Disney 2017

This is Allie and me getting ready to head to California. We are so ready!

According to Instagram, Kobi is ready to go

It's been 4 years since we all went to Disneyland together. Mel was 14. Allie was 16 and Kamiko was 19. It was about time. Since the kids spoiled us so much on Christmas, we decided to take a vacation before we all had to be back to school/work on January 9. It was a blast! Kamiko said it was the best vacation ever. I must agree that it was pretty dang good.

Derek, Charlie, Kobi, Rose, Allie, Mel, Kamiko, Rachel, and Keenan in the kitchen of our home away from home

We left Wednesday afternoon around 1:00. Kobi Watkins, our other child, came with us. She and Mel took the back bench and loved every minute of it. We drove quickly, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks. We had brought sandwiches in the van. We got to our airbnb rental house at around 8:00 pm. Rachel and the kids had just gotten there. Derek was stuck at work for a Thursday meeting. Anyway, the house was FANTASTIC! It slept all 10 of us very comfortably. We had brought cereal, yogurt, milk, fruit, snacks, chips, sandwich fixins, etc. We got everyone settled in and went to bed. Kinda late, but to bed. Keenan and I had our own room and bathroom. Rachel and Rose shared a bed in another room and Charlie had his crib. They had their own bathroom and a roll-out twin bed for the next night when Derek came. All 3 girls had their own room and bathroom. As usual, Kamiko got the shaft and got the couch. He was fine, though. There was also a half bathroom in the living area for all to use. I can't say enough how great it was.

The kids and Keenan left around 7:00 to get to the park for the opening. Rachel and I came about an hour later with her kids. Rachel is pregnant and I wanted to help her. I also didn't think we needed to be there super early. I wanted to work around what she wanted. As soon as her kiddos got up, we got going. Bonus: Rachel got me into the park for free with Derek's work perks. We met up with the rest of the group around 10:00 am. We really enjoyed a great day of rides, rain, and crowds. It was fine, though. I had gone to Walmart and bought everyone a rain jacket, so we were dry enough. It also made going on Splash Mountain no big deal since we were a bit wet anyway. Around 4:00, it stopped raining. We figured out how to use the disability pass for Charlie. Basically, you go to an information center and get a return time for the ride you want to go on next. They scan up to 6 tickets and you're good to go. Charlie got the big kids and Rachel on Haunted Mansion. I stayed behind with Rose and bought her her very own churro. The park was very crowded, but we had a great time anyway. While the big kids were on their rides, Charlie got me and Rose and Rachel on Dumbo, Casey Junior, Alice in Wonderland, and Storybook Land in about 1 hour. Rose told the attendant we had a "cutting pass." He said "I don't think that's what we call it, but I know what you mean." It saved us a lot of time and may have created a monster in Rose. Now she knows the system and can go on lots of rides. Just wait til Charlie is tall enough for all rides. Wow. It really is helpful, though, because once you get in line, you have to ditch the stroller. If we could have kept Charlie in his stroller all the time, we would have been fine. But, without the stroller, we had to carry him a lot to keep him from wandering.

Me, Rose, Charlie, and Rachel on the way to Disney!

It's fun to see what gets posted on Instagram

First ride: Small World with Chars

Me and Rose, Rachel and Charlie on Dumbo

Kamiko and Charlie had matching raincoats and really had fun together

Wet, happy kids. Love them all!

Rose with her very own churro

Kobi, Mel, Allie, and Kamiko in line for Splash Mountain

We went over the the California Adventure side after a while and enjoyed rides there. Tower or Terror is being re-done and was closed. California Screamin was closed on and off and we never made it on there. I found Rae and the kids in line at the Luigi cars ride. I asked the attendant if he could help me get to them to help them in line. Then I asked if we could just bypass the line and get on the ride. When Rachel asked me how I did it, I said "I told him my sister-in-law was in line alone with a 5 year old, a 3 year old with Down Syndrome, and is pregnant." He didn't hesitate to help us out. We got dinner over there. I had a great turkey and pesto sandwich on sourdough. Kobi and Rose got mac and cheese in a sourdough bread bowl. Talk about carb loading. It was so good, though. Derek met up with us and we hung out a bit more. The Hunters left for the airbnb and we Adcocks +1 went back to Disneyland for more grown-up fun. We had a bit of a fight, but we sorted things out and finished the night riding Buzz, then watching the parade before leaving the park. Got home late and went to bed to get up and do it again. We love Disneyland. Kamiko said he didn't know how Keenan and I did it all these years. He was tired.

