We started out on the 22nd of December driving down the Oregon Coast to meet my sister Anna (and her family), my brother, my sister Lisa's son, and my mom and dad at my aunt's beach house. We had BEAUTIFUL weather the second day and spent a great deal of the day playing on the beach. Jimmy and Johnny (Anna's boys) are so much fun! They were almost constantly wrestling with their dad, James. Jasper just loved watching and learning from them. I can see that Jasper is entering the childhood phase of jump on Daddy and wrestling/pinning little Gid. I remember all us kids wrestling my dad all the time when we were kids... Ooops, started on a bit of a tangent. We always have such a wonderful time when we go to Cape Meares.
We drove back to Corvallis in time for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve we had the kids act out the nativity story and open one gift. Christmas morning, we open stockings and eat a nice breakfast before opening gifts. We were all blessed with a very fruitful Christmas. The kids spent the next two days playing with their new toys. Anna took all our old family VHS tapes and converted them into DVD form for everyone in my family. We had a really nice time watching some of these old family videos from our childhood. My mom and dad were (and are) such amazing parents. They were so patient and loving, even with all the chaos and work of raising 7 children. It really is comforting to watch these videos from my childhood and see what a loving, secure environment I was surrounded with.
Christmas morning Jimmy
Pink-eyed Gideon
Christmas morning Jasper
Christmas breakfast
Bobby made all the breakfast for everyone!
Rob in his traditional Christmas morning dress
Dad, Mom, David, Johnny and Anna
Bobby wanted a Santa suit for Christmas. Mom made this for him-
The Martin family came over for games Christmas evening
The day after Christmas we got in the car and drove to Utah. It was a really long drive. I am not looking forward to doing that again in the near future. My head felt like it was going to fall off and my back took a week to recover from turning around every 20 seconds for 14 hours. Gideon is not at an age where he keeps busy with a toy for more than 20 seconds. He wasn't a very happy camper the second day in the car (which was in fact our long day - 10 hours). He napped only 30 minutes the whole drive and cried alot :( Poor kid. I felt so bad for him.
We got to Utah in time for a big Egbert family dinner at Elena's. It is so much fun for Gid and Jasper to have all these older cousins that just love them to death. Some of the family members put on a mini recital with singing, piano playing, and instruments. It was really nice.
Ally and Kim!
Recital
More recital
Larry on the piano
We spent the following four nights at Ally and Vince's house in Sandy. Rob spent one day snowboarding with his buddies, while Ally, Vince and I took five kids to the Children's Museum in Salt Lake.
Ally and Jasper on Salt Lake City's TRAX
Vinny
Jasper with cousin Oliver
Gid and cousin Abby
Gid found my mom's fruitcake
And devoured it!
Happy Christmas Kim
Happy Christmas Ally
We also had a family ski day and Rob and I were both able to go! Ally and Vince got everyone free lift tickets and Ally arranged for a room so that Aunt Bee could watch the boys right there on the mountain for us. After half a day, I was BEAT! I retired to the room to relieve Aunt Bee, while Rob took Jasper skiing for his first time. He did awesome! We are so proud of him.
On the way up the mountain
Ally and Vince
Nate
Dave and I
Rob and I
Jasper on the lift!!
Look at this kid!
Rob's sister Liz and her husband Dan put on an organ concert on Temple Sqaure each New Year's Eve and Day. This year it was in the Conference Center and it was incredible.
Kim and Gid waiting at the TRAX station
On TRAX. Kim looks so beautiful!
Salt Lake Temple
The musicians
Glenda with Gideon and Matilda
We also spent a couple of nights at Larry and Glenda's house. We went sledding with the kids and Rob was able to help Larry do some work on finishing his basement. I made conference cinnamon rolls, even though it wasn't conference, because Larry and Glenda were having a large gathering in their home and also I found out I'm no longer sensitive/allergic to eggs. So it was fun to get to make them and EAT them! We had such a lovely visit with Glenda and Larry. They are so loving and hospitable. Wish we could have stayed longer.
Sledding at Larry and Glenda's house
Rob with the boys
Jasper with Grandpa on the snow plow
We returned back to Oregon. This time the drive was much better. We did it in one day, rather than two, which I think made a huge difference. Rob had to turn around and take the train up to Seattle to prepare for a conference (that he's at right now) in LA. I stayed at my folks house for an extra week so that I could spend some time with my sister Lisa and my parents. My poor sister got vertigo, though, and was sick and throwing up for most of the time :( We were able to go to Library stoytime which is always super fabulous in Corvallis, play at the park, and play dowtown. My mom and I took a nice walk with the kids and Pepper. They live in such a beautiful part of the world. So green and lush and quiet and peaceful. My mom and I played scrabble every night. My dad played one night too. It was so much fun. I didn't win very many times, though, which I'm still unsettled about. I keep wishing for a re-match. David and Jasper played so well together. I'm glad they got a good solid 5 days of playing and nurturing their friendship with one another.
Boys in the tub
Sunrise at my parent's home
At Cloverland park
Gideon
Jasper
David (and Gideon) swinging
So, we're back now. Rob is gone. It's not too much fun doing the single parent thing. I better hit the sack so that I'm not a grouch tomorrow :)
4 comments:
So many comments, hopefully I can remember them all :-)! Hooray for eggs again!!! What is the story with Rob's Christmas dress?! And then the next picture was of Bobby in his Santa suit - it made me wish I came to hang out with your crazy family too :-). I'm glad you survived the car ride to and from Utah, I can only imagine, it was getting tough with Preston when we went to FL and he was only 6 months old. I love Jasper on his little skis! It sounds like such a fun time with family, but it will be nice of course when Rob gets home and you can get back to normal again. Love you :-)!
Loved the update! The fruitcake picture was classic! Jasper is amazing for already being able to ski. I know Audrey wouldn't be able to. Glad you had a great Christmas!
Looks like you had a great trip! I LOVE the photo of Gideon peeking through the hole...super cute!
What happy holidays you had! I can't believe Jasper is big enough to ski. And Gid with the fruitcake made me laugh out loud.
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