So it's February and I'm now just posting about Christmas and our fabulous trip home!! It's been a bit busy here but I like busy! Keeps me busy!! haha!!! Anyway, we had a good Christmas which was a real strange one this year since we only have Dylan left at home. It was also a bitter/sweet one because on the bitter side, it was Dylan's last Christmas home before his mission but on the sweet side, it's Derek's last Christmas away from home while on his mission!! So I was very blue at times because of it being Dylan's last one and also because none of the other boys were here. Made me feel un-Santa-ish. Then a spark of joy would hit when I thought about next Christmas when Derek would just be getting home and Eddy, Miken, Chandler and Marissa will all be here!! We'll be missing Dylan (understatement) but counting down the days until he'll get home, but I'll have 3 out of 4 boys here! Plus two beautiful D-I-L's!!
This year we wanted to make Christmas special for Dylan so I had him make a few requests. His first one was two trees decorated...the family room tree that has all of our old ornaments like the boys' school made ones, our first ornaments from our very first tree, and the wood ones that we cut and painted ourselves plus just a bunch of miscellaneous ones we've collected over the years, oh and colored lights. Then he also wanted a front room tree (we didn't do it last year) but a fresh cut one. Okay...we can do that! While Eddy and Miken were here for Thanksgiving they went with us to buy a tree and we traveled all the way to....Home Depot!! Heck...those tree lots are a rip off!! Our tree was quite fresh and smelled heavenly. Dylan definitely wanted the fresh pine scent!
This is our family room tree...same tree lit and unlit and at different angles. This tree is always the boys' favorite so I didn't think Dylan would really care if we had another tree or not, but he did so we did!
The front room tree...white lights, red and gold ornaments, other red and gold stuff, bows of ribbon, nutcrackers, cardinals, snowflakes, stars etc... It was very stuffed but you can't see it all in the picture. It did smell sooooo good!! Like back home!
The following are pictures of a Red Fox and a Lynx fur that Derek sent home from Alaska. Why are they hanging you ask? Good question! Because Derek DARED me to!!! So I hung them up, took a picture to send to him to prove I would hang them, then took them down and they are now in his bedroom all safe and warm! They are pretty cool though! The fur is very soft but the faces are freaky cause of the eye holes. He is very happy about these and I was instructed to take great care of them.
The wonderful Thomas family makes us Christmas cookies every year and delivers them Christmas Eve. We love this family (Kip, the dad, isn't pictured) they are so sweet and Monica (the one in the Santa hat) is one of Dylan's best friends. They are so thoughtful...we love 'em!! Oh, and the cookies are yummy!!!
So on Christmas Eve we always open our PJ's and the boys get to open their gifts that they have given one another. They draw for names and Derek had Dylan's for so you can imagine what kind of gifts he gives!
I'll explain as you scroll.
This first one is a door hanger that says "Keep Out...Bear Naked". It now hangs on Dylan's bathroom door. I like the pose the bear is making!
This would be "Polar Bear Poop" (you can kinda see the Polar bear walking toward the outhouse...haha!)
An Indian (maybe Eskimo) Dream Catcher and a book of the Northern Lights which
have always fascinated Dylan.
Since Dylan was the only one here for, "Christmas Eve unwrappings", it went really fast!!
So we went to bed right after (since he woke us up at 5:00!!).
Christmas Morning...just Dylan opening gifts. It was quiet!!
No pictures of Alan or I on Christmas morning...as if!
Our stocking holder Christmas morning...can you tell who wasn't here? Their socks didn't get stuffed!
When I asked Dylan what his greatest dream was for his last Christmas home prior to mission he replied "going to Washington to see Dominic". I said that, that wouldn't be happening and then we made it happen hoping to surprise him. I accidently let the cat out of the bag on Christmas Eve!! Needless to say, he was over the moon excited!!!
Two days after Christmas we left Texas and flew to Washington!! Our first stop was Seattle but we only drove through in order to get to Arlington...HOME!! We couldn't wait to get to Dominic and Rella's and spend a few days with them and see some of our closest friends. The morning after we got there it started snowing and snowing and snowing! Dylan was in HEAVEN!! He was finally "home" and it was snowing...so far, his every wish was coming true.
Above and below are trees that we had planted on our 5 acres. Alan didn't take pictures of our home, barn and the rest of the acreage because it was so awful. It was heart breaking. Our place was right across a small dirt lane from Dominic and Rella's so we walked over to it and walked around a bit. When I stepped foot on our ground and looked at how run down and trashed everything was, I started to cry. We loved that place and worked so hard on it...especially Alan!! He built our barn! Not only did he build it but he drew the plans and designed it to fill our needs...I loved that barn! We couldn't take pictures of it now because it was so grossly taken care of...made me sick. Alan also planted the 80 fruit trees (which are dead or so overgrown they are splitting), 100 blueberry bushes, two rows of raspberries, grapes and also a large garden (all of which again have been neglected and are ruined). He also built the footings for our house and built the pump house, too.