Rachel, Charlie, and Keenan

Buzz Lightyear: Kobi, Keenan, Allie, Mel

Keenan and Allie on Buzz Lightyear

Our youngest family member enjoying the day

Disney NEVER gets old for an Adcock or for our honorary Adcocks

Friday we got up and left around 8:30. It was sad to say goodbye to our awesome place, but I have a feeling we'll be back. Derek was able to get all of us in the park for free with some holiday passes he had. It was so nice of him. Since Kobi was paying her own way, she was especially appreciative. We got fast passes for Radiator Springs, went on Midway Mania, Ariel, rides in Bugs Land, and Monsters, Inc. We also barely made it in to see the new Frozen show. We literally got some of the last seats for the 12:30 show. Kamiko and Allie found seats together. When I looked their way as the show started, I noticed Derek and Family were sitting there. My kids had given their 2 seats together to them. I was one proud mom! They lucked out in getting 4 reserved seats together with Mel and Kobi. So, the only ones solo were Keenan and I. I don't know where he sat, but I know he slept for a big chunk of the show. I got a nice little snooze, too. It was a great show, though. The set and projections were excellent. We hit more rides. Charlie got everyone on the Luigi cars again. Just Keenan and I had to sit out. Then Rachel took the kiddos back to Valencia and Derek joined us big kids at Disneyland. It had been another crowded day, but we made the best of it. Rachel is a trooper. She's got her hands full. She and Derek were grateful that Keenan pushed the stroller most of the day Friday. I tried to help out when I could the day before. We found out later that Rae got a return time for her and the kids for the Little Mermaid ride, got corndogs, then went on the ride before heading home. Charlie pooped all over the seat in the shuttle bus to the parking lot. That was her fun evening. We got dinner (chicken strips or corndogs) and waited in line for Star Tours, then waited 2 hours for Hyperspace Mountain. It was worth it. The ride is now Star Wars themed and is great! What a way to end the time at Disneyland.

In line for Radiator Springs: Mel, Kobi, Allie, Kamiko, Derek, Rose, and Keenan. It was the first time for both Derek and Rose.

The very cute Hunter family

Rose colored this card for me at California Adventure

Post Hyperspace Mountain Churros on our way out of the park: Kobi, Mel, Kamiko, Al, and Derek

We drove to Derek and Rachel's home in Valencia, about a 70 minute drive. Luckily we had no grand plans for Saturday, so we got to sleep in as much as the kids allowed. I think I got up around 8:00. I woke up to pancakes and eggs and bacon. Yes! Thanks Hunters. Kamiko really wanted to go into Los Angeles. He'd never been there. So we hatched a plan to go around noon and be back by 4:00. I didn't want to spend all day if we weren't going to all be together. The girls weren't going to go at first but decided to go, as did Derek. So, Derek, Kamiko, Allie, Mel, Kobi, and I went into LA. We dropped Kamiko off at a street with stores he wanted to see and we headed to the Hollywood walk of fame to check out some stars and see weird people. After about an hour we went back to get Kamiko. We grabbed LA's finest for lunch: Wendy's. We went back to Valencia and all of us went to the mall. Then we ordered pizza and pasta for takeout. We ate at Derek and Rachel's and sat up late talking and looking at Derek and Rachel's wedding photos. Seriously, it was such a great trip. Allie was thrilled to visit the Scientology information center, Derek was happy to see Trump's star, Kamiko bought expensive shoes, and Keenan got a nap.

We topped the whole trip off by eating lunch at Raising Cane's Chicken place in Las Vegas on the way home. Wow, that is some great chicken. That's all they have there: chicken and fries and toast. It is spectacular. I'm so glad we stopped. That made Kamiko and Allie very happy, as they remembered eating there in Missouri and Arkansas. It'll be a place we visit again. My recommendation: the child's meal and spring for the $.99 toast.

Raising Cane with Wonder Woman

I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter A

So we're now home and the kids have moved into their apartments in Provo. My house is clean and quiet. It's weird. Something new to get used to.

