We had a great time at Great Wolf Lodge again! The last time we went was at the very beginning of this year when the kids were on Christmas break. We went on Christmas break again, but this time we stayed for two nights. It was much better because we were able to have a full day at the water park on Wednesday. We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and got dressed and went to the water park for a few hours. Then we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and came back and relaxed.
On Wednesday morning, I tried again to go to breakfast at Butters Pancakes and Café (we had tried that back in November when Papa and Rose and Merrill were here), but the wait was over an hour so we just went to IHOP. Then we came back and went to the water park. Eventually, we took a break and came back to the room to relax and have a snack and then we went back to the water park. We stayed until it closed at 8pm and then went to dinner at Red Robin.
On Thursday, we got up and ready and checked out of our room and put all of our stuff in the cars. Then, we went back inside. Michael, Jonathan, and I played mini golf and the other kids did the ropes course.
After that, we drove to Scottsdale Quarter. My tennis friend, Tasha, had a stand at Junk in the Trunk so we stopped by to check it out. Emily found a cute bird in a nest, and I got a vintage chopper. Then, we went to a late lunch and had our traditional Chinese food meal for New Year's Eve.
Michael and I celebrate 25 wonderful years of marriage today! I can't believe we're old enough to celebrate that many years together! We planned a trip to Hawaii for May, but that was cancelled due to Covid. Then, we planned a trip to Cancun in October, but we had to cancel at the last minute because a hurricane was about to hit. Then, we thought we would take the family to Disneyland the week after Christmas, but it still hasn't opened so we had to cancel that trip as well. We're not complaining, though, because we know we are truly blessed to still have jobs and the means to go on a trip and we are grateful for our health. As long as our family is happy and healthy, that is all that matters.
On Wednesday evening, the Akers came over. We had ham for dinner and opened presents and the kids had a great time playing.
On Christmas Eve, Emily had to work from 10am to 2pm. We met Carol and Erin at Macayo's for an early dinner at 4pm. On the way home, we drove around looking at lights for a little while, but the kids weren't that into it this year. I still love it, though! When we got home, we did our regular Christmas Eve traditions of reading Luke 2, having the kids play Christmas music, and opening one present--pajamas!
I told the kids we would open presents Christmas morning at 7:30am. I think we actually started around 7:45am. They already had all the presents handed out and organized. Daniel and Andrew guessed wrong on what stack was theirs, but they seemed happy with the results.
Daniel gives pretty good joke gifts. Nathaniel was not amused by the Cheerios, since he hates cereal and can't stand the smell of Cheerios.
Emily with her baby Yoda hat from Daniel and cute Funko Pop from Andrew, her Secret Santa
After we opened presents, I made the ebelskivers while Michael and the kids cleaned up. Nathaniel went over to Lacey's for a while. Then at about 3pm, Lacey came over. Carol and Erin came at about 3:30pm and we had an early dinner together. Michael grilled steaks and the kids helped me make the sides. It was delicious! Then we opened gifts with them. Nathaniel and Lacey went back to her house and the rest of us played Five Second Rule. This time, I won. :-)
We are grateful for this time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all He has done for us. Even during this crazy year, I feel truly blessed. We are so grateful for our family and friends. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!
We were so glad to have Papa back for a visit in December! We love having him here to spend time with us and have fun doing all of our regular traditions. He flew in on December 13 and was able to stay until December 23. Here are some of the fun things we did:
On Monday, we did some shopping. We had to buy wrapping paper, of course. We took Emily and Nathaniel to lunch at Costa Vida. Papa took Andrew to the computer repair shop and came home with Crumbl cookies. While the other kids studied, Jonny and Papa watched The Grinch.
On Tuesday, we spent the morning wrapping presents. I didn't have all of the gifts and I didn't want to wrap for Nathaniel and Michael while they were home, so we saved the rest for later. In the afternoon, we went to the Angel Tree and selected two boys to buy gifts for. We also did a little shopping and found a nice jacket and pair of jeans for me for Christmas. I spent the evening helping the boys study for their math finals.
On Wednesday, we finished wrapping all the presents. It felt good to get that done! I am always grateful to have Dad here to help with that! We took Nathaniel, Emily, and Andrew to lunch at Olive Garden. The kids had more finals to study for.
Dad walks Jonny to the bus and Daniel to school in the mornings.
Thank you, Dad, for doing so much wrapping for me!!!
The kids all had early release on Wednesday and Thursday, and Thursday was the last day before Christmas break. They were all relieved to be done with finals! Except Jonny, who just had parties at school. He'll have finals next year, though! On Thursday, Dad and I baked the sugar cookies so they were all ready to decorate on Saturday.
Papa was playing Spades with Andrew and Daniel. Daniel bid first and he bid 13 because he was 60 in the hole and he had no hope unless he bid that much. Then Dad bid nil because he thought he couldn't get any. Andrew thought he had a chance so he bid 10. Dad too one, Daniel got three, and Andrew took nine, so they were all set. They all had a good laugh about it, especially Papa!
On Friday morning, Emily went to go do some service for the foster home with her friends. So, Papa and I took the boys shopping for the Angel Tree gifts. We went to Kohl's and Walmart and got everything dropped off with the Salvation Army. Then we went to lunch at Culver's.
We had just enough time to get home and get ready for our packing session at Feed My Starving Children. Because of Covid, the session was very small. I'm glad we got to go, though. They even let me say a prayer over the food we packed. We were glad that Nathaniel's girlfriend, Lacey, was able to join us.
We went to dinner at Golden Corral and then went home to relax.
On Saturday, we went to the theater to see A Christmas Carol. It was wonderful!
Then we had lunch together.
On Saturday afternoon, we decorated Christmas cookies. They all look so serious! Our decorating skills are no joke!
Take a look at these masterpieces!
It was so nice to have Lacey join us for the day!
On Sunday, we went to church. Jonathan sang with the other children in his Primary class. Emily played the flute in a beautiful musical number. In the afternoon and evening, we played games and watched some Christmas movies.
On Monday, we did our regular chores and just hung out. Dad took all the kids, except for Andrew, to the shooting range.
In the afternoon, Nathaniel and Emily took the boys to do some shopping and picked up my Walmart order. That evening, we went to Schnepf Farms. They had a wonderful Christmas event/carnival. First, we went on the train ride to see the lights.
Then we walked around. They had cookie decorating. They also had a fun mini-golf course.
The boys had fun on the massive obstacle course
Emily and Papa went on a hayride and fed the reindeer
The lights were beautiful!
I don't know why this little set was there, but it was a fun photo op
It was a fun night, but by the end we were very cold and exhausted.
On Tuesday, Dad took Nathaniel to drop off his car to get a recall repair and oil change. I helped Dad set up his new phone. We had a very nice lunch at Cheesecake Factory. We ate ourselves into a food coma and then I had a couple errands at the mall.
Then we took Nathaniel to pick up his car and went home. Michael and Andrew watched the BYU bowl game against UCF. They won 49-23. After the game, we opened presents with Papa. He has never been here this close to Christmas and I've always wanted him to open presents with the kids. It's too bad that Nana couldn't be here, but we recorded it for her. Later, we played Five Second Rule. Michael won by a landslide!
It was a wonderful visit! We miss you already, Papa!
