So it seems like everyone, Except Elder Tim of course, is planning on coming home for Christmas!! And by home, yes I do mean Southern California. And by southern California I mean AppleValley, yuk, and hopefully a trip or two up to the snow in beautiful, wonderful, Big Bear. Anticipating this awesome time we'll have to celebrate together, I would like everyone to respond to this post with their plans in order to avoid our inevitable miscommunications. Be as specific as possible with dates you'll be around and such.
We are so looking forward to seeing you all! With my classes ending Dec 16th and not starting until Jan 7th, we'll be more flexible as well. One big thing that needs to be worked out is the sleeping arrangements for these poor pregnant ladies, the other girls, and the guys and of course all the kiddos (lots of kids, this is going to be awesome). Luke, Leona, and Emma can't wait to see their cousins and are so excited for Christmas.
One idea I want to pass by is for Christmas Eve dinner. Sarah and I have done this every year since we've been married and it's spiritual as well as fun and the kids really enjoy it too. We have what we call a Joseph and Mary dinner. We cook fish (with lemon and garlic) and get pita bread, cheese, olives and grape juice. Then we lay a blanket on the floor and watch "The Nativity" while eating dinner. I know Mom and Dad will also want to show their art presentation as well, so we need to fit that in. And for Christmas morning Sarah and I want to try making cinnamon rolls again (this time thoroughly cooked).
Obviously a trip up to go sledding has to be planned as well. And don't forget Sarah's Bday. We are up for suggestions, but I wanted this to be a beginning to get all the kinks worked out so that we can maximize our fun once everyone starts arriving.
Love you all! -Thom
We are SOOO excited! It's kind of crazy cause this will be the first Christmas I will be out there for all the fun (I have come the day after Christmas but never for the whole Christmas Holiday). Our plans right now which could always change if we found a better job for Matt are as follows: We will drive out either on Sunday (Dec. 23rd)and then probably drive back home on Friday or Saturday (Dec. 28th or 29th) just depends on how we are feeling and how Abby is doing. We most likely will leave on Friday so we can have a couple of days to recuperate back at home. As far as plans while down there we are just leaving it up to our amazing Cali fam to plan for us, LOL! Whatever you guys wanna do sounds good to us, we are just excited to see everyone :)
ReplyDeleteNow remember our plans could change pretty drasticly if Matt finds a better job...meaning he may not have the time off anymore. Another thing we have to consider is with his current job he doesn't have Paid Time Off so whatever time we take off we aren't getting any money from his work...taking a whole week off may not be the best idea. That being said we really hope for a Christmas miracle and we can make it for at least a couple days.
ReplyDeleteChristmas fish sounds good. We have to have the good olives, not the black or the green but the good ones from the mediterainian that still have the seeds. Those are amazing! I still am unsure of what days exactly but I think I have to be back to work on the 28th but should get my schedule soon. As for sleeping give me a piece of the floor anywhere and I will be good. Or give me a seat in a car, I don't care, just as long as I am there.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, Just remember that we have lots of couch and floor space just a hop, jump, and a skip away from the parents house. We love you and can't wait to see you!
ReplyDeleteOur plans are not set in stone yet, but we have generalities. We are heading down sometime around Friday the 21st (we get out of school on the 18th so it's just a matter of having time to clean and pack as well as avoiding southbound traffic). We come back to the Bay on Friday January 11th (Tim has a bro-date in Las Vegas with all the guys in his family Jan 8-10 and since we don't have school or work conflicts at that time and we're so close, we thought we would have an extended vacation). Needless to say, we are pretty open. I guess I should disclose that we are planning a short jaunt to San Diego at some point though. Don't worry, we're also planning a jaunt to Big Bear too (weather permitting).
ReplyDeleteAs far as sleeping arrangements go, I told mom and dad that they should have bought a house with more bedrooms! I told them that during the holidays they would be wishing for more space to put all the bodies from their ever growing family! They should have listened.
So mom and dad have a room, grandma and grandpa have a room, and Nick has a room, which leaves the living room, the dining room, the family room, the food storage room and the killing shed out back. Since we do have pregnant ladies to consider I think they need to play paper, rock, scissors to see who gets the food storage room so they can have late night munchies available. My only concern is having somewhere dark and quiet for Adelaide to sleep or else she wont and right now I'm calling "not it" if she gets a bad case of the sleep-deprived grumps.
As far as Christmas Eve dinner goes...Uhm, Tim and I don't eat fish. It's gross. We're still contemplating raising Adelaide to think that fish are, in fact, not even edible. Also, I really love having a fancy Christmas Eve dinner, it's a huge part of celebrating for us. I was thinking, maybe, what if we did the Joseph and Mary dinner along with the Nativity on Christmas day? That way preparing dinner on Christmas day would not be too overwhelming and it would also bring us back to Christ after a day of gift giving/receiving. It's just a thought as a way to incorporate both traditions. What do you all think?
We got a snowsuit for Addie from Tim's sister!! It says twelve months but looks like it's for a two year old...So we'll see, but we are excited for sledding and snow fun with all the kids!
Also, Tim pointed out that Les Miserables comes out while we're down there and we would love to go see it sometime.
Sorry that was so long...you did say be detailed.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to update everyone...our plans are a little more set in stone now. The only thing we see changing them would be if Matt got a better job offer and wouldn't get time off to come out. However since we don't know what will happen for sure we will just assume everything is good to go!
ReplyDeleteOur plans as of now are as follows:
We are leaving super bright and early Sunday morning (Dec. 23rd) and hopefully getting to Apple Valley as soon as possible!
As far as sleeping arrangements go wherever you can fit us we will be happy...of course if it's comfortable that will be even better but we aren't too picky (even if I will be seven months pregnant, you learn that when you're pregnant you're just never gonna be comfy so no use complaining about it, lol). We will have Abby's portable crib (though she can climb out of it now).
On the 24th and 25th we are just along for the ride. Whatever everyone else wants to do we are good. We really haven't established a lot of traditions yet so it will be fun to see what everyone else does.
Currently we are thinking about coming home on Wednesday the 26th. We realize this will make for one quick trip but with Matt not getting holiday pay or vacation pay we need to get home sooner then later so he can make up the hours.
That's pretty much it. We aren't really making any firm plans since we really don't know what will happen. Keep your fingers crossed Matt will find a better job that also let's him take a couple days off around Christmas, that would be a Christmas miracle!!!