It's been over a month since Christmas and the happiness hangover is still here...I mean, gratitude and gratefulness for this tribe and this very special Christmas is not lost on me! 2019 was a year that was so crazy that it never seems to have that "pause" button you need to catch your breath and really look at what was happening! We tackled a ton of "to-do's" and rang in the holidays with the jolliest bunch of ....well, you know the rest!
Merry Christmas from our tribe to yours!
Christmas Eve was full of holiday cheer, matching sweaters and laughs for all.
GG with ALL of her Great Grands!!!
LJ knows where to go for all the cuddles!
Grammy & Papa with the Meyer kids.
So thankful that my mom still hosts the best Christmas Eve around!
The "Boness" Gals!
The Cousin tribe!
So much food and fun....and even a shot-ski!!!
Christmas Eve church has always been something I wanted to do with my kids...but until this year, we didn't have a church that felt like home. So happy to now have a place to go and share the real reason for the season with my kids.
Home from church and the kids found a special note and surprise from their elf, Archer, who had left to go help Santa!
I mean, at least ALL 3 kids are in the picture?!?
Christmas morning...SANTA came.
The madness of opening presents....
After an EPIC present session...and finding out they were going to LEGOLAND (only a FEW tears)....it was off to Grammy and Papa's for a little more fun!
Nothing like packing in a FULL day on Christmas...next up it was off to the airport to catch our late afternoon flight to Legoland aka the kids DREAM vacation.
Just hanging out with a few "Grinch" like kids! I mean....the story of the EPIC surprise that Rich and I thought we were doing becoming the BEST parents of all time absolutely FAILED. Having the kids decode a huge box of legos (I mean, 1,500 legos big) that said "WE ARE GOING TO LEGOLAND"....well, it was a disaster! The kids lost their minds, cried, hit us, and told us they didn't want to go. Well, after about an hour, we figured out that they didn't think LJ was going to get to come so they were sad to leave her on Christmas. Well, crisis averted! LJ got to come and we were all smiles by the time we got to the airport!
Despite a few bumps in the road (hello plane delay)...we were FINALLY off to San Diego!
We slept...
We didn't sleep!
We climbed around and looked out the window!
After a second bump in the travel day (hello no car seats in San Diego)....we finally MADE it to the LEGOLAND hotel and were so excited to be there. I promise, they were totally happy but a little exhausted from the crazy 24 hours leading up to this.
Note to future self: The Meyer family does not need to travel on Christmas Day...enjoy the holiday and pack up and leave at a later date.
Pajamas ON and time to do our 1st scavenger hunt of the week! Yes, it was after 10pm, but these kids had been such troopers that it was time to have a little fun!
Dealing with the airline...not a big deal, but did you see my cute NINJAGO nails I did for the trip?!?!
Rise and Shine...time from breakfast in PJs! Love all the fun things to do to keep the kids entertained while we waited for a table.
Back to the room to get ready for the first day at the park!
Here we go...Ride #1 NINJAGO. Shocker, right?!?!
Next up, it was time to hit the helicopters. A favorite from the last trip to Legoland.
Look who's driving...BIG G on the 6 and over track!
Look who else is 6??? Well, at Legoland anyway!
More rides and more fun!
This one even had a blast...I was a little worried how she would do, but she was all smiles and loved watching all the people.
This ride was new from our March 2018 trip and it was definitely a new favorite. The fact that Leighton got to come helped too!
On our last trip, I was barely pregnant with LJ, so we had a BABY2018 lego...this trip, she got her own brick!
Time for more Ninjago with mama!
A HUGE rainstorm came...so we headed back to the hotel for naps and to wait out the storm. We ended up at the Sea Park Aquarium for some evening fun.
It was dark...and still a little stormy, but it didn't stop us from closing down the park!
Yep, even a few more laps around the track.
All smiles for an EVERYTHING IS AWESOME DAY one!
Day TWO and we were "that" family. Yep, the one with the adorable matching shirts ready to tear up the park and have all the fun!
Day 2...first stop NINJAGO, yep, AGAIN! This time there was a little issue that closed the ride, so we peaced out and went on to have more fun.
And then you run into your bestie at Legoland...and everything is MORE awesome!
Jonah showed Griffin his favorite ride and the boys had a blast!
Who can pass up a good face painting? The funniest thing was this exact same lady painted this exact same flamingo on Millie's face last time we were there...and yep, we had pictures to prove it.
Griffin went for a little face paint too!
Off to explore the miniature town.
Off to take our afternoon naps...well, for Leighton at least. The big kids just needed a little down time.
It didn't last long so I headed back to the park with Griffin and Millie and explored some rides we had never done! Fairy tale Brook Creek was fun!
And then, it was more CARS!
Cars, Cars, Cars!!!!
I mean...THIS! Big brothers with their little sisters!
Back to the Mummy ride with Jonah and Holly.
Working our way back to all our favorites before it was time to head home.
A very Merry Christmas indeed!
Back to Fairy Tale Brook to show Daddy and Leighton!
Yep...the Cougs were on TV and we went to our favorite pizza place in Carlsbad.
Only kids from Washington think swimming when it's sunny and 65 is an AWESOME idea...so they had the pool to themselves!
They ended up in the hot tub to warm up a little!
Fun day exploring and lunch at the Windmill!
Lunch with GAMES...heck yeah!
We went on a little drive and enjoyed exploring!
The fun thing about Carlsbad is getting to have dinner with one of your favs....
and her adorable family!
Back to the hotel for the Pajama dance party! Yep, EVERYTHING is awesome!
Yep...more swimming before it was time to head home!
We even went to check out the original hotel we stayed at last time!
And then it was time to head home....
A quick bite before we headed home....what an amazing time!
I freaking LIVE for these moments...but even more, I'm learning to LIVE for every moment! Each day, exciting or routine, stressful or lounging, crazy or boring...each day with these little people is my absolute favorite!
2019...you were AWESOME and I am so thankful for all of the moments!