the weather.  It stopped raining as we walked up to the entrance and the clouds broke up a little so we could enjoy the view.  We laughed because as we toured the house we noticed that one of the main rooms for entertaining was painted a very similar color to our kitchen/dining room (matched to what it was like then). The tour guide commented that Washington used the most expensive colors of paint for the time. I had no idea I had similar taste to the Washington's.  

In 2016 their exhibit "Lives Bound Together" opened which discusses the lives of the enslaved at Mount Vernon. I read an article today that talks about how many plantations are going through a sort of "identity crisis" trying to figure out how to start showing what life was like for enslaved people and how much they contributed.  It's a story that should be told.  We have seen similar exhibits at Montpellier and Monticello.

We stopped by the tombs of George and Martha and talked quite a bit with a tour guide stationed there.  Down a pathway from there is the memorial to the enslaved people there so we made our way over there too.  We finished our tour with a visit to Aladdin, the camel that the organizers at Mt. Vernon have been bringing on site for the month of December since 2011.

Just one of the many beautiful, full trees on display.  I loved them.  

They were all based on a part of his life. President, soldier, farmer, there was one for Martha too.