The Thomsons: Over the River and Through Barstow to California We Go! Merry Christmas!

Christmas tree before and after!

Christmas was so fun this year with Lincoln! We drove nearly 1,600 miles to see all of our family and friends. Lincoln loved meeting everyone and was really good. Our plan was to leave Thursday after I got off work at 3:00 pm but Sheehan got a call for a good paying inspection at 2:00 pm so we decided to take that job before leaving. We ended up being out the door at 7:30 pm. Our first stop was in Las Vegas to visit his brothers and his Mom (Colleen).

Lincoln on the drive

We got there at about 12:30 am (midnight) and visited with Sheridan until 2:00 am. Lincoln was having a great time and thought it was time to party. He didn't want to go to sleep he was having so much fun visiting. We woke up around 6:00 am the next morning and headed out at 7:30 am. We got a little lost finding Colleen's new place but eventually found it and headed to a Cafe in Boulder City called The Coffee Cup. We met up with Seth and his girls there and visited for a couple hours. By 1:00 pm we were back on the road and made our way to Hesperia to visit with Sheehan's Grandma Patty Wonser (Colleen's Mom). We met at Carrow's where we had "linner." Shanette met up with us and Patty brought Payne along (Shena's son).

Shanette and Lincoln

Payne and Lincoln

Grandma Patty and Lincoln

We had a really good time and Lincoln loved visiting with everyone. He is a busy body. Grandma Bev calls him "Bright Eyes." Our next stop was to Apple Valley to visit with Great Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa David (Sheehan's Grandma and Dad).

Lincoln with Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Pat

We stayed the night there, which we did not plan on, but it worked out better than planned. We were exhausted from traveling and the next morning Sheehan's Aunts and Uncles showed up from Sacramento and Texas. We were able to see some of the remodeling David did to his place and have breakfast with Sheehan's grandparents.

An old picture of Sheehan's Dad David (Left), Grandma Marilyn, and Aunt Diana (Right)

Everyone was so good to Lincoln and he passed out in broad daylight with everyone around which was a first. He was going and going until the last minute.

Around 12:30 pm we headed to Tehachapi and stopped in Sand Canyon to shoot some new guns Sheehan and Devin bought. Deven Perry, Dad (Kevin Haub), Devin and Julianne Haub, and my Mom all met us there. The boys had so much fun. Lincoln and I hung out in the motor home while everyone else shot away. We finally arrived in Tehachapi exhausted but happy. The next morning we went to church with my family in our good ol' Bear Valley home ward. It was so fun to see everyone and feel the love and excitement they have for us and for little Lincoln. After church Kohly met up with us at my parent's house in Bear Valley. She brought her little boy Wade. The pictures from that visit are in the Buddies post.

Sunday night we had a reunion game night but we were missing some friends who could not make it. We still had fun and even played Scattergories (one of my favorites!) with Lauren on speaker phone with us.

Monday (Christmas Eve) we went to Lancaster to visit with Grandpa Haub and a couple aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Haub side. We did a little skit. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzm7NEKyJjc

Our family with Grandpa Haub

Devin's family with Grandpa Haub

Christmas morning was at my parent's house. We slept in, had breakfast, then finally got around to some presents. Here is mom directing us and giving us our gifts.

Mom's Christmas Tree

Linko LOVED all of the wrapping paper and excitement. We got him a little Scout dog for Christmas.

Gifts from Papi and Gigi

Alyssa's left-handed can opener

We got games for our Christmas gifts from my parents. Can't wait to play them!

Devin and Julianne. Baby Jacquelyn's first Christmas!

Linko's gift from Papi and Gigi.

Any more gifts?

He was a busy boy. Checking everything out.

After some Christmas gifts we moved on to Sheehan's birthday. He handed out his collared shirt party favors and got some survival things and knives from my parents. Sheehan has been really into emergency supplies, guns, and knives lately. He loved all the gifts! Later in the afternoon we made our way to Valencia where we met up with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Nelson side. We had a birthday cake for Sheehan and some Moose Tracks ice cream (Sheehan's favorite ice cream).