Christmas Vacation..Idaho

Trent had a break in-between semesters, so we ran out West to see family while we could.

 (It almost didn't happen when Kyleigh's body couldn't push out another foreign invader. She had an almost similar bout last year, but this one was too severe to treat at home. No doubt, thanks to many prayers, she was able to come home, let Trent finish his finals without driving Brenden back and forth between the hospital and friends houses while I stayed with Kyleigh at the hospital. A big blessing of being in our Ward is the amazing ward families....Brenden was treated so well, he probably didn't have a moment to miss Mom or Kyleigh).

(Debated whether to post these pictures, but since the blog is going into a book for family history sake, this should probably be documented. I am going to call hospital to get all the exact stats, but if I remember right, she came in having a blood sugar at 40, and couldn't stay awake for more than 5 minutes put together. After starting the IV and giving her 2 juice boxes that she downed in a matter of seconds (and kept down!!), her blood sugar spiked up to over triple of what it was 30 minutes ago to 128. They changed her IV 3 times to get potassium, sodium and something else in her. She started keeping her food down and slowly began having normal bowels. For her....that was HUGE! Last year she went through the same thing but took her almost 3 months to become normal again. We had her tested for almost everything under the sun. (see this post for more details.) I hope it is something that they eventually grow out of as they reach adulthood. Meanwhile, her teddy bear with Grandma's voice was a welcome touch of home in a not so warm and cozy place. (It may have done just as good to Mom as it did to baby girl).

  We were happy to have her back home, health restored, so that in a few days we could hitch a ride on a 737 to the West coast.

The day after we flew 6 hours and tucked the kids into bed well past their bedtimes, we went to Church....and Brenden was incredibly reverent (he slept the last 2 hours of Church on my lap).

Kyleigh, our animal lover, made sure Hope didn't feel any of winter's chill.

 Brenden still talks about wanting to go over to his cousins house again. Can't blame him. Always a good time.

We stopped at Trent's SLC sister and played with the kids, went to Church, and visited. It was a fresh breath of everything familiar and fun family time. Then on Monday, we drove north to visit Trent's ID sister and her family. A visit to the temple (which after this shot, my camera died, and I was not smart enough to bring my phone as a backup...I was on vacation....so phone wasn't completely important/relevant).

We also made a visit to the local Museum where they display a WIDE variety of Santa Claus and Nativity scenes from around the world.

Jackpot.

Who knew Santa was such a sports fanatic.

3 Kids hunched together geeking out about all the variety of Santa Clauses on display.

 I have alot of Nativity Scene pictures because they were so cool!! I really like seeing the scenes made from Countries all over the world and formed with anything from gum wrappers, to banana leaves to soapstone and marbles.

Israel. Hand carved olive wood.

Cameroon. Metal

Panama. carved soapstone made by Kuna Indians.

Zapoteca Indian. Mexico

Mexico. hand painted

Thailand. metal

 Poland

 Tag below says: Nativity Scene from Krakow, Poland made from foil from gum and candy wrappers.

I liked this one.

In the adjoining room to the Nativities, the museum had a couple rooms well decorated in rugged outdoors theme. Kids loved running around from tee pees, to rock climbing, to mini log house and through tree tunnels.

Trent's Mom recently sold their horse, but one way or another, the kids were still able to have an equestrian experience.

 

 Hot Chocolate time. (Just doesn't have the same 'ring' as Tea Time).

A giant St. Nick anxiously awaiting all the children's letters. Brenden checking out how they do things in ID.

Kids enjoyed lots of play time and snuggle time with cousins! Adults traded sleep time for precious late night sibling talks with Trent's sister and brother in law. (All those technical names sound so sterile). The trip was over far too soon and once again we had to leave another sister but glad for the memories. 

On Wednesday we drove to Trent's parents house. A ride behind the truck is almost tradition now...and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Trent's solo run. Always a little more thrilling than when going with the kids :)

We warmed up with some hot chocolate that Mary made and then the kids began taking turns climbing the stairs to the play loft above.

Kyleigh, of course, wanted to do it by herself.

But we had a safety line nearby.

It can be very hard to get them to come down for dinner from this play loft.

We did early Christmas exchange since we wouldn't see each other on the actual day. Trent's dad is a retired Airline pilot and made cross-globe flights regularly, so we found an airplane flying over the world for him.

Trent also got an airplane. This one was from the kids. Trent grew up with a nice collection of play airplanes to have plenty of mock battles with, and the one Brenden and Kyleigh found for him just happened to have Northwest Airline insignia on it. Happy coincidence:)  (Made even better when Brenden received alot of planes and helicopters from another Grandma, so now Trent is able to recreate his childhood battles in a more full setting.....and believe me!!! they have had many serious struggles.

B & K are now very stylish in their handmade, to individual measurements, winter beanies. A very useful commodity here in Ohio.

  


All smiles for anything with wings or wheels.

Grandma is in her 100th year. She has seen, and done, alot in her life. I can never remember if it was 5 or 6 missions that she has served. And taught in the mtc. She wanted to call the Missionary Department and ask them, 20 years ago, if they had anything for an 80 year old to do. She hasn't waited around for a return phone call, though. She has special Book of Mormon Ensign issues ordered in bulk for friends with a warm invitation to read something that means a whole lot to her. Pretty amazing.

Kids never get tired of using Dad as their own personal, in-house jungle gym.

And just as truck sledding with Rodger has become tradition, so has singing Christmas carols with Mary at the piano. Glad that she doesn't mind a few impromptu helps on random keys here and there. We all enjoyed ourselves and glad to find everyone in good health and so nice to see Trent's parents, grandma and all 3 sisters and their families.