As we were planning our drive to Utah, the weather wasn’t looking ideal across the Sierra Nevada’s, so instead of going straight across on I-80, we opted to take the Southern route from Provo down through Vegas and then we veered north once we arrived in California.
I was still sick, so I wore a mask the whole drive. I tell ya what, I know how to have fun. We arrived late at night and immediately flung ourselves into bed.
The next morning, Jonathan and the kids went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Urie; I stayed home to continue recuperating. Honestly, it was really nice to have a little bit of time to myself. It has been a while! And it was much easier to rest without little people demanding things.
Meanwhile, Jonathan and the kids had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa. One of the highlights of the day was decorating the Christmas tree.
The Airbnb
We stayed for about two and a half weeks in Stockton. We chose to stay in an airbnb that we have stayed at in the past. The stand out feature of the place is definitely the yard. It’s huge. And it feels like you’re in a beautiful park. We all enjoyed spending time out there. I enjoyed the serenity of the place… …The kids enjoyed throwing the enormous lemons around (Please see the blurry marco polo screenshot in the slideshow below; they really are enormous). They collected a bunch of them and then wrangled Grandma into making homemade lemonade with them. That was some GOOD lemonade, some of the best I’ve ever had, in fact.
Chocolate Making
Peggy makes delicious chocolates. And we have said repeatedly that we should send the 3 older kids to do a chocolate making workshop with Grandma Urie. And we made that happen on this trip! She came and picked them up early one morning and then they spent the day learning how to make chocolates: opera creams, caramels, and peanut clusters.
The twins contributed by licking dipping chocolate off of the spoons and bowls.
Clara Meets a Parrot
Aunt Sharron (Peggy’s sister) also lives in Stockton. And her son Rob, who lives with her, has a parrot, specifically, an African Gray. And so, knowing Clara’s love of parrots, she invited us over to meet Blird. Not bird. Blird. Clara had a great time and managed to get him to dance. But she still thinks he needs a better name.
Jonas’s Birthday
Jonas turned 9 while we were in Stockton. And so, to celebrate, we got pizza from our favorite pizza place in the whole world: Dante’s. I love you Dante.
We also had a delicious chocolate cake and Jonas got to open his presents. It was an excellent celebration.
The Church Christmas Party
One evening, we attended the Christmas party of Peggy and Phil’s congregation. There was a delicious dinner and a program. And I have to say, the program was actually one of the best I’ve ever experienced. There was a lot of really awesome music. And the kids got to meet Santa; let’s just say that meeting Santa was more traumatic memorable for some children than others… 😂😂😂
The Cricut
One of the things that I will always remember about this particular trip to Stockton is the crazy amoung of time that the kids spent on Grandma Urie’s Cricut. They kids spent HOURS finding designs and then assembling their creations.
And yet, I have so few pictures. I have two. Both of them of the bird that Clara assembled after the Cricut cut out the pieces. But it was definitely one of the very favorite activities during our time in Stockton.
Musical Instruments
One of the other favorite things at Grandma and Grandpa’s was the musical instruments. Everyone had a great time playing Grandpa’s bass guitar and his Otamatone (a weird musical instrument which Jonathan gave him for his birthday.)
(If you are not familiar with the Otamatone, here is a great cover of Aha’s ‘Take on Me’ to help familiarize you.)
Primary Activity
Clara, Jonas, and Logan were invited to participate in an activity one evening with the 8-12 year old kids from church. They did a Christmas-themed puppet show. They had an enjoyable time, and I thought it was delightful and nice that they were invited to participate.
Misc.
Overall, we just had quiet days, spending lots of time with Jonathan’s parents. We did get sick once again. But it was fairly mild and passed quickly.
Our Last Day
All too soon, the time came for us to prepare to head out. On our last full day in town, I stayed at the Airbnb and organized and packed everything we would need for the next leg of our California adventure. And then I organized and packed everything that we would not need until we got to Washington and I shoved it all into the trailer (which we have come to call “The Enabler”)
Meanwhile, the rest of the family went to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa. For lunch, they all went to a favorite Urie haunt: Nations.
After I had finished packing and prepping everything, I rejoined everyone.
That night, Logan lost his very first tooth!! It was super loose and so it came out with absolutely no fuss. He’s getting so big.
Late that night, Christina and Paul came into town. And the next day, we did a big family lunch. And then Jonathan, the kids and I all drove down to Monterey for Phase II of the California adventure.
