The Holidays 2012

The holidays started for us on December 23rd...Bill had to work until then. BUT a couple days before we headed to the Carters my brother, Dallin, got his mission call!!!!! He is leaving for
Des Moines, Iowa on Feb. 15th 2012!!!!!!

SO EXCITED AND SO SO SO PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, we headed to Concord and spent Christmas Eve with one of our favorite families, The Frenchs. Christmas morning was awesome and Cade was so funny. Let's just say lesson learned, I should have never bought him anything but a little hot wheels and a 'sheeeooooowwww', aka, a show. He was in the other room playing with cars the whole morning and I opened his flippi presents. Waste O money. Good thing I know my child and bought things he needs mostly:) Bill got a full set of custom Callaway golf clubs and he got me a gorgeous ring amongst other things. We then had a crazy 3 days making sure Jay and Anna's wedding went smoothly on the 28th. It was beautiful and the day was generally flawless. Anna looked gorgeous and they look so in love. It is sweet to witness the way they look at each other. I was in charge of the hot chocolate bar that turned out so cute! We THEN turned around and made a 13 hour roadtrip on Friday the 30th to Olympia & Seattle for the 2nd reception. We were all so exhausted, it was fun, but cold and tiring. We spent New Years in Seattle which was a very cool city, wish we could have stayed longer. Can I just say here and now for the record that Cade might just be the easiest child ever. He is very busy, but he did not make a PEEP the whole way to Seattle and on the 13 hour drive home just 24 hours later, he only whined toward the end when we were almost home. Maybe I feel so grateful for his innate sweetness because Bill and I are on a little get away without him as I write this, but either way I love this sweet boy and am so lucky to be his Mama. We are currently in Pismo Beach celebrating out anniversary at our favorite spot, The Cliffs Resort. I love it here. Especially the week after New Years. We have the place to ourselves, the weather is always fantastic, the pool and spa, the food, the beach, the whirlpool tub...we look forward to every time we get to come here. It's our first time leaving Cade and even though I was super worried, I know no one loves and worries about Cade more than his grandmas and aunties, so he's in good hands.

Here is the last 2 weeks in pictures:

Dal opening his call on Skype...

Cade in the morning...killing time til we head to Gma (Mamao) & Gpa ( pa pa) Carter's...

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Morning! He loves his trike which he affectionately calls " Car".

Giddy up Toby!

Putting together Cade's trike for Santa with Uncle Liam

A rousing game of Settlers.

Hol & Jay on his last night a single man, playing settlers of course.

Doing Christmas morning with my family via skype. Skype is a modern day miracle.

Temple Day! It was gorgeous weather.

Wedding decor...made by Tanya French. It was GORGEOUS. She is so creative.

Chocolate covered spoons and pretzel rods for the hot chocolate bar!

I know I'm his Mama, but this kid is so talented with a ball:

Why wouldn't Cade come down with the flu and a double ear infection the morning we are supposed to leave for Seattle? Poor little guy. Within hours of starting amoxicillin he was running around.

Go GIANTS! His new coat from Gma and Gpa Carter.

Grandpa Jim let Cade drive - seriously- in the parking lot on the way to Washington.

Pike Place Market- Seattle. I have always wanted to come here, it was awesome. Just really cold. A stranger even gave me her coat and it was weird, I wasn't even that cold. I decided my hair was a mess so maybe she thought I was homeless.

Being this close to Chico felt so wrong not to stop and have a little La Comida and Jon & Bon's.

We left Cade for the first time with Triss, Jim and Holly. We came down to our fave spot in Pismo Beach, The Cliffs. But, first, we stopped in San Jose to introduce Bill to Maggiano's. DELICIOUS.

Our room is the top floor, far left. Beautiful view. Fab room. Loved it.

I took a pic of the bathroom because I LOVED the deep jetted tub.

& a view from our room

My handsome love.

Sunsets here have been phenomenal, especially from our room view.

Dolphin pod! We watched them laying in the sun for like 2 hours this afternoon.
Today we went to the adorable little town just before San Luis Obispo called Avila Beach. Of course we had to hit a bucket of balls with Bill's new clubs! It was actually really fun.