Thanksgiving in California

When Marcus found out that he had to make a work trip to L.A. during Thanksgiving week, he asked if I wanted to make a family trip out of it and have Thanksgiving with my brother Chris. I did! We had initially thought that with the new baby, we would prefer to just stay put at home throughout the holiday season. But by the time this opportunity arose, the trip seemed more doable. I was a bit apprehensive because during routine trips out to run errands, Holly pretty much haaaaates being in her car seat, so I worried that she might just scream for the whole trip. On the other hand, she is also a good napper, and so I figured that between her naps, and having one non-driving, hands-free adult at all times to soothe and binkify her when she cried, that maybe we could pull it off. And we did. She did have some spells of being very fussy, but it was much better than the worst case scenario for which I’d prepared myself.

We didn’t do much in California, besides hang out with Chris when he was available, and of course Marcus had his thing in L.A. Emrick seemed to enjoy the change of scenery, though. I think when we first told him that we were going to Grandma Cinda and Grandpa Ed’s house, he couldn’t quite picture what that was. It had been nearly a year since he was there. But once we walked in the door, it must have all clicked for him because he went immediately to the family room and asked about the stash of toys that Grandma had always kept for him. I looked inside the storage ottoman and found the fabric cube full of little toys, just as we both remembered.

Anyway, hanging out and not doing much was pretty nice. We didn’t even cook. Chris had the idea to order a pre-cooked Thanksgiving meal, and so we got one from Marie Callender’s. It was pretty good!

Emrick flips through one of Grandma’s puzzle books.

Emrick greets Holly on our first morning in California.

A slight grin for Mommy.

Holly, swaddled.

Holly, unswaddled. That wet spot is a spit-up stain, by the way.

Look at those beautiful eyes.

Here. Look closer.

Even as he plays games on Daddy’s phone, Emrick keeps one eye on Holly.

This is Holly on Thanksgiving morning, fresh from a quick, laundry sink bath.

Emrick hangs out in one of G+G’s red chairs. Next to him is Grandma’s old, old, OLD recipe box.

Once again, Emrick gets close to Holly while she lies on the floor. That’s Mommy’s old baby blanket that she’s lying on — a blanket made for me by Grandma Betty and later restored for me by my mom Cinda.

Awww.

Holly with her hair finally dry. Daddy props her up on the kitchen island while the pre-cooked turkey breast is being reheated in the oven.

Hey, girlie!

My sweet girl.

Dinner is served. Yes, that plate drowning in gravy in the foreground is mine.

Emrick plays with those toys he had immediately asked for.

Hey, crazy eyes!

Hey, smiley!

Bye-bye, Uncle Chris!

We got back to our house in Utah on Sunday evening, and on Wednesday Marcus had to leave town again for a few days. He got home yesterday afternoon, his plane landing safely in the middle of a snowstorm that still has not let up.