Quick Trip to California

The morning of December 12th we got up and finished getting ready to head to the airport to be on our way to California. We were all so excited to go visit Papa and GG. We left for the airport and were super lucky to get a parking spot right up front. It was so nice. We have never been able to park that close before. 

Emmett didn't want to walk so he jumped onto the luggage Ethan was pulling and Ethan gave him a ride for a little bit. 

It looked so funny! 

Then when Ethan got tired of pulling him I grabbed the luggage and starting racing Wyatt with Emmett in tow. Both Wyatt and Emmett thought it was pretty funny. 

It wouldn't be a successful airport stay without a tantrum or 2. Emmett did not want to eat his sandwich and threw a tantrum because he didn't want to eat it and didn't want to stay sitting. He kept wanting to have a drink of my soda and go running down the moving sidewalk. So naturally he would throw a massive tantrum. It was so much fun!! NOT!! 

Well he finally ate his sandwich and got his snacks and we finally boarded the plane. 

We couldn't wait!! We were heading to CALIFORNIA!!! 

We landed and my parents came to pick us up. After heading back to the house for a little bit we went to dinner at Lucilles. It was so delicious! Later that evening we went to see the lights at Thorough Bred. 

GG provided us with some flashing light necklaces. 

Papa brought caramel popcorn for everyone to enjoy while we walked around seeing lights. 

It was a fun evening of light seeing. Especially since there really are not many good places to see lights where we live. So it was fun to let the boys see these cool lights. Ethan and Wyatt had been to see these lights before but they were really little. So they didn't remember any of it. It used to be even bigger than it is now but, it was still fun! 

Enjoying all of GG's Christmas decorations. haha 

Then the work began. Ever since my parents chimney caught fire they had to replace their chimney and fireplace. So they planned on having Brandon rock their fireplace for them. We were not able to do it in the summer when we came out for the reunion because the fireplace was not ready and we didn't have a lot of time at my parents house before heading to the beach house. So we planned on going out to visit to have fun with my parents but to also have Brandon put stone on their fireplace. So after dinner and lights Brandon and my Dad set to work to figure out exactly how Brandon needed to lay stone under the hearth. It took all evening to figure out what Dad wanted Brandon to do. haha After figuring it out Brandon was able to put the scratch coat on and then we called it a night. 

The next morning Brandon set to work on laying the stone. 

Then it was time to fill our bellies with some yummy IN N OUT! 

Kayden looked so cute with his IN N OUT hat on. haha We let him have a taste of a French fry and he LOVED it. It was hard to take it away from him but he had not started eating any solid foods like that yet. I was not ready to have to hit a French fry out of his throat. haha 

We had to keep giving him things to keep him occupied. He is getting so wiggly! 

Then we made our way to Bass Pro Shop to go see Santa.

After seeing Santa the boys played with some of the toys set up at Santa's work shop and Kayden enjoyed sucking on the wrapper of the candy cane he was given. Eventually he broke through the wrapper and was getting some tastes of his very first candy cane. He was loving it. He would make a disgusted face and then go for it again. Then when I tried taking it away from him he cried. Eventually I had to take it away because he was getting too much of it. haha Then Brandon and my Dad left to go grab some more rock and to allow Brandon to finish the fireplace. 

It turned out so great!!! 

Then we headed to my parents ward Christmas party. We had some free food and the kids colored and had some hot chocolate and then we headed home to get the kids to bed. 

Just love this picture! Kayden was enjoying just hanging out with Papa. 

I love that his little hand is resting on my Dads hand. So cute! 

Then he found his strings. haha 

Brandon, Emmett and I headed to a car dealership that has some cool sports cars. We stopped at IN N OUT to get it one more time before we headed home the next day and on our way Emmett decided to wear his jacket backwards and keep it over his head. Such a weirdo! haha 

Brandon was in heaven walking around looking at these cars. 

What a cute face!

Before we went to California I told the boys that Papa had an electric guitar. They couldn't believe it. So I told him he needed to get it out and show the boys. He was a little reluctant to do it but he did it anyways. He said he hadn't played in a really long time so he wasn't sure if he would remember how to play anything. So he got it out and the boys were loving it. At first he had his amp off and was tuning the guitar. So the boys didn't seem too impressed with the electric guitar. However, once he got it all tuned and turned on the amp they flipped out. Their faces were so funny! 

So Papa put on a little show for us and the kids really enjoyed it. 

Then they each wanted a turn to play on it. 

Emmett was so funny when he strummed on the guitar. 

Ethan didn't seem as into it at Wyatt and Emmett were. He liked it but he acted a little bit more shy when it came time to strum on the guitar. 

Fun memories!! Plus now that boys know that their Papa can play the guitar! 

Then it was present time. My parents gave the boys their Christmas presents while we were there. They were pretty excited to open up a present. haha 

Love all the hugs!! :-) Good times! 

We also got a new family picture! I love taking pictures with my sweet boys! 

Especially since it turns into bribing them to behave and smile nice just a few more times. haha 

Then we talked Papa into having their very first fire in their newly stoned fireplace. They had not had a fire in their fire ever since it was replaced. They were a little gun shy after the fire last year. Which I don't blame them. 

What a beautiful fire in a beautiful fireplace. :-) 

 What is even better about lighting their fireplace is that we could have the kids send their letters to Santa up the Chimney!! They were pretty stoked about that!

 The kids get dressed up by GG if we are at their house around Christmas time. haha

 Kayden enjoyed GG's tree as well.

 Then GG had to get a picture of all of us in Sandals. She was wearing boots. haha We must live in Colorado! haha

Birthday Buddies watching a movie together. 

Its not a visit with Papa without some good honey toast!! The boys ask him for it anytime we see him. He is the best at it for sure! So tasty!! 

Then it was time to be on our way back home. I held Kayden on the flight to California and he wouldn't fall asleep unless I held him tight and rocked him up and down. It took a little bit to get him to sleep and then my arms were just killing me as I held him in a very awkward position to try to keep him asleep. So I had Brandon take him for the trip home. He slept for a little bit but then was just up. He absolutely loved the brochures in the pockets of the seats. He just kept wanting them and as soon as we would hand it to him he would be so happy and play with it for a minute and then try to put it in his mouth. Then he would be upset when we took it away from him. Such a silly little guy!! Other than that he does really well on plains. It will be even nicer when we can just hand little snacks to him to eat and keep him occupied with that instead of things he can't have. It was a quick but fun trip. I don't think we have ever made a trip out there that was that quick ever since we moved to Colorado. It seemed weird to not be there for 2 weeks. Definitely felt too short. We will have to make another trip out there maybe in the summer when we can spend more time and really have some fun with my parents again.