Christmas Trip to Arizona and California

We had a whirlwind of a Christmas this year! Every year seems to be jam packed with holiday festivities but this year seemed the busiest yet.

The past five years that we have lived away from family, we have always spent Christmas day in Utah with our girls and then headed down to Arizona a day or two after Christmas to be with family. This year with Christmas being on a weekend, we decided to spend a few days before Christmas with my family and then spend Christmas day and a few days after with Chris's family in California. It was a whirlwind trip but we were so glad to be with family.

The trip began with our drive to Arizona. We decided to leave in the evening after Chris got home from work. We didn't arrive to my parents house until early morning, so the girls went straight from the car into beds at Grandma's and Grandpa's. Madison was TIRED!

We have our usual spots we like to see when we are there. Since we are ASU Sundevils through and through, ASU is a normal spot we make sure to drive by. It seems to change every year and there is always a new building going up. We also make our normal stops to eat at Tia Rosa's and Pete's Fish and Chips and I always stop to get a Diet Coke at QT.

Since my sister and her husband and her five kids would be staying with my parents, we realized we would all be super squished so Chris and I redeemed some of our credit card rewards points for a hotel gift card. We stayed at a Hyatt close to my parents house which gave us all room to sleep comfortably in beds, and it was also easy to spend time with my family since we were so close.

The first night the girls kept running around the hotel room. They found the ottoman which was on wheels and kept pushing each other around the room.

We spent some time at the park close to my parents house.

Soon Chris couldn't resist starting a leaf throwing war with our two niece's Sarah and Emma.

Soon Rylee was in on the fun!

My brother Allen and his wife Rachel were sealed in the Arizona Temple. I was trying to find a picture of all of us after the sealing, but I don't think I have one. Hopefully I'll get one from them soon to post. It was a beautiful ceremony for two of my favorite people! Super happy for them.

Hathcock family pictures were also a part of our trip. I don't think we got one "good" picture of us. But these pictures sure do show the real us!

All 18 grandchildren!

Saying goodbye as we headed to California.


After spending a few days in Arizona with my family, we made the six hour drive on Christmas Eve to California to spend a few days with Chris's family. We made a quick stop in Blythe on our way, so we could visit his Grandma and Papa Hastings.













Our family tradition on Christmas Eve is to cook Mexican food. My mother-in-law made some yummy enchiladas to continue the tradition. After dinner we let the girls open their one present which is always a new set of pajamas. The pajama theme this year was snowmen. The girls got a bath, got into their new pajamas, and then opened the gifts from Grandma and Papa.








After the girls were in bed, "Santa" set up the village of Littlest Pet Shops as well as the Tangled Castle.


Christmas morning we headed to the beach. It is so nice that my in-laws live only two miles from it. The beach was completely empty. It was so nice! We took the dogs with us to the doggie beach and let them run around near the water.

Nay-Nay wasn't quite sure if she liked the beach.


Lucky couldn't stop enjoying it!

Grandma and Grandpa helping Ashley collect seashells.

Rylee wouldn't stop eating the sand!

After the beach the kids played with their toys. Ashley jumped right into her new costumes Santa brought her. I think she wore the Supergirl outfit everyday we were there.

Chris told her to pose like Superman and this is what she came up with! What a cutie!

Soon cousin Haylee arrived and she and cousin Casey opened their presents from Grandma and Grandpa Brown.

One evening we headed up to the pier. Grandpa handling most of the grandkids!

Bonfire on the beach with smores. Doesn't get much better than that.

Building sandcastles in the dark with Grandma.

Eli, Krystin, and Casey.

This is what happens when I tell my husband to pose for a picture.

So I tell him I'm taking another one, and instead of just a normal smile this time, he gives me "an over the top, I'll show her I hate to take pictures smile". What will I do with him?

Yep, more sand in the mouth.

We enjoyed a day together as family at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Uncle Eli teasing Madison.

Haylee petting the baby sharks. Ashley was too scared to try, but loved watching Haylee.

That fish looks like it's going to eat Madison.

Maddie enjoying the water play area.

On one of our final nights in California we took a short motorcycle ride along the beach. Riding behind my sweetie on a motorcycle with the smell and view of the ocean at sunset is one of my favorite things in the world!

I have more pictures to post of our time in Arizona once I get them from my mom!

We had a great time with family. It's hard living so far away but we cherish the time we do get to have with them.