The desert was pretty. We made a couple stops along the way: once in El Centro to let Will climb around in the McDonald's play place (though Lorne just drank coffee there, we ate elsewhere...though Church's Chicken was probably greasier than anything we could have eaten from McDonald's); once along the side of the road in the desert (shortly after I took the above picture with my phone); once in Parker for gas; once in Lake Havasu for dinner at the brewery (which was pretty good!); and then once again about 40 miles outside of Lake Havasu because everyone was screaming. Road trips with young children are awesome!
We met Grandma Diane, Uncle Jon, and Cousin Emma at a hotel in Flagstaff. No pictures of this for today.
On Monday, we went to see Santa so the kids could tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Evie, Will, and Emma
Santa wasn't too busy, so he let us get some pictures of all the kids individually as well.
That night we had the kids decorate the sugar cookies Lorne and Will baked up a few days before. Yes, we brought cookies with to decorate in a hotel.
We got the frosting bottles at Michael's before we left after Will had such a good time using squeezy frosting bottles at the cookie decorating party at our apartment a couple weeks ago. I think the bottles are supposed to be used for royal icing, but I thought the thickness of buttercream would be a little less messy for the kids.
Sneaking M&Ms was Will's favorite part of decorating.
It was definitely less messy than using a knife, so I think we'll be doing it again next time we do sugar cookies.
On Tuesday, we went to the Grand Canyon.
Everyone was all, "Oh, the Grand Canyon? In December? It's going to be cold." And I was all, "Whatever." But dude. It was COLD. Super windy. Then it started raining.
Hey, look at that big hole. Can we go inside yet?
When Lorne and I went to the Grand Canyon on our first anniversary, we saw some kids climbing fences and dangling over sheer cliffs, and Laurel almost had a heart attack, so we spent a lot of time talking with Will about how he HAD to hold hands at the Grand Canyon and be very careful. On our walk from the parking lot to the overlook center thing, which was like, a half mile, Will refused to walk anywhere near the side of the path that was closest to the canyon. And he walked. Very. Very. Slowly. Lorne made it to the center a good 20 minutes before Will and I did. Perhaps we were a little TOO zealous. But it's nice to know he pays attention, right?
He made it back to the car, safe and sound.
On Wednesday, we drove back to San Diego, once again via Lake Havasu City. Lake Havasu City is perhaps best known because they purchased London Bridge in 1968.
The London Bridge. From London. They spent $2.5 million to purchase it, and another $7.5 million to have it dismantled and rebuilt in Arizona. Rumor has it they thought London Bridge was this bridge:
Will and Lorne in April of 2009. No Bud Light boats in the background here, and I think London is the poorer city for it.
which is, of course, Tower Bridge. Poor Lake Havasu.
They have a ridiculous British-themed tourist trap at the base of the bridge, but the tourists, I believe, come when it's warmer.
Also, this happened:
Then there was the torrential downpours on the way home. All the way through the desert.
On Thursday, we made Nanaimo bars and got Will a haircut. And also took no pictures.
On Friday, we went up to Gramma Jo's house. We totally failed to all look at the camera at the same time.
Evie did a better job later.
Someone was excited about Christmas.
Evie opened her first present.
On Saturday, it was Christmas.
Will got a bike. He was far less entertained by it than he was this Thomas tent:
Santa brought Evie this little baby activity center thing. Evie was not impressed.
Santa also brought Evie an owl like Will's lion that he sleeps with. Will helped pick it out. Evie now sleeps with the owl every night.
Will checks out his bike.
He took it out for a spin.
Will and Lorne also played Will's new Dinosaur Train matching game. Will's pretty good at it.
No one is very good at family pictures.
Not pictured: The amazing Christmas dinner Lorne made. A whole prime rib roast with asparagus and scalloped potatoes. Amazing.
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