We had a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation to California. We had not been out to California for 3 or 4 years so it was fun and exciting to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. We did a night drive out in hopes that Jayna would sleep through the long drive. She did fairly well despite the fact that she would wake up in random casinos and gas stations along the way. She probably thought she was having some crazy dreams or something. We pulled into Ryan's parents house early in the morning and the fun began. That is after we took a long nap.
Jayna loved playing with her Grandma Hutchings, playing on the stairs, washing dishes, and playing the piano. Grandma and Grandpa were kind enough to babysit a couple of nights and one afternoon so that Ryan and I could relive our courtship days back in our old stomping grounds, go to the temple, do some Christmas shopping, and go to a movie. I think it was the most we had ever left Jayna in a single week. Before this trip we have only had maybe two date nights in the last 2 years. She does great though and never minds one or both of us being gone. She did start to catch on a little and was always asking where we were by the end of the week.
My favorite thing we did with Jayna on this trip was take her to Apple Hill. It was so fun to be able to take her someplace that I remember having such much fun at as a kid. It was one of those full circle moments in life. It was beautiful up in the hills and we bought our apples for our Thanksgiving apple pie there.
I had a list of places that we had to go to while on this trip. The most crucial being my two favorite sandwich shops. Beach House for the surf'n bird, yum yum, and La Bou for a turkey sandwich and dill dip with a sliced baguette. Huh, I can hardly type this without drooling. We also drove past all the houses I used to live in. The one in Granitebay and the one in Rosevile. Everything looked so different to me and it took me awhile to figure out what it was. It was the trees. They had grown so big and tall and shaded and lined all the streets so beautifully. When I lived in Granitebay it was a newer town with freshly built subdivisions with new landscaping and young seedlings supported by poles lining the streets. My Rosevile neighborhood looked the same as I remembered, in-fact I was surprised at just how well maintained all the yards and houses were. There were tons of kids playing in the court across from my old house. It was nice to think that the neighborhood had gone through a whole cycle and once again had young kids playing and running around. Our old house looked like it may have had no-one living in it or was a rental, because it actually was the least maintained out of all the house on the street.
I also had a blast shopping at the mall that I worked at for years. They had practically doubled the size of it and it had about ever brand name store imaginable in it. More than half the stores were ones we do not have and will probably never have in Utah. It is a good thing that mall was not that big when I worked there, I for-sure would have spent every penny I earned there. Even though I practically did anyway back in the day. Ryan asks me about once a year what happen to all the money I was making before we got married. I just ask him back if he thought I looked hot and dressed cute.
We had Thanksgiving dinner at Ryan's aunt Gayla's house up in Pollock Pine. I have to say it was the best Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had. Everything was amazing! Her stuffing was the best, I will share the recipe on my other blog when I get it.
The other thing that I enjoyed about our vacation was getting a new perspective on snacks and meals watching Ryan's mom. Sometimes it is so easy to get stuck in a rut making the same old things that you always buy or are familiar with. Debbie had lots of nuts and raisins and fun little bowls of goodies she would put out during the day. We also made homemade sushi which turned out great and when we would have oatmeal she would have so many fun toppings out for us. So I made a little list of things I wanted to work into our food routine once I got back home. I am happy to say I have lots of new fun snacks in my pantry right now, and put more than brown sugar on my oatmeal in the mornings. Thanks Debbie!
Our time went by way to fast and before we knew it it was time to head back home. We will make it a point not to wait another 4 years before we head back out to California. We are thankful for such great family that is willing to have us come stay with them. Thanks again!
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