Bud and Colleen's place that was next right across the lane from us.
When you go to the Seattle area you have to go to Ballard and visit Larson's Bakery!! It is a Danish bakery that melts your mouth with their beyond amazing pastries! We found this place when we first moved to western Washington and Alan was drawn to it since it was a Danish bakery. He went to Denmark on his mission and always talked about the pastries there and that nothing here in the U.S.A could compare. He fell in love with this place...said it was the real deal!! This is a Kringle from there and we ended up going there twice (which was out of the way both times...but so worth it!). We also have a couple of other favorite things there but didn't get a picture since we consumed them so fast!! Looking at the picture makes a mouth water especially if you know what it tastes like...
We were able to go and visit Lyle and Ina Hjort. Ina is a great friend of mine that I miss greatly. We got to know when we were in the Primary presidency together. Lyle happened to have a guitar so Dylan played and sang a few songs for them and then Lyle got out his HUGE Bass and played along. It was great fun!
Here are the two people that really is the reason that took us to Washington. Dominic and Rella are so special to us. They lived across the lane from us and became instant family. The boys followed Dominic every where he went. They helped him rake leaves and he would give them a ride in the wheelbarrow. Rella and I shared many books, recipes and secrets! They became like grandparents to Alan and I and great grandparents to the boys. Leaving Arlington was so hard to do because of them. It was so wonderful being with them again!! It felt like going home...Dominic is now 95!! He's been retired for 30 years! We love them dearly and miss them even more. Now I want to go see them more often and I'll be able to this July!! Yay! We miss them...
On the way to Eastern Washington, we went over Steven's Pass and had to stop in Leavenworth! Leavenworth is this little German village and it is where Alan took me on our first date. We love Leavenworth because it is so unique and quaint. The snow was piled high and it was chilly. We could have stayed there all day but were anxious to get to my folks. Dylan has better pics but can't get them downloaded for some reason. Stopping here was also a highlight.
We got to Ephrata and of course the next morning this is what we see! Mom and Dad in the kitchen fixing up breakfast!! Dad is famous for his buttermilk pancakes and then Mom makes a buttermilk syrup that is the yummiest thing you'll ever have!! These two are always cooking up somethin' and it's usually a treat. I'm not sure where they get all of their recipes but I know my Dad has done much searching on the internet and now has a binder filled with wonderful yummy things to fix for us all.
The famous DK's drive-in! Going here always takes me back to High School and cruising the strip of Main street. It is a legend and still has the best tater rounds and tarter sauce. YUM!
I think you are getting the general idea that on our trip we did a lot of consuming really good food! Whenever you go back to your "stomping grounds" it's just natural to want to eat at the places that you grew up on and where you cannot find anywhere else. Chico's is such the place!! There is no pizza like it anywhere. The pictures do not do the pizzas justice as they are piled high with everything that is bad for you!! However, we indulge because we only visit every other year or so. Okay...so now I have a craving writing this!
On my birthday my Mom made her Angel Food cake that once again only she can make perfect. I like how each candle represents 10 years of my life. Turning 30 was very hard but everyone has to age at some point!
The family gathered together at LaVoy's for my b-day. I haven't had a birthday with my family for years and years. It was so wonderful to be with them all. Below from left to right, Alan, my beautiful Mom, my trendy and cute sis Mimi, my one and very favorite brother Travis, handsome Dad wearing a very awesome hat and my beautiful sister LaVoy in the for front prepping to feed everyone. In the picture below is Landon (Mimi's son) Mike (Mimi's hubby) and Susan (Travis' wife) I LOVE my family!!!!
Our childhood friend Perry, and his wife Dawn, came from Spokane to see us. Alan and Perry were best friends growing up and they were, how can I say it...a little adventurous?
LaVoy and Mimi (her name is Marion in case you didn't know). They orchestrated the amazing dinner which was exactly like Cafe Rio!! Just look at them...how can you help but not love 'em? They are two of the most loving and caring women I know. I want to grow up to be just like them!
I was so glad Kylie was home from BYU-I!! I love this girl! LaVoy wouldn't let me have her when she was born so I just got the privilege of being her Aunt.
The day of good-byes. Not fun...but aren't my parents so cute?!! I always hate leaving them never knowing when I'll see them next. This time though I knew that I'd see them at the family reunion this Summer...YAY!!
So this ends our Christmas of 2010 and our 2011 winter trip to Washington. Great memories were made, love shared, tears shed and as always much laughter!! Not only was Dylan's Christmas wish granted but so was mine. It doesn't get better than this.
(I finally posted, Miken!)
Derek
Dylan
Dad & Mom
Taylor, Kristin, & Colby
