This year was Christmas with the McKinleys. That means it was to be full of adventure, entertainment, good food, and relaxing. I drove down a few days earlier than Brandon since he was going to be working until Christmas Eve. Gotta help those patients! So, I loaded Christmas into the van (not an easy feat) and trucked down to Pleasanton.
We spent the first few days relaxing. Grandpa took Brady and Lucy on countless bike rides in his cool
bike seat. Lucy must have asked him for a ride at least 100 times. The best part is that every single time she asked him, Grandpa obliged enthusiastically. She is so indulged. He also took Brady on a trip to the donut shop. Granny played with and cooked for the kids, and took them to see the new Chipmunks movie. I got to spend time with my sister Jessica and brother Mike while snuggling with Clark.
Brandon began his trip down to Pleasanton early on Christmas Eve. He didn't want to drive his car down because it has a lot of miles on it, and he didn't want to drive two cars back. So, he decided to take a few trains down. He started on the Light Rail to Sacramento. It was his misfortune that someone had cut into their tracks and stole copper wire, which delayed his train, in turn making him miss his Amtrak train by a matter of seconds. So, he was stuck in Sacramento for a few extra hours. Finally, he caught the next train and proceeded to the bay area, where he took a BART train to Fremont to meet us for dinner. All in all, it took him SEVEN hours to make a 1 hr. 45 min. trip. Worth it? I'm sure he'd do it again. :)
Here are the kids in their Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve. I don't know if this series of photos makes me want to laugh or cry. Here are my sweet, loving children in front of the Christmas tree in their new PJ's. Oh, what is that that Lucy is doing? Pinching Clark?
I know that face a mile away. That is the "I'm gonna pinch you" face, with clenched teeth. My poor baby, and poor Lucy (in a roundabout way) because if she hadn't been teased in a similar fashion, she probably wouldn't be pinching him right now.
Clark's reaction
Round 2. Pardon the yellow photos. Lucy decides to poke him instead. Brady keeps on-a-smilin.
"Sister, why are you bothering me?"
The sad part is that I wasn't aware of the situation, I was just clicking away.
Yikes! Scary face, Brady! He was getting mad at me because I wanted him to hold Clark, and he was getting impatient and Clark started slipping.
Their letters to Santa. Can you tell we hammered the whole "Santa might not bring you anything if you're not good" idea into their heads? And Brady did not receive a zip line. He rode on one at a soccer party and it's his new dream to have on in our backyard.
Christmas morning rolls around. My mom and I get everything ready. We get the Christmas music turned on, our traditional pot of cheese fondue and bread ready to serve, and wait for everyone to wake up. The kids were very anxious to come out.
Lucy must have been a good girl this year. Santa brought her a big new
dollhouse. She loves it! She also got a collection of princess shoes, a few barbies, a baby (from the dollar store, it's already in the trash), a jewelry box, some new clothes.
Santa brought Brady a drum set (it was digital, and has since been returned to...the North Pole...simply because I knew he wouldn't play with them all that much. He got Wii Super Mario Brothers instead), and we gave him a Leapster 2 + Spongebob game, some new clothes (he liked his new sweater, but wished it had Luke Skywalker on it instead), a Bakugan set, and his favorite - a whoopie cushion.
I got some new
boots, a few items of clothing, my mom got me this cool candle, my dad got us a SUPER magnified mirror. Brandon and I both got Sonicare toothbrushes.
Brandon received some BYU paraphernalia (which he disapproved of, so his dad exchanged them for something new on his Utah trip), a
CD of church hymns (AMAZING - I highly recommend it), and
this book on CD.
Clark had a good Christmas because he got a bubble bath given to him by 3 teenage girls. Lucky boy!
Watching TV
With Aunt Jessie
My dad and Grandma (She'll be 91 in 2 weeks)
My mom has perfected her Turkey dinner. She added crab legs to the menu, much to Brandon and Brady's delight.
Oh Lucy...you remind me of myself. That is so something I would have done as a little girl.
When we came home, we had a visit from Brandon's Grandma K. We don't see her as often as we should.
What a wonderful Christmas! That said, I'm glad it's all over, and now we can relax.
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