Christmas Day 2017

I gave everyone their own copy of the second house of Hulli's books this year and surprised them with the third one. The kids were so excited about it.

Damon carved the roast beast at dinner. (P.S. Check out his awesome red and green!)

Dinner with grandpa DaWayne and grandma Linda and family.

THE CARS AT 7:30 A.M.

I am really diggin' my minimalist "Giftmas" tree this year. It's short and in a basket...no tree skirt this time.

 It was quite a different morning for us on this 25th day of December. We did things completely out of the norm and I loved it. Leading up to this day and for about a month now, the kids have been wondering what the very large something was, that has been forbidden and hidden under blankets in the garage, waiting for this day. So this morning, when we all woke up around 7:30, we came downstairs to first have some breakfast while Dae secretly got things "set up" on the TV. I made pancakes while the kids danced to THE CARS soundtrack. The song "Let's Go" was a favorite. 

Dae's ingenious and playful plan was, that the commercials in between songs would be featuring none other than a SPRING FREE TRAMPOLINE. One of the commercials had a boy jumping carelessly to high and went flying through the air to a potential death, but instead landed into the spring/metal free net. Lucy was actually appalled and thought it looked like a crazy trampoline. The kids had absolutely no clue at first. Then, when breakfast was over we went out to the garage to finally uncover the secret. I can't explain the excitement. A trampoline is something they have wanted for a long time.

This was the year I gave the family their very own first books of the House of Hulli's. I was so excited and it was accepted with gratefulness and tears.

 At Bart and Lu's for lunch.

 P.S. About a week ago we went to get some Thai food for dinner when Dae said, "Let's play a guessing game. I will let you guys guess what the present in the garage is, but I won't say yes or no. I'm just curious what you think."

Immediately I said I didn't like that idea because what if they do guess and my face gives it away?

It was then that they started guessing things like a small motorcycle/scooter, sleds, and then Lucy mentioned, "trampoline"...I saw their brains register that last comment and then I felt all of their eyes watching me. I looked down acting neutral, like I didn't hear a thing. Dae said, "Hmmm...well, I guess you'll have to wait and see."

I thought for sure after that conversation the kids would have known for sure, but they didn't. I guess I do still have a poker face in there somewhere.

P.S.S. Deac gave me just what I asked for...a squatty potty and chocolate. I couldn't be happier.

Indiana

 Emily had been asking me and Lucy to come visit her in Indiana for a long time. We decided that it would be really fun to go visit her. So we worked hard for about a month or so earning money for the flight, food, and souvenirs. We counted down the days until it was time to go from the day we knew we were going. On the day it was finally time to go, Grandma Lu, Grandpa Bart, and Amie Jo came to pick us up and we made videos and took tons of pictures on the drive to the airport. We also took TONS on the plane ride.

When we saw Emily the first time in forever, we were all so happy to see her and I couldn't stop noticing how different she looked because she had been gone for so long. The first night there we all went out to eat at a place called Shake Shack or something. Pic on the left is Shake shack and pic on right is Big Belly Burger.

I remember we all laughed so hard the night at Shake Shack for a very long time. We couldn't stop making jokes and laughing at each other. In fact, grandma even threatened us that she would make us pay for our dinner because we were laughing so loud.(Whoops). Amie didn't want to be in any of the restaurant pictures by the way, that's why she isn't there.

This picture is before getting on the plane. 

This is a selfie Amie took with a goat filter on snapchat.

One of the days, we went on a train to go to Chicago. We also laughed A LOT there too. One thing I remember the most about the train ride is when we dared Emily to sit by a random boy and say hi. She was so scared, but she did it. It was hilarious. We were laughing so hard.

This is a picture of us just being weird on the train. Mostly just me and Lucy were being weird.

When we got to Chicago, this really nice girl that they knew named Angela helped us out with finding things to do and stayed with us that whole day. We went to the planetarium and we went to the Chicago bean, and saw some other things. This old guy on a wheelchair yelled at us to stop and was chasing us. That was really weird.

      This is a picture of the planetarium. 

                  This is at a restaurant where we had Chicago dogs.

            This is when we were driving to Michigan (I'm pretty sure)

                                These next ones are Lake Michigan.

                              These next are when we were in Chicago.

       This is the Albanese candy factory. It was made in Valparaiso, Indiana, Which is where they were living.

            

BEACH Day With Cousins and More Disney

Eating burgers at Ruby's Shake Shack near the coast.

Lucy and Grandpa DaWayne. I swear I have seen another picture of him just like this. I will always remember him with his pants rolled up while walking the beach.

Lexi and Skipper having a mud/sand fight.

  Lucy, Damon, and Jacqueline.

Alex, Grandma-Ma, and Becky.

 Waiting in life for Bug's Life.

Crazy with Dad.

   

 In line for Buzz Lightyear ride.

 Being crazy on the train ride back to the front gates.

 Skipped out on Disneyland early and went to Kopan Ramen with Alex, his kids, and Jahde. Only the best ramen place I've ever been to! Well worth it.