We decided, somewhat last minute, to spend Christmas in Las Vegas this year. I wasn't very excited about it at first. I have had two years to spend at home on Christmas. Growing up we never just stayed home. There was always somewhere we had to be and it HAD to be on Christmas day. No other day would do. I didn't realize how bad it stunk to get up, rush through presents so we could have time to get ready and be at a relative's house until I didn't "have" to do it.
The last two years have been liberating! No one to see, no where to be. Just wake up, open presents, hang around in our PJ's playing with all our new stuff. Maybe go to a friends for dinner or have some friends over for dinner. It's awesome. So when Brady started asking me if we would have the money to visit Vegas for Christmas this year I wasn't very excited. I really didn't want to give up my peaceful Christmas. But I gave in. It was a good year to go as my siblings would all be together this year for Christmas so I would get to see all of them. We had the room in the budget if I cut back in other places and, probably most importantly, it was important to Brady that we go. He rarely asks for us to do things like that and then follow up with me on it so I knew we needed to make it happen.
So, we drove a total of four days in our van, two to get to Vegas and then two get home, in some of the worst driving conditions we have ever had to drive through. The worst we had to deal with kid wise was Rory getting altitude sickness twice (once on the way there and once on the way back). I had planned for that possibility though so it wasn't much more than a blip on the radar. A gross blip but compared to watching other drivers lose control and fishtail into a ditch, seeing Semi trucks jack-knife on an icy road and driving up and then DOWN the mountains through Vail, Colorado while it was snowing on top of more snow and ice...well I can honestly say that barf was a welcome distraction. My kids were so good on the drive. Even the 5 month old did extremely well with only a couple of crying jags that lasted only a few minutes each. I still need to write a thank you note to Fed-Ex. At one point I was driving through a small blizzard. I couldn't seen more than 20 feet in any direction. The snow blowing all over the road made it impossible to see what lane I was in or even where the road ended. The road "felt" good under my tires (those of you who drive in snow will know what I mean) but visibility was no where near good. Brady and I discussed just pulling off at the next exit with lodging and calling it a night. I was driving very slow, probably 25 to 35 miles an hour, when I was passed by a Fed-Ex Ground truck. I could clearly see his red tail lights ahead of me and I told Brady that I was just going to follow the truck. The truck driver could somehow see and was keeping a stead pace (55ish). I felt myself relax as I followed his tail lights. We followed that truck for an hour and a half when the snow let up and the roads became clear and I was able to pick up our pace. I am very thankful for that truck.
Our trip home was great all in all and a great way to end 2012. It was wonderful to see so much of our family. We were planning on staying in our old house while we were there. Of course once we got to my mom's house Cadence and Rory were begging to stay there with their cousins and I gave in. My mom and dad were awesome and went and picked up the stuff they had put at our old house (air mattresses and blankets and all that) and we made our beds on the living room floor with the two big girls on the couch. Beckah's pack'n'play was tucked neatly in the back bedroom with my brother's boys since she needed to go to bed earlier than almost everyone else. Bless my kids and their ability to sleep. They did very well despite all the people crammed into my parents house. And by crammed I mean a total of 18 people (9 adults and 9 children). It was crazy...and crazy fun if I am being totally honest. The first morning my niece and nephews woke up early and pretty much stood in a semi-circle around the front of the couch where Cadence was sleeping waiting for her to wake up. They were whispering things like, "We are going to have so much fun!" "When Cady wakes up we should totally play that one game." "When is Cady going to wake up so we can play??" It's so funny to me that they were all waiting on her to get the fun going.
It's hard to believe how much all the kids have grown. Kids who were barely talking the last time I saw them are now little giants who almost have more extensive vocabularies than I do. Cadence is the oldest at 6. Avery just turned 5 and has to be the queen of "Why?" Tyson is 4 but looks 10 (seriously that boy is so TALL). My sweet little Rory is 4 going on 14. Deceptively quiet Aidric is too smart to only be 4. Then there are the little ones. Sweet Liam who is only 2 but he talks so clearly now he seems older. Gage (aka Gah-jay the Destroyer...long story on that one lol) is 23 months now and never stops moving/climbing/getting into trouble. Beckah is 22 months and thinks she is a big girl and should do all the things the big girls do. And sweet little Owen on the end who was darling and cuddly with everyone our entire trip. My parents house was a mad house on a good day.
It was excellent to see all the siblings, mine and Brady's. Only one family was missing and we are sad we couldn't see them, but the kids got to Skype with Saylor and Paisley which was awesome. Thank you technology! I didn't realize how much I missed everyone until I got to see them in person. I missed our families so much. Brady and I are so blessed really. The more I get to know my siblings as adults the more I love and admire them. They are such amazing people who are raising amazing children and I am so proud to call them my family.
When we were planning our trip I thought we were spending a long time down there but it felt like no time at all. Because Brady and I both grew up there, both our parents and grandparents are there, all our friends are there, there was so many people we wanted to see. It wasn't possible to see them all and I am grateful for those who came all the way out to see us once we were there. I am thankful to my parents and in-laws for letting crash with them and spend quality time with people. It means so much that so many people miss us as much as we miss them. And to those of you we didn't get to see I hope we get to see you next time.
I got to take a lot of pictures of people while we were there. I was able to shoot a wedding for some family friends (something I only do in unique circumstances as wedding photography isn't really my cup of tea). It was a beautiful day for a lovely couple and I feel lucky that the timing was right for me to take their pictures. I was also able to take pictures of my siblings and their families while we were there. I took so many pictures that I didn't have any memory card space for pictures on Christmas day! My siblings took some pictures for me though and I am grateful for that. I will post some pictures once I get through editing all of them. It could take a while! There were so many!
Christmas day was crazy but good. We managed to convince all the kids to go to bed in my sister's room so that Santa could come. And boy did Santa come! The living room was full to bursting! We got to see my both my grandmas, a ton of my cousins from both sides and Brady's grandma and cousin's too. There was even time for me to sneak out with my sisters, sister-in-law and mom to see Les Mis! The trip was stressful and crazy but in the end I wouldn't take it back even if I could. I was reminded of all my fond memories of traveling to see my cousins in Utah during Christmas break. Sleeping on the floor or the couch or where ever there was room. Staying up late chatting and laughing about silly things and spending long days playing silly games. Preparing and eating yummy food with people we love. I cherish those memories now as an adult when work, families of our own, and distance make getting together so difficult now. I am glad that my kids will have similar memories and that even through the distance they look forward to spending time with their cousins.
Brady and I have decided that from now on those memories will have to built during the summer though. Unless we have the money to fly home. Driving during the winter was just scary and we don't want to do that again. Ever. We were very blessed and felt the Lord watching over us, but the risks we took are ones we don't ever want to take again. Not when we can drive risk free in the summer months.
So that was our Christmas trip in a nutshell. I hope that you all had a great Christmas and New Years and that 2013 brings wonderful things for everyone!
