Christmas In California

We spent Christmas this year visiting Grandma, Grandpa, and Jamie in California (and of course enjoying the warm weather and sunshine!) 

First up was the tide pools! There was an extra low tide while we were there which made for perfect tide pool hunting. 

And the sunset while were were leaving the beach was perfect! A very fun and unique way to spend Christmas Eve. 

Of course Christmas morning was full of excitement for these cuties. After opening gifts from Santa, we headed to church then up to Cherry Valley to visit Grandpa-Great. 

Santa brought the kids a membership to the Aquarium, so the day after Christmas we headed there for a visit. Sadly half-way through Eliza started feeling yucky and spiked a fever. The two of us left to go sit on the beach for a bit while the other kids finished up with Michael. 

After Eliza, the kids started dropping like flies with high fevers and just feeling yucky! So we spent the next few days taking whichever kids weren't sick to outdoor places with few people while the sick kids rested at the house. Being sick on vacation is no fun, and sadly all five kids got it. We haven't had an illness hit that hard in years. Luckily after about 36 hours of fever each they were feeling much better. 

Hazel and Lenora enjoyed touring the temple with Michael. 

One day sweet Jamie watched sick kids and sent us on a date with Teri and Tony for a ride around the bay. We were able to see so many areas I had no idea existed and had a great time! 

As kids started recovering we were able to squeeze in some outside play and visits to the beach (though never all together). 

Did Lenora end up soaked even though she swore she wasn't going to get wet? Why yes, yes she did. 

With Eliza, Lenora, and Orson we saw a whole flock of pelicans fishing right by the shore. They loved watching them dive to catch fish. 

Jamie took Lenora on a breakfast date for her birthday and the girls out to the park. 

One night Michael and his parents got to go see a Mighty Ducks game. The Ducks even won! 

By our last day, Eliza, Lenora, and Orson had been well long enough for a return trip to the aquarium this time with Grandma, Grandpa, and Jamie. We were all glad Eliza got to go enjoy it. While they were gone, I took Conrad and Hazel, who were on the up and up but not completely better, to the beach. 

That night the kids enjoyed a movie night with Grandma and Grandpa while we snuck away for dinner. 

While the trip didn't go exactly according to plan, we still had a great time. It was wonderful to visit family and miraculously none of the adults got sick!