Friday, December 31, 2021

New Years Eve in Atlanta

We weren't sure if we were going to be able to go on our big Atlanta/Orlando trip because of the snow. On Dec 30, the day we were supposed to leave it had snowed all night long (and it had been so cold since Christmas that the snow hadn't melted, although it had cleared off most of the roads except ours). Our same flight had been cancelled the previous three days so we really expected our flight to be cancelled too. But it didn't! My dad slept at our house so he could take us to the airport since our flight was so early in the morning. He has 4-wheel drive and was able to get us to the airport with no problem at all. We had heard that it was taking a long time to get through the airport because not a lot of employees were able to get to the airport because of the snow, but we got through it quickly and boarded our plane right on time. It took a long time to take off because we had to get the plane de-iced and move to a different run way since the wind had changed directions. But once we took off the flight went well and wasn't bumpy and we landed in Atlanta around 5:30. The kids and I got the luggage while Doug got the rental car. The airport was the biggest one I remember being in. We could have taken an underground train to the baggage claim, but I wanted us to walk since we'd just sat around for 6 or 7 hours. But we just kept walking and walking until finally I gave in and said we could ride until baggage claim. We got out bags quickly and went outside into the warm Atlanta air to wait for Doug.
We waited 15-20 minutes for Doug.

Kenzie resting!

After Doug picked us up we went to dinner and then to Brian's house. We played some ping pong and the name game until we were too tired to stay up any longer (not long for Doug and I, it had been a long stressful day)

On New Years Eve we slept in since our bodies were still on WA time (we stayed up late every night so we never adjusted while at Brian's house) Then we went to the church gym to play soccer and basketball. This was the first time we got to meet Brian and Tina's youngest, Grayson. He's 2 and super cute. Before we went to the gym he pumped up the tires of our car for us.

After lunch, everyone but Tina and Grayson did an escape room. It was so fun and we were able to escape! When we all pushed this button we thought we had finished everything, but it actually just unlocked another room.

We started in two separate jail cells and had to be split in two groups, but we were in the same room so we could still talk and work together.


This is how much time we had left over.


The kids played Among Us and Minecraft, just like they do when we're at our own homes.



Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Day After Christmas

Christmas night and the next day (and the next several games) it snowed a lot! The kids didn't play much in it. I wasn't excited about the snow because we had too much going on the next week. Snow week shouldn't happen until January or February when we have nothing to do.

Kenzie always wants us to all play downstairs the day after Christmas. We did for awhile.

Coleman played Legos. He couldn't find a piece he needed. He had opened the package right there and hadn't gone anywhere. I helped him look and couldn't find it anywhere. Doug requested a replacement piece and I found a piece close to what he needed that he could use until the piece he needs comes. But then a couple days later I was cleaning up my room and found the missing piece by my bed! So weird!

Monday, December 27, 2021

Christmas

Christmas was magical, as always!
The kids left  Welcome Santa message for Santa, so Santa left a thank you message for them.

Jackson's

Jordan's

The family's

Kenzie's

Coleman's. It took  Coleman awhile to realize he had a computer there.

Mine and Doug's

Jordan got a miniature '"funny guy".

Pokemon cards!

He was so happy to get the 1st Harry Potter book and a Harry Potter quiz book from the Kenyons. He also got the 4th book of Harry Potter. After he opened it, he said that he's finally got all his presents from last year (since I told him last year that I'd buy them for him when I found them at thrift stores.)


A reading Kindle

Kenzie was happy to get lots of fidgets from her brothers!

hockey set

Jordan was organizing his presents as he opened them.

He finished opening them.

Kenzie had lots of presents left after her brothers finished opening. She took her time and played/looked at her presents after opening them before moving on to the next.


Kenzie was excited to play a fidget game.

Her last present.

After Coleman had walked around looking at everyone's presents, he said "I don't really care if I get a calendar. I don't do much with it." So I dug though his pile of paper and presents and found a present he hadn't opened... his calendar :) He said he was happy to get one.

Doug ready to open his presents.

After everyone was done opening presents we opened the family present...

An Oculus!

The kids were so excited it was hard to get a nonblurry picture.






Doug trying it out.

Kenzie making balloon animals.

Coleman playing Minecraft.

So many Pokémon cards!

Kenzie trying out virtual reality.

Coleman's presents.

Kenzie with her presents.

Jordan's presents.

Coleman trying the oculus. 

My parents came over. My dad, Doug, Coleman, and Jordan played 4 way chess.

Kenzie watching shows while making balloon animals.

My dad tried out VR. We can watch what he sees on Doug's computer.

Jackson's turn.

We went to my parents for dinner and playing. It started snowing so we weren't sure we could stay long, but then the snow stopped and it hadn't stuck to the ground so we stayed for a few hours.

Jordan built his counter.

Kenzie with her Christmas Pig.