California! Thanksgiving! Collier's Farewell!

I took very few pics of our recent trip to California. Oops. It was pretty awesome, though. We got there the Saturday before Thanksgiving and spent Monday at Disneyland with Ashlyn and the Earls. My kids were so happy to be back there, with the exception of Charlie, who threw an extended and exhausted fit until we had Grandpa and Grandma pick him up. Laine was, as always, in heaven with cousins and best friends Anna, Maddie, and Avery.

Henry was finally tall enough to go on all the rides, including CA Screaming. He hopped on all excited, but right before it went upside down he told Barrett "I don't think I'm ready for this." Still when it was done he decided to go again as a single rider. They put him next to a 7 year old girl. Barrett said even he was afraid Henry would fly out, so I'm really glad I wasn't there to watch (only Barrett and Henry went to CA Adventure).

It was super packed and I'm super pregnant. So I mostly hung out with whoever wasn't riding or took kiddos on the carousel. Everyone had a grand time, and Henry and Anna made it until the park closed at midnight. I went home with Jason and the littler girls, all of whom were out cold before we got out of the park.

Thursday Barrett's mom put on a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner for all the family that was in town (always a lot). It was delicious, and wonderful to see everyone. Sunday was Collier's mission farewell (he went into the MTC on Dec. 14th, bound for the Paris, France mission. Go Collier!) Barrett's parents hosted yet another fabulous get together in his honor.

I really took almost no pictures, but I had to capture this refined move of Henry's - that's him laying on the rug amidst minglers playing games on Corbynn's phone - and this sweet idea Laine had to watch TV draped over the arm of the couch. My kids are weirdos. The other picture is of all the kids previewing Uncle Ian's Aquabats Super Show.

By Monday morning everyone else had gone, and Barrett and I put the icing on our vacation cake by driving Terri's convertible to Laguna Beach for a sunset meal and walk on the beach followed by a night with no kids, except the one in my womb (I swear I haven't been truly alone for years). It really was perfect. I have the best in-laws in the world.

Luckily cousin Erin was taking pictures - she took this lovely shot of the 5.5 of us.