Christmas Break was spent in Oroville California! (just like we have done every year except the year we got married and had no vacation days)

26th: Leave around 7:30am and drive to Oroville. We had a good uneventful drive. The kids stretched their legs at McDonalds and then we hurried on to see all of the COUSINS! We stayed at Kevin and Liz’s house for the week and most of the rest of the family was there too 🙂

Tiago and his little cousin friends and Millie and Christy:

We opened presents that night from Grandma and Grandpa!! and we did the cousins gift exchange!

And we started in on the game playing. Packer brought Pie Face! and I got CLUE from my parents 🙂 and Ben got Isle of Skye!

Cali and Rose were so excited to play NERTZ with the cousins! and then everyone crashed for the night.

December 27th: Tuesday

Michael is loved by all of these little people! They just flock to him.

Kevin got permission for us to play Soccer at Harrison Stadium! A bunch of Oroville friends came to play against us 🙂 Barths, Browns, Cherrys,…

Ray trying out his new soccer goal and sweatshirt!

And back to the gaming Table – Karuba (we got from Santa), and Qwixx.

 

And NAILS for the little girls:

Wednesday the 28th:

We went to the Monte Vista church to play basketball! We had so many people that like to play! we had an all kids game and then 4 adult teams and then the girls played a game and then we let Brady and Sean and their friends have the court.

Ray, Rose, and Cedar in their fort – and CALI asked Grandma to cut her hair!!

I went hot tubbing with the kids after basketball! The kids swam in the hot tub EVERY SINGLE DAY – probably 3 times a day! They were constantly changing into swim suits 🙂 It was great.

This night the women went to Becca Fosters baby shower! It was fun to catch up with friends. Definitely one of the perks of going back to your little hometown every year.

We hurried back for the RFFFL (Robertson Family Fantasy Football League) trophy presentation! John handed the belt to Kevin and I was awarded the last place trophy! In my defense I did get runner up last season.

and then we had another round of present opening: we gave the parents Lincoln Logs because we all loved playing Lincoln Logs at Grandma and Grandpa Robertsons house 🙂

Thursday 29th:

Tiago getting over a cold and everyone else taking it easy. Quite a few people had colds throughout the week.

 

We had ice cream cones that afternoon and a game of Soccer and football out in the field at Kevins house. And then the adults went out to Hulas! It really is delicious. And Ben and I fell asleep on the couch in Hulas Comas.

   

30th: Friday already!

I love that the kids like to play games too. They played so hard all week. They explored the backyard and were constantly on the tramp or in the hot tub. They played games and ping pong and just loved chilling with their cousins: And Ben and I loved chilling with our siblings.

 

The kids were getting antsy this afternoon so Kevin and I took them in the back yard and set up a Capture the Flag game. We also played a little jump Rope and Limbo!

Ben made Stroganoff for dinner and it was another fun night of games.

Saturday 31st:

our last day 🙁

tricks with Uncle Brady:

Crab Soccer at the Table Mountain Church:

And a couple of hours at the park! We played kickball and 3 flies up and football. The boys all used their bows to try and hit people as they ran through the park! And time on the playground of course. I was so happy to see Rose dribbling the basketball and Benji playing football!

From their we showered and shopped and food prepped for the New Year Celebration!! Liz and I ran to Chico but we couldn’t find mandarins anywhere this year 🙁

Ben and Benji enjoying a soda after going the whole year without drinking any! and Ray was so excited when he saw sour gummy worms. Mikila was my Nertz partner for the first pre food Nertz game.

This is Packer trying to stay awake! And Ago playing with Laynie. Grandma and Ben made treasure hunts for the kids this year instead of doing a pinata!

   

We ate yummy food! and played games all night.

and then it was midnight! Ray seriously made it until 11:50pm and then I couldn’t get him to wake up at midnight 🙁 We had another GREAT start to a NEW YEAR!

Sunday January 1st 2017:

We got up Early and drove home to try and beat the snow storm that was supposed to come and stay for a week. We made it, quickly and safely, no snow. Only one stop! The kids slept the first half and played electronics the second half. I’m still grateful that I get to go “home” every Christmas and be with lots of family. I’m glad that my kids look forward to this week. I know this won’t last forever but I love that we all get together and crowd in for a crazy week of fun!

Goodbye 2016!