Christmas 2014

So it was our turn to spend Christmas with Boyce's family, and true to tradition, we traveled down to Bakersfield, CA, to be with the fam. But before we went to his parents' house, we first ventured to Dana Point and had some beach time for a day. We had fun!

The weather was warm, and the water felt good!

After our little day-trip to the beach, we headed for Boyce's parents' house in Bako. It was going to be a full house, with Boyce's brother Shad and his family, his sister Megi and her husband and five kids, his sister Lindy and husband and her two kids, and then his brother Eric and wife and their four kids. Wow! And let me tell ya', did we have a ball! Here's some pictures depicting the fun and chaos of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning!

Grandpa Doug reading Luke 2 on Christmas Eve.

All the girlies with their jammy pants from Grandma Rinez! Thank you Grandma!

Connor looking at his new PJs from Grandma Rinez.

Opening stockings.

A new scooter? Thank you, Santa!

Thank you Papa John for this awesome garbage truck!

Papa John also scored points for this fabulous Elsa doll!

A wider view of the Christmas chaos. Note: There is more chaos behind the camera, too. Not pictured anywhere is the massive snow blower I got Boyce for Christmas that for some hare-brained reason I decided to ship to Bako, which of course we had to haul home.

Lucky Grace got to hold Baby Tyce!

While we were there, sweet Grandpa Doug and Grandma Rinez got gingerbread houses for each of our families to decorate.

So much fun!

We also had some great family bonding time, of course!

Fun family breakfasts!

Check out the look on their faces playing this game!

Ethan and Connor having a blast with Aunt Lindy's gear! PS: Aunt Lindy and Connor became besties over the Christmas holiday. Boy did he miss her when we left!

Connor loved to sneak into Boyce's stocking while there and pull out his Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Hilarious!

Lots of the family went roller skating. Me (being seemingly a million months pregnant) and Connor stayed at home.

On New Year's Eve, our family and Lindy's went to a bounce house place and let the kids get some energy out. Who knew they'd be throwing a New Year's bash.

AJ and Grace: Best friends or enemies at any given moment!

Then later that night, Lindy and Doug and Rinez watched our kiddos while we snuck out and enjoyed a little date night at a cute Italian restaurant in Bakersfield that neither of us had ever been to.

All in all, we had a fantastic Christmas. We are so blessed and thankful we got to spend the holidays with our wonderful family!