Edwards Happenings: A Different Christmas

Our Christmas vacation was a little different this year. I say different instead of bad, because with each curve ball we were thrown, it provided for something good. Thanks to Eugene's help, I was able to get all my work hours done by Thursday, so we left first thing Friday morning for CA. It was kind of humorous (or maddening) because our children rarely sleep past 8:00 and never do they both sleep in. However, Friday morning Eugene and I both were up early, had the car packed and ready to go and both kids slept until about 9am! The one morning in the past YEAR I could have slept in and I was up packing a car. Oh, well. We let them sleep so that they would be happy on the car ride, and they were.

We were making great time and stopped for lunch just north of Medford. The pass closed while we were eating and we decided to go ahead and drive to Ashland (10 miles down the road) so we could be right at the base of the mountain when it reopened. Well, about 2 miles north of the Ashland exit we got stopped. Apparently every other car in Oregon was trying to get over the pass for Christmas. Three hours later we were funneled off the freeway. Thankfully the kids were great and never even cried or had to go to the bathroom that whole time - amazing!

We have super great friends in Medford who fed us dinner and let us crash at their place for the night, so that was fun to see them. Early the next morning the pass was open so we headed back out and made it to Sacramento by late afternoon.

Here are all the great-grandkids. They are not all smiling or looking at the camera, but this is the only shot I got of them all sitting together!

I saw this outfit at Babies-R-Us and did not get it at first because of the price. When I changed my mind and went back to purchase it, they were all sold out of Eli's size. But, when I got to CA, they had one! It really is the size he is just growing out of, but I had a weak moment and bought it anyway :)

Abby received a princess dress and Kristi got a princess nightgown so the two enjoyed running around and dancing together.

snuggles with Grandma Dorothy

opening stockings Christmas morning

Eli came down with a fever during the night, but was such a good sport on Christmas Day. Abby developed a fever Christmas morning and both got worse throughout the day to the point she did not even want to finish opening presents. Not wanting to expose family anymore than we already had, we left for home early the next morning.

Although it was sad to cut our trip short, especially since we got there a day later than planned, it was kind of nice to have some just us family time at home. The kids turned out to have Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, but once they were past the fever stage, the rash/sores did not seem to bother them too much.

Once the kids were feeling better, we had a little family Christmas time, just us. It was kind of nice! In a weird sort of way I was thankful for some down days quarantined at home. Here is Abby helping Elijah open the gift she bought him - jingle bells in a little stocking. He loved it.

She picked out this blue star ornament for Daddy because she said he did not have enough of his own ornaments. Then she decided it should be a decoration for his office. I am glad she is starting to catch on that it can be fun picking out presents for people and not just getting them.