Once the Perez family arrived from Lexington, Kentucky, the party really got rolling. Rob, Diane and Sam stayed in Camille and Don’s guest bedroom and Sam and Max had a great time. The adults were treated to a duet featuring Sam’s new Barbie Karaoke machine. We went to the park and had a great time on the climbing walls, the spinners and various other climbing structures. The weather was great on the days that we went to the park.

Max was very excited to see the snow in Oregon, so we got directions to Mt.
Hood and piled in Camille’s mini van. We drove all the way to Government Camp
without seeing hardly any snow. We were very worried. But driving through Government
Camp, we saw exactly what we wanted: A hill dedicated to innertubing.

We rented a couple of tubes and took off. The day started off great, continued fantasticly,
and everybody was tired at the end of the day. The only downside: the snow was in
short supply (the dirt is starting to show on the runs) so snowmen and snowballs were
very difficult. Maybe next year.

Alarm went off at 4a. Got out of the house at 4:35a. Pathetic. Mom and Dad were anticipating that it would take us an hour to get to LAX. (We flew out of LAX on an awfully early flight because it saved us about $60 a ticket. The jury is still out on whether it was worth it or not.) The car ride ended up only taking 35 minutes, Praise God, and we had plenty of time to check in, go through security, and get some wholesome Burger King breakfast before boarding. We were not alone with our 7 month old. There were probably 10 car seats, strollers, baby backpacks, etc waiting to be gate checked. We added ours to the pile and went directly to our row of seats. With so many babies aboard, I was expecting an awful flight, but was surprised with how quiet everything was. Weezy squawked for a couple of minutes before being rocked to sleep by Toby. She slept for the last 45 minutes of the flight. Max played with his Legos and enjoyed his 7:00a Ginger Ale.
Don and Camille met us right outside security at PDX and were very excited to see how much Weezy had changed since they last saw her (when she was 1 month old). Arriving at the new house Don and Camille purchased in September, we all promptly took naps. A 10a nap. There is not much better.
We went to Bud and Cena’s house for the traditional Carswell family Christmas dinner. Cena served up scrumptious ham, turkey, stuffing, scones, jell-o, cranberry sauce, green beans, yams, fruit salad, etc, etc.
More
to come… Rob and Diane and Sam Perez have just arrived from Kentucky as a surprise
for Camille’s 60th Bday. Toby has been elaborately planning this for weeks.

After a very relaxing day of jumping on the boing boing, playing Mario Brothers and Duck hunt, morphing digital pictures, and eating leftovers, we all headed out G/G Seal’s for the annual Christmas Eve gathering. My mom had very graciously offered to take us to LAX for our 6:30a flight to Portland on Christmas day. The dogs had to go to the Wright house for the week, before the family gathering, so Mom and I (and the dogs) went down to Woodland Hills about 1/2 hour before Toby and the kids (and Dad). I went to the Wright’s house but they weren’t home (they were at church) so the dogs went to G/G Seal’s house for the evening. When Katherine W. saw the dogs, I accidently spilled the beans that the dogs were staying at her house for a week. Her face lit up like you wouldn’t believe!
One of the best things at this gathering is the gift exchange game. With 17 people each bringing a gift, it is a bunch of coveting, plotting, scheming and stealing. This year I was able to steal a blanket that Toby really wanted, but we missed the Cranium game that had been brought. Dave Smalling grabbed it and locked it with the third steal. Dad drew number 1 (I was number 17) and so had his pick once the presents had all been opened. He had originally opened a 20 pack of ‘Beers of the World’ and was anxious to keep it. Skylar Schmidt stole it at about 12 or 13, and so my Dad grabbed a scented candle from someone else. His goal was to get the BOTW back on his final pick and stick Skylar with the scented candle. IT WORKED! Jan and Jeff schemed to get the presents they brought. I can’t decide whether I am disgusted with that practice or impressed that they pulled it off.
Toby, the kids and I left early at about 8:45p so that we could pack for our early trip. Got to bed about 10:30p.

Max went to a birthday party for his friend Christopher Cassriel today at lunchtime. While at the party, Max didn’t want to eat his sandwhich because he had ‘…too much candy at Poppa & Yaya’s house yesterday’.

Well, that is what
grandparents are for, right?