Christmas Vacation

We had a wonderful 2-week vacation to California for Christmas. We had a few adventures and saw lots of my family.

To start off our Christmas vacation, we took a two-day trip by train. It was so easy to travel by Amtrak. The train was packed to the max with so many holiday travelers. Compared to traveling by plane, the train seemed luxurious. The seating, leg room, and cargo spaces were so roomy, you could move about as you please, and you could eat at a real table in the dining car. The staff was so pleasant, and even comical. We met some very nice people and saw some very nice scenery. In the 'bubble' car (a car made entirely of windows so you can see everything outside) we saw some antelope, and while passing through the red hills in New Mexico the train conductor spotted some buffalo and announced it on the loudspeaker so that everyone could see.
We had to transfer trains at one point and so we got to spend some layover time in a wonderful train station all decorated from the ceiling to the floor in Christmas decorations and lights. It was like arriving at the North Pole after riding on the Polar Express, just like in the movie! There were electric toy trains riding through miniature towns on display, a huge Christmas tree that reached to the top of the mosaic vaulted ceiling with gigantic wrapped presents underneath, enormous green wreaths with huge red bows for each arched window, and white lights falling from the ceiling like twinkling snow.

In California all of my Mom's family came together. Brett has not seen them since our wedding. He had a blast playing with my little cousins. We all spent Christmas Eve together sharing our Christmas Eve traditions complete with a nativity reenactment, singing, games, gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, and lots of food. As a Christmas gift, several of my cousins' and my own family got tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain. So we all went together one day and spent a very windy, cold time riding the big coasters and eating funnel cakes.

Brett and I also participated in and/or attended:
1. A baptism for 4 of my cousins (200 people in attendance)
2. An extended family picture
3. The Endowment of two of my cousins preparing to go on missions in 2013
4. The missionary farewell for my grandparents (starting Jan 5, 2013 they will be serving a 2-year, Spanish-speaking mission in the Dominican Republic)
5. A surprise birthday party for my aunt
6. Moving my sister and brother-in-law from their house into an apartment
7. A birthday party for my youngest brother

We enjoyed the beautiful weather, mountains and palm trees, and the wonderful juicy-sweet-and-sour-melt-in-your-mouth oranges from the backyard tree. Everything was just delicious!