Joshua Tree National Park

One of the things Darrell wanted to do when we were in California was go to Joshua Tree National Park.  Thanks to Tyler's 4th grade National Park pass, we got in free.

On the way we had to take a picture of the exit for Tyler Street.



We had a picnic lunch at the visitor center before heading into the park.



Tyler, Carol, Emily, Megan



Snuggles and Rainbow balancing in our rental van.  (So...I forgot to reserve a van when I made the plane reservations, so we were down to slim pickings of rental places and vehicles.  This 15-passenger van was what was available, so we went with it.)



The trees and scenery at Joshua Tree Park were so unique!  The kids loved climbing all over the rocks.

Emily (blue shirt), Tyler and Megan (purple shirt)





















Megan, Carol, Emily and Tyler



Such fascinating scenery!

California

We headed to California on December 27.  We left our house at 5:15 a.m. and this is what the security line looked like at 6:05 a.m.  We were all the way back by the baggage claim area.



We were SURE we were going to miss our 6:50 flight, but luckily they employed a K-9 dog to walk up and down the line to sniff out anything suspicious.  Amazingly we were able to make it to our gate by 6:35 a.m. They were behind at the gate, so we ended up being just fine. (Whew!)



We loved the warm weather once we got to California.  Tyler went out and swept the sidewalk.




It was like Christmas all over again.  The kids opened presents from Carol and Brenda.





One of the Carol's presents was Build-a-Bear animals for the kids, so we headed to the mall.

The kids making their wishes, etc.



Megan with Rainbow, the unicorn, Emily with Snuggles the puppy and Tyler with Fuzzy, the Star Wars bear



Emily with Snuggles in the backpack.



Night, night!



We went to watch the movie "Ferdinand" and had to get our traditional picture out by the HUGE Christmas tree.



Enjoying the beautiful weather and playing catch.



Emily and Megan loved making these cute initial pillows that Brenda gave them for Christmas.





The final products





Tyler and Grandma playing BB8 Operation



The kids still love heading to the park whenever we're in California.  Who doesn't love soaking up some sun in the middle of winter?

Emily



Tyler



Megan





We loved visiting Grandma in California!

December

We made ginger bread cookies at the beginning of December

Emily, Megan and Tyler







Tyler with all of his stuffed animals lined up and ready to go to sleep.



We had a faculty and family Christmas party at the school.  Emily gave the pinata a whack and broke it.  Poor Olaf!





I did the school choir, The Neil Armstrong Academy Rocketeers, only in the fall to prepare for a Christmas concert.  There over 80 kids who participated this year.



And with their Santa hats and candy canes.



My parents came down for the performance.  They treated us to Menchies afterward. (Megan, Tyler and Emily



And brought a rose for Tyler and a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me.



The following week we had a Rocketeers cast party.





After seeing Santa at the mall (no pictures), we stopped at Arctic Circle for a treat.  Tyler, me and Emily.



Tyler was chosen as "Top Eagle" for his class.



We received a little bit of snow, which made for a little bit of a snowman. (Megan)





We had a special Christmas party at church with traditional food that Mary and Joseph made have eaten.  Emily was sick, but Megan, Tyler and I went.  Here they are in "traditional" clothing, while we ate on a blanket on the floor.



Tyler and I left early because we had tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert.  We took 2 of Tyler's friends.  We walked a ways to get there, so we had to stop and get a picture with the Salt Lake Temple behind.



Taylor, Bennett and Tyler



Tyler and me



It was a wonderful concert.



Later in the month we went downtown to see the lights on Temple Square.








Megan, Emily and Tyler



We stopped at Denny's afterwards for a treat. (Megan and Tyler)



The schools' traditional Christmas sing-a-long

Tyler (green shirt and Santa hat)



Emily (pink robe)



Megan (Santa hat and blanket)



The kids were invited to a birthday party at a trampoline place.  They had fun.

Megan




Emily







Tyler





We went to see Star Wars--The Last Jedi.  Poor Megan didn't feel well.







Tyler using his early Christmas present from my parents--a book light.



Our traditional gingerbread village houses (Emily and Megan--not sure why I don't have a picture of Tyler.





Here is my little creation.



Our traditional "sleep by the Christmas tree on December 23"