Finally!--Christmas Posts

Sorry about the long post drought, but here are our Christmas pics and tales. Let's begin.

CAYUCOS

This holiday season, we were lucky in that Andrew had a substantial break from school, because we had a lot planned and a lot of places to be. To start off with, however, was a Christmas surprise from Andrew: one of his gifts was a trip to Cayucos, CA, and to our favorite B&B. You see, for our honeymoon, we spent time vacationing all along the central coast, from Monterey on down, but our favorite place was undoubtedly the Sunset Inn in Cayucos, a small town near Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. We loved it so much that we decided to spend our anniversaries there. But, since Shawna was on bedrest during our anniversary this year, we couldn't go. So we went in December. 

Here is a look at Morro Rock, which lies south of Cayucos, but is visible from the pier.

A view of Cayucos from out on the pier.

The view from our window.

Mommy and Ellie out on the beach.

Us up on a hill overlooking Morro Bay with Morro Rock in the background.

But the best part of our trip was our room. We would always stay in the room named "The Lanai" when staying at the Sunset Inn, but since we were there for our third time, they upgraded us to a master suite, the Bali! It was awesome! 

LODI, CA

From there, we traveled north to Shawna's hometown of Lodi. We stayed with Shawna's mother, Grandma Lynette (as Ellie knows her), and we were able to spend time with all of Shawna's side of the family! Ellie was able to meet her Great-Grandma Miller, Shawna's maternal grandmother, for the first time. In addition, we saw Great-Granda and -Grandpa Adamson, and spent time with Shawna's father, Bill, and her siblings, Rick, John, and Michelle. In addition, we also spent an evening with Tim and Caprice Shuler, eating at Rick's Pizza (we love your house, guys!). 

Unfortunately, we weren't quite the shutterbugs we were in Cayucos.
Here is a fuzzy pic of Shawna, her sister Michelle, and Grandma Miller in the lobby of a restaurant in Murphys, CA (Grandpa Bill Russell treated us to a wonderful steak dinner there).

This pic isn't as fuzzy, and you can see Grandma Miller a bit better here.

So it was fun, and we have to give a big shoutout to Shawna's brother, John, for jumping our dead car right before we left Lodi in a torrential downpour. 

BAKERSFIELD

From there, it was down the 99 to Bakersfield, where we decided to spend Christmas before we headed home for the New Year.  It was fun as Andrew's whole side of the family was together--Papa Bill, Grammy Liz, and siblings Tim, Challa, and Amy (and, as an aside, Tim will be home indefinitely as he just graduated from BYU and is studying for his actuarial exams). Also, Great Grandparents Papa, Pepa, Bill, and Lois all spent time with Ellie this Christmas.

Ellie kickin' it, hoody-style, in her Bumbo with friends

Ellie and Grammy Liz

Amy, Challa, and Ellie at Grandma Lois and Grandpa Bill's for Christmas Eve (we love our present, Grandma (we'll post pics later))

Grandma Lois, Tim, and Max

Grandpa Bill

Papa Bill, Ellie, and Mommy on Christmas Day

OK, there's a story here. Do you see the shirt on Papa Bill? Well, last summer, before Ellie was born, we all went to Morro Bay with Challa, Papa Bill, and Grammy Liz. In Wavelengths Surf Shop, Challa found this Dakine shirt on sale of $5. Despite being hounded by Andrew and Challa to buy it, Papa Bill declined to do so since it "has a skater on it." Well, over the months, Challa and Andrew continued to bug Papa Bill about it. 

Well, during our Cayucos trip in early December, we went to Wavelengths and, to our surprise, there was the shirt for $4! So we bought it for Papa Bill, wrapped it, and presented to him on Christmas Day "From Ellie." So now he has to wear it!

Ellie

Well, we had a ton of fun on our trip, and this little post doesn't do our adventures justice. But we want to thank all friends and family for their love and gifts and food and more love and even more food. We love you!