Staying the night at the hotel w/ G-ma & G-pa...

Every time G-ma & G-pa come, they have the kids stay 1 night at the hotel with them- and THEY LOVE IT!!! The highlight is walking down to the vending machine and buying yummy treats to then take back to the room and eat in bed! I stayed awhile and watched TV and layed on the bed with G-ma. We went out to Panda Express for dinner earlier while the boys went to the Steelhead's hockey game!

Present time...

My Step Dad, Brent, loves to buy presents for the kids when he comes to visit. One year he bought a life size tigar, one year a talking parrot named Billy, and this year a crazy singing dog. (He bought other normal present too, like a painting set for Daisy, A large fairy dolly for Grace and a Chess set for Tristin & little Christmas trees for each of the kids rooms!) They spoiled us too, all of which we are VERY thankful for!!!

Making Christmas Cookies with G-ma...

We stayed busy all weekend long that we almost didn't have time to make our cookies with G-ma! We litteraly finished them just a few minutes before leaving to drop them off at the airport!

Thanksgiving...

Like always, my Mother-In-Law made an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Let me tell you, she can cook, and she loves to cook- and pretty much born to make amazing food! When Trav and I were dating, I flew to Nampa to visit one time, and after that trip I knew if we became "serious", poor Trav was going to be a very sad boy- I AM NOT A COOK! And coming from his Mama's cooking, I was going to be the world's biggest let down. Trav didn't seem to care about my million flaws because he still married me, what a silly, silly man.
And sadly, 11 1/2 years later, I am still the furthest from being super in the kitchen, I hate it infact.

Anyway... Thanksgiving was very nice. All of Trav's siblings drove to Edith & Max's for dinner. Ben & Cammy came with their 5 girls, Rob drove from Utah with his 4, Ellen and Will came down with their 4, and we had our 4 as well. Somehow, we all manage to fit in their 1300 sq. ft home- all 26 of us. We also opened presents, like we do each year (from the cousins)it's our mini Christmas with them since they all stay home for Christmas. I had to fly out right after presents were done, but it was a very nice day.

I am so grateful for my beautiful family, amazing food, vaccuum cleaners, chocolate, Advil, The Office, my bed, fuzzy slippers, Lysol, our warm house, running cars, junk food, water, washer/dryers, the gospel, computers, Target, America, toilets, Costco, hand sanitizer, our jobs, amazing friends,laughter & chapstick.

Flying home to Seattle...

It was such a mix of emotions getting ready to leave for Seattle on Thanksgiving. I was so excited to go home and be with family, but the circumstances were just so sad. G-ma Lillian has been apart of my life for 25 years and saying goodbye and putting things to rest was hard to do. The funeral was very nice and Mom did an incredible job with the lunch afterwards, it was just so strange not to see G-ma sitting there with all of us. It makes my heart smile to know she is no longer in pain and having the gospel in my life gives me added comfort to know where she is and that she is ok.
It was just Willow and I on this trip and we were gone for 4 days. The last time I left the kids was when Audra, Amber & I drove home to Seattle to go to jaime's baby shower years ago. I just had Tristin & Daisy at the time.I missed the kids, but talked to them everyday. I knew they were having fun filled days with their cousins from Utah, spending time with G-ma & G-pa & doing fine, so I didn't worry too much. I just missed their hugs and 'I love you's". Being away from Trav those nights was weird too, but we did fine.
We had a great time with Mom & Brent. They kept Willow occupied and laughing most of the time. We ate hamburgers Thanksgiving night, stayed up talking,prepared for the funeral & lunch, talked a lot about death, cremation, wills & funeral plans. It was a little too much by the end of the day, so I tried to focus on what was uplifting about the trip. We kept Willow busy with toys,watched Man Vs. Food a lot, ate yummy food, relaxed, worked on Christmas stuff, went to Seattle to see the boys and Cindy and ate 8:00 fruit, pizza & ice cream!
Willow & I stayed the night at my Grandparents house Friday night and had a great time there as well. My G-ma & G-pa helped raise us and we are so close with them. They are like parents to us and after all they have done for us, they earn that title. I love spending the night there. I love watching my Grandfather in his bathrobe with his long white legs showing, I love watching him get all the rounds correct in Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy, I love watching G-ma crochet her millionth blanket for the hospital, I love the coo-coo clocks that are constantly ticking, I love that G-pa keeps the fireplace going even in the Summer, I love that G-ma still cooks my favorites when I come, I love that I get to hear the same stories over and over. I love to watch them play Nintendo golf together. I love staying up late talking with them. I love the goofy presents G-ma always gives me to take home with me. I love to watch G-pa feed my babies. I love watching them hold Willow (and pat her tummy like he used to with Aunt Abby & Mom when they were little) I love that G-pa stands at the top of the driveway waving goodbye. I love that they adore me and that I can't imagine a second of my life without them. I couldn't love them more even if my heart let me. G-pa has been like a Father to me and I adore and look up to him more than any other man in my life. He is the rock that has held us together for so many years and I am so blessed to have him in my life. Besides Mom,Grandma has been the one to get in and get things done. She has showered her love upon us for years and sewn more blankets, made more underware & made more meals to prove that love for us. She has been there for me every moment of my life and with her and Mom, I have all the support in the world. Oh, how I love them.
It was a wonderful trip home and I cannot thank Mom & Brent enough for getting me there- thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
G-ma Lillian... we will see you soon.

Willow eating fruit with G-ma April...

Staying the night with G-ma & G-pa...

After the funeral and lunch, Willow & I stayed the night at G-ma & G-pa's house. We had fun playing, watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, eating pudding, making carmaled popcorn, eating waffles, staying up until 1:00 AM talking with G-ma, watching Willow play, thrift store shopping and relaxing. I adore my Grandparents and I love every second with them! We had a great time, thank you!!!

Fun with G-ma & G-pa...