End of Illinois Trip and New Year’s Eve

Story told by: Brody

The days after Christmas were filled with lots more fun!

One of Henry’s new games he received was “Rhino Hero Super Battle.” We love it!

By noon on the day after Christmas, I’d already played my new game, “Yeti in My Spaghetti,” at least 30 times. Here I talked Gpa into playing it with me.

Everyone gathered in the kitchen for pie before we had to head back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Thanks to Gma and Gpa for hosting this busy, loud crew for Christmas!!

On our trip back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, we had a bathroom break where Henry found a head warmer.

Graham (and the rest of his family) came back with us for an extra day!

Before we left for Illinois, our neighbor gave us some fun “Elfie Selfie” items, so the adults made sure to put them to use after the kids went to bed.

The adults also played Heads Up.

After Graham and Hazel had to leave the next morning, I did some coloring with Uncle Jar Jar.

But I was a little opinionated on which crayon he would get.

It was a really rainy day, so we went to Jumping Jax to burn off some energy.

Next we came home to watch “Prancer” together. Henry and I wanted to watch a different movie, but Lainey enjoyed it.

Lainey especially enjoyed Grandma and Grandpa’s pets.

We had been requesting Chuck E. Cheese all trip, and it was finally time! Uncle Jar Jar and Aunt Ericka got to join us. (This face is my “it’s almost show time” face. No one understood it. I didn’t really either.)

After we ate our pizza, it was time for games! We each picked game helpers. Lainey picked Uncle Jar Jar and Aunt Ericka.

I picked Grandpa.

And Henry picked Daddy. It was a successful night!

On Friday morning, it was BOWL GAME DAY for the Cougs!!

We made sure to represent!

That morning Mommy and Grandma got to slip away for coffee and a Yankee Candle shopping date.

Then everyone went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. Henry said, “I just want to stay here all day and eat until it’s dark.” He and Daddy are definitely cut from the same cloth.

Mommy couldn’t stop laughing at my fortune. “You constantly struggle for self improvement – and it shows.” She thinks it’s pretty perfect for a three-year-old.

Hand-in-hand with Uncle Jar Jar.

After lunch we all went bowling.

I was insistent that I wasn’t going to roll the ball down the ramp. I wanted to be a big boy.

After a close competition, Uncle Jar Jar won and Grandpa came in second place.

Grandma and Grandpa have the best big bath tub, so we had a bubble bath in it on Friday night.

The bowl game started after our bed time. And the Cougs won!!!!! That gives the Cougs an 11-2 record, which is the best in school history. Such a fun, memorable season. Go Cougs!!

On Saturday, we sadly had to head home. It was such a fun vacation!! We can’t wait to see Grandma and Grandpa again in April!

We flew from Chicago to Salt Lake. This layover was three hours, and it didn’t start until 7:30 p.m. So we all got giant ice cream cones simply for something to do and keep us happy!

Then our plane was delayed from a departure of 10:15 p.m. to a departure of 11:30 p.m. This was the face of every single parent in the airport that late at night.

While waiting to board in Salt Lake, Mommy and Daddy came up with the Freeze game. But I lost immediately.

We arrived in Spokane at 12:30 a.m. I was sound asleep, so Mommy had to carry me. Lainey and Henry weren’t far off.

Fortunately we had already booked a hotel room near the airport, so we crashed there for the night, and woke up to swim in the pool the next morning.

Then we checked out a yummy restaurant for breakfast!

Grandma and Grandpa bought Mommy a new ottoman for Christmas, but they had it shipped to some local friends. They delivered it to Mommy on Sunday evening, and she loves it!

Daddy went to work on Monday (New Year’s Eve), but the rest of us stayed in pajamas all day. We did a hot cocoa craft, and naturally had to have real hot cocoa with it.