SoCal 2010 part 5: Family

Any guesses what the highlight of our big trip was?

Christmas?? Nope, good guess.

Disneyland?? Well, we do heart D-land, but no.

Yreka?? Ha ha! You're funny. That's a heck no!

The highlight of our trip, in fact, was..... being with family! It was a bit of a bummer that our time with my family in Oregon for Christmas was so short, but we are able to see them a little more frequently. It was so fun to be with Sean's family for such an extended stay, though! We got to meet Nan and Ashley from England. And snuggle with brand-new baby Wyatt. And Ethan got to hang out with his cousin Spencer. Good times.

* Back to Bethlehem *
This was one of the things I really wanted to do while in Simi Valley this visit. It's put on just the week before Christmas and since we are only there for Christmas every other year, it had been two years since we last went. Unfortunately, there had been lots of rain, so it was very, very muddy. It's an event put on by the Church at Rocky Peak and takes up much of the grounds and some of the parking lot. It really feels like you are stepping back in time. There are Roman soldiers and Inns that have no room, a stable with live animals and lots of little shops. You are given shekels when you first arrive to spend on spices, scrolls, food, etc. Ethan enjoyed it two years ago when he was just a year and a half and now that he is understanding the story of Christ's birth a little more, I really wanted him to experience it. Anyway... Here are the pictures.

Petting the animals.

Meeting Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Hammering....

Stirring barley.

* Beatles Rock Band *
No trip is complete without a little Rock Band! It usually ends up with Cassie on vocals, Sean and Todd on guitars and me or Lynnie [below] on drums. I attempted the medium level once this time. I failed miserably.

There was also a fair amount of Wheel of Fortune played and whatever other new games for the Wii Cassie got.

* Baby Wyatt *
We all got to take turns snuggling with the little cuddle bug, Wyatt. Such a cutie. :) He was my newest nephew.... at the time! Only about a month old, he was just teeny tiny and adorable.

I can't wait for Ethan to be a big brother... someday!

* Silly Boy *
i.e. Random Ethan pictures. This kid cracks me up!!

I love those blue eyes and he is freakin' adorable in that shirt! :)

Ethan got a set of walkie-talkies for Christmas from Nana and Papa and he had lots of fun playing with them with whoever was willing to pick up the other one! In this picture, he is in bed listening as Papa sings him the Angel song from upstairs. :)

And this is how I found Ethan one evening... At some point during most days, Ethan liked to play in our room and kinda do his own thing for a while. On this particular day that meant watching a movie... with his blankie... on his head!! Silly kid! He did not even flinch when I came in the room. Or when I took the above picture. Or when I took the video below!

Alright, the last stop on our journey... the sixth and final installment of this six-part mini-series is coming soon.... UTAH, here we come!