This past week, we made what will be our last Christmas trip to California. Mom is now up in an assisted living place in Utah (Aaron’s kids are making sure the house is lived in and okay until it gets sold), so this trip was mainly me and some of the other siblings going through boxes and making sure the sentimental stuff gets sorted. It was bittersweet being there without Mom, but it was a good visit, nonetheless. We took the time to go to Universal Studios and Knott’s, so that was fun for the kids, too. Stap in for a lot of photos!
AC stopped by with his youngest daughter who is just a couple months younger than Abigail.The two of them had a ton of fun.Kayla pulling “oldest girl cousin” duties.I don’t really know what was going on here, ha.Jason and Luna came over as well.Going down to the Lower Lot at Universal where Mario Land is.We only rode one ride in Mario Land, which was Mario Kart. The line was long, but entertaining with tons of detail.Joseph made it his mission to pop his head into the background whenever possible.That’s one happy girl!The star in the background was cool.She loves selfies.Ope, there’s that “surprised happy” face.Yet another photobomb moment.The details in Mario Land were pretty cool.Pointing out fun stuff.The entrance to Bowser’s castle.I think Abigail was done with the line at that point.Playing with her power-up band.The other Lower Lot ride we went on was Transformers. Not as much cool stuff to look at…but a ton of buttons and switches to play with.With the spark.Cool Transformers logo.I asked to take his picture.THAT’s better!It was fun going during the holidays.Up where you can see out into LA.It was pretty cool to look out and see everything.Visiting Hogsmeade.It was crazy crowded at that point, so we didn’t go on any rides. We did the wand experience (for me and Abigail since Joseph had his wand from an earlier visit), got some butter beer, and called it good.Waiting in line for the wand experience.With Hogwarts in the background.We felt this was also really well designed for details.She liked the first sip, but once it got fizzy, she was done.Joseph didn’t mind getting an extra. 😉The funny thing about this was that Sirius is moving around in this a lot (as is typical for Wizarding World newspapers), but I got the shot right as Joseph happened to be making the same face.We met up with one of Paul’s LP friends and she got some good shots of us.It was a long day, but fun!Snuggling with Daddy.My wand (made to look like Tonks’ wand) and some Mario mushroom ears.On our way to Knott’s, we saw a really cool vapor trail. I took a picture and you can see the jet at the top (it looks like a pin prick, but if you zoom in, you can see the jet shape).Hopefully the only time she’ll be behind bars.Right before Paul took Abigail to Camp Snoopy and I took Joseph to the big rides.The ride that probably did me in. We rode this ride and one other (which was much smoother than this wooden roller coaster) before my back muscles started to spasm really bad. After that, Joseph went on a few rides solo. The next day, I ended up in urgent care for muscle relaxers and extra strength Ibuprofen.One of her favorite rides.She loved being able to go on stuff on her own.Striking up a conversation with the kid next to her.She really liked this ride.I love seeing such a happy pictures of her!Joseph on Silver Bullet.See? There he is!Seeing a donkey.Any time she saw a coffin, she had to take a picture.See?Sitting with the other girls. 😀We went on this train ride (which Abigail ended up not caring for since it was mostly in the dark)… …and this one which takes you around the park.Abigail with Snoopy and Yoshi.The measuring door at Mom and Dad’s.My address for the first 21 years of my life.The fireplace my Daddy built.This is a permanent fixture in the house.Foothills, citrus, and palm trees…The last time in the back yard.Man, I’m going to miss this house!The last time (for a bit) driving past the windmills in the high desert.One of the things I brought home with me…now I have a bit of home at home.
