Christmas in California: Before Christmas

And so begins the 12 hour escapade to California...

Hard to believe it had been a whole year since we were there last.  It was Brynnlee's first time, and she had many people to meet.

It was also her first long car trip.

We had been putting it off because of her initial hatred of being in a carseat.  But then it was Christmas.  Time to just suck it up and do it.  And so... I did what I could to make sure this baby never got bored.  (Notice the set up... 3 pacifiers, and about 9 or 10  different toys all attached and within reach.  2 of them even played music... that's how nervous we were.)

One of the first people she got to meet when we arrived was her Great Grandpa Burkhart.  He was also in CA for Christmas.  Unfortunately his new bride, Anita, was still in Arizona.

We ALL got to meet Brynnlee's twin cousin, Zoe.  She started making this growly face, it was hilarious!

And while I sat there snapping pictures, Bradley started posing for me...

What a ham!

And guess who just became the most "hippest Great Grandpa Burkhart?"  You guessed it.  Great Grandpa Burkhart, of course!  Yep.  He has an iPad.  Charles was only a little jealous.  :)  And Jaden had a blast introducing him to the world of Angry Birds.

We also tried to get him setup with a facebook account, but had trouble getting him online...

Next we have Christmas Eve.  Melanie and John just bought a nice huge mansion and so not only did my family sleep there, but most of the happenings went on there as well.  Christmas eve dinner, Christmas morning, Christmas dinner... just to name a few.

Not only did we have great Grandpa Burkhart joining us, but we also had Aunt Shel, (who the boys can't stop talking about!) Randy and Jade.

Christmas Eve dinner, John and Charles spoiled all of us with a big, juicy Prime Rib and some twice baked potatoes.  Mmmmmm... 

Y'know, most people like to turn away from me when I have out the camera, or just roll their eyes and get all uncomfortable... But not Jade... Haha!  I like him!

Here's the kids' table... There were 2 more tables for all the adults.  I think we had 20 people there that night, and 4 more the next night.

But we were still missing Chuck.

We were all very sad that he wasn't around this trip, and it really felt different without him.  But we also totally understood his absence and were glad that he could be there for his own dad.  (Great Grandpa Socci was on the verge of a possible amputation due to an infection in his leg.)

After a while the boys left to watch a movie?  A football game?

The girls played...

and Bradley helped the grown-ups clean up.

Then Uncle Forrest and Aunt Michelle surprised everyone with a special Christmas Eve surprise.  Can you guess what it is?  I think I'm the only one I know who doesn't do this tradition.  I think I may have to jump on the bandwagon.

Aunt Michelle and Uncle Forrest are the coolest!

Somewhere there is a picture with ALL the grandkids in their Christmas PJs.  But it never made it to my camera.

I think right after this we went to go look at Christmas lights on that one insanely decorated street.  The kids loved it.  Then we came back to play a little more.

Brynnlee started this tongue thing while we were there, it was cracking me up!

And right before heading off to bed to wait for Santa, Kaleb needed to hang with the big boys.  He loved to grab a seat next to them, start his own game, just like them, and drink a can of... soda... just like them. :)  He's even working on his Poker Face.