Christmas and New Years 2016

Nothing says Christmas like Christmas Kitty Mitty and a new Sam's Club minky robe. It's gonna be a most excellent holiday season.

All the kiddos were home for Christmas. We had a good time. We went to Fong's for dinner on Christmas Eve. Mom and dad joined us. Then we came back to our place to visit for a bit. We gave mom and dad their gift from the kids - Ancestry DNA Kits. Now we'll know if dad is 101% Swedish. Oh no, what if mom's more Swedish than dad? They were excited with their gifts, especially mom. She's wanted to do this for quite a while. Allie and Kamiko helped them figure them out, spit, and get the kits ready to mail. Now we just wait 4-6 weeks for the results. Drum roll, please....

We also filled out a questionnaire about our Christmas favorites. It was fun to see everyone's answers and to hear the stories behind the favorites. I listed "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as my favorite song because it reminds me of the ward Christmas parties of my youth. The kids who were home from college would sing that song every year at the ward party. Here's the table of our answers:

	Aarl	Ann	Keenan	Dana	Kamiko	Allie	Mel
Favorite Christmas Song	White Christmas/ Silent Night	O Holy Night	Silent Night	I’ll Be Home for Christmas	I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (Home Alone)	Snow in California	What Christmas means to me
Least favorite Christmas song	Hark the Hair-lipped Angels Sing	Christmas Story	Feliz Navidad	12 Days of Christmas	Baby It’s Cold Outside	Little Drummer Boy	12 Days of Christmas
Favorite Christmas Decoration	Kissing Angels	Santa Suit	Poinsettias	Santa Suit	Tree	Tree	lights
Favorite Christmas Movie	White Christmas	White Christmas	Elf	Elf	A Christmas Story	Elf	Elf
Favorite Christmas memory	Watching kids open presents	1st Christmas in Pleasanton	Singing Carols to friends	Getting lots of mail in Bolivia 1988	Getting Gameboy color with pokemon	Getting mitty	Sleeping together in tent and listening to Santa tracker
Least favorite Christmas memory	Kids playing with boxes	6 years old. Dad drunk	Driving brother’s van to see parents and it broke down	When kids quit doing advent calendar	Christmas of 2012	Not having Kamiko here	Al wanting to stay at her apt on Christmas Eve
Favorite Christmas food	Rod Kol	everything	Chinese food	Cinnamon twists	ham	candy	All of the food
Least favorite traditional holiday food	Giblets	eggnog	Fruit cake	Raisin pie	Fruit cake	Fruit cake	Fruit cake
Favorite Christmas treat	candy	Peppar kakor	Applie pie	Sugar cookies	Sugar cookies	candy	Popcorn from the Larsons

Christmas morning we went to Church. A new brother in the ward, Shawn Stevens, who has worked in Hollywood, sang "O Holy Night" and it was beautiful. Very memorable. Definitely a highlight. After church, we came home and opened presents. The gifts for the kids were quite practical. The kids spoiled us with great stuff. It was a fun day. After naps, we went to mom and dad's for dinner. We took what Melia thought was the BEST Christmas present: a meat and cheese platter that Papaw sent. She has decided she wants one for her birthday. She's a funny girl.

Mel gave me a great Arvo watch. Kamiko and Al gave me a Michael Kors bag.

Just look at this. It reminds me of the platters dad would get from patients before there were a ton of online shopping options. Swiss Colony was where it was at! Still is, according to Mel.

Kamiko and Mel got jackets

Instagram tutorial on Christmas day

Keenan gave me this cute scarf

Mel loves making her gingerbread house

The kids gave dad a record player and some records

Well, since the kids were so good to us, we decided to make a trip to Disneyland happen. We left on Wednesday, January 4, and came back on Sunday, the 8th. I'll blog about that soon.

The kids really did give thoughtful gifts and enjoyed watching reactions. Sadly, they have outgrown the advent calendar and other traditions, but they're growing up and are enjoying other aspects of Christmas. Our Christmases are about to change. Sad, but good. I love who my kids are becoming.

New Years...nothing...nothing really. Walter Frank was in town, so that was fun. Keenan took all the kids to Cafe Rio for dinner. I stayed home because I wasn't feeling too great. I watched the Hallmark Channel offerings that night til about 11:00, then I went to bed. The girls went to the movie with Brooke. Kobi was working. Kamiko and Walter Frank went to a dance at UVU. They said it was ok, but nothing special. Happy 2017! Hahaha!

