Christmas 2017

We originally planned for Jesse to be home on Christmas but they informed him a few days before that if he wanted all his hours for the week he would have to work Christmas day. We decided that we didn't want to miss out on that money for the week so Jesse did work Christmas. We all got up early with him, however, so we could do presents together. Santa brought Atreyu some Battle Bot Tarantulas and Cambria got a Calico Critters Houseboat. We opened all our gifts and the kids were very happy with all they received. We gave Jesse a Mox Ruby magic card. It's part of an expensive set of cards that he wants all of someday. I felt bad that that was all we gave him but it was expensive and that's what he really wanted.

I have thought about learning to play the ukulele for a few years now so I told Jesse that's what I wanted for Christmas. It has been so fun to play and I really love it. I honestly think it's one of the best gifts I have ever received.

Fun With the Woods Family Part 2

We stayed at a hotel near Six Flags and then we headed to San Francisco where we spent the day at Chinatown and Pier 39. We walked around the fun shops in Chinatown and ate some yummy treats from the bakery there. We tried to find a seafood restaurant to eat in but the wait was long and we were all getting hangry so we ate at the Hard Rock Café where Jesse was still able to get some delicious seafood.

Fun With the Woods Family Part 1

Our good friends that we met in Washington and spent New Years with last year came down to visit us. They were the first visitors we've had since we started traveling and I really appreciated the effort they made to visit us. We had fun eating food, going to the movies, and playing laser tag.

The best part of their visit, however, was Six Flags! We didn't tell out kids we were going until the day before. They were so excited especially since we were going with friends. Once we got there, I rode on a few of the big rides with Jesse, John, and the older kids while Sharon took the youngers around. Apparently, I can't ride rides like I used to. I started feeling sick on about the fifth ride and didn't want to do anymore the rest of the day. I went with Sharon and Cambria to the kids rides. Since it wasn't as busy and it was a cooler day, there were only a few kids rides open at a time. Cambria enjoyed the rides she went on. We walked through their mini-aquarium, bought mittens and friendship necklaces for Cambria and Jessica, but most importantly we got cups that we were able to refill with hot chocolate all day...and we did!

We met back up with everyone and Cambria was able to go on a slightly larger roller coaster called the Cobra which she loved and rode multiple times. The Woods family was so sweet and bought all the kids capes and they gave us a Christmas ornament from Six Flags. It was a fun day!

The Nutcracker

One of the doctors Jesse works with, Dr. Im, offered us tickets to the Nutcracker in which his daughter was dancing. The day we attended she played the part of the Snow Queen (which was my favorite part) and the Arabian Coffee. Atreyu was excited for the Mouse King and the battle but he was uninterested as soon as that was over. Cambria enjoyed it but it was a little too long to keep her entertained the whole time; maybe when she's a bit older.

Speaking with Dr. Im after the performance, he said that he really didn't like Jesse much when he first met him (for whatever reason) but once he found out Jesse had a family and that I was homeschooling the kids, he had more respect for him. Apparently his wife had homeschooled their children as well and he really admired what we were doing. He also got us tickets to meet the cast after the performance.

I loved getting out and doing something like this as a family. The kids had fun meeting all the cast members. We all got a little nutcracker for attending as well and then we let the kids pick out an ornament each. Atreyu got a red and white nutcracker and Cambria picked out a ballerina (naturally).