It's Been a Long Time: October, November, and December

I didn't realize it's been more than 2 months since I last wrote. I finished the semester, celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, Sinterklaas, and Santa Lucia and Christmas is Sunday. We elected a new president and I made a wedding dress with Starlyn. I'm pretty bad.

For our Halloween Book Club, we dressed up and I went as the bee Snapchat filter. Snapchat is an app on the phone that changes your face and/or voice for sending messages. I love the bee filter. Erin, my TA, did my makeup and I looked pretty good. I was gonna be Ken Bone. He's a big guy that wore a big red sweater to a presidential debate and made quite a splash with his question and appearance.

Of course I wore my sweatshirt to work 

We had 2 Thanksgiving dinners and I was pretty wiped out by the end. We had a family get-together at the Sykes on Friday, complete with Derek and Rachel and family in town. But, my kids wanted Thanksgiving on Thursday and wanted leftovers, so I did the whole thing on Thursday, then repeated pies, rolls, and green beans on Friday. We also took a spinach artichoke dip on Friday. Yep, I was a bit cranky by Friday night. It was sure fun to see the Hunters visiting from California. Mom commented that we didn't take a single picture. Derek said we have the memories.

Our former TA Elaina is getting married soon. She kinda had a falling out with her mom and as a result, her mom pulled her financial support. Elaina was beside herself, trying to figure out how she could get a dress. When Starlyn and I saw what she wanted, we realized we could make it. It was a bit tricky since Elaina is in Texas. But, we got her measurements and picked out fabric via skype. I quickly made up a mock top and sent it to her for a fitting. She wanted a few tweaks. I was then able to make the top. Starlyn and I made the skirt. Some co-workers contributed some money, which helped. It turned out great. When I mentioned the project in Relief Society, a visitor came up to me later and told me she is a photographer and wanted to take pictures for Elaina, free of charge. It was so nice of her. Elaina came in town the first part of November and the dress fit like a glove. She and her mom made up and that was great. I hope all goes well. I'm sure it will be a beautiful wedding. Wish I could be there. Erin will go and represent the foods lab. I must admit. It felt really nice to help with something so important. I love these TA's and I loved working with Starlyn. At one point, Star called me in tears. She was struggling with the skirt. I went down to her house and we got it figured out and got it done.

This dress was $300

Erin, Elaina, me, Starlyn. I think we did pretty good for less than $150.

We had a Presidential election. It looked like Hilary Clinton was a shoe-in. The media put out every bad story about Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and gave excuses for any indiscretion (or illegal act) Hilary had. Election night was crazy. I was actually sewing with Starlyn and told her husband, Lee, to put on the election returns. States were being called for Trump. WHAT?! We got the skirt done with time for me to get home to watch final election returns. Mel was home and all her friends came over. We stayed up pretty late. Nothing was final by the time I went to bed, but it looked like Trump would win and he did. Since he won, we've had tons of liberals complaining and whining. They have said they feel unsafe, threatened, etc. College students are saying they can't live any longer. They don't know what to do. Are you kidding me? Welcome to losing. Deal with it. You'll be fine.

Levi Patterson, Keenan, Parker Shelby, Brooke Walker, Meghan Winward, Kobi Watkins, Allie, and Melia

Kamiko went to California and brought me an excellent belated birthday gift. Disneyland's California Adventure is closing one of our favorite rides for a while. They're changing the Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror to Guardians of the Galaxy. I'm not excited about it at all. BIG MISTAKE. I remember when they changed the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse to Tarzan. It's never been the same. Well, Kamiko brought me this awesome shirt. I love it. In fact, I'm wearing it right now. My boy knows his mom.

Ugh. I look especially old without eye makeup

Oh, another great thing Kamiko did was to invite me to be his "plus one" at his work Christmas party. It was a nice dinner up at Sundance Ski Resort. We had a great time. I borrowed a dress from Mel. When we walked in, we each got to pick 2 gifts. I chose a necklace and earrings. I kept them for me. For a split second, I thought of getting stuff the girls would like, but then I decided I wanted mementoes from the party, so I chose stuff for me. We had a lot of fun. Great food. They also did a drawing and every employee won something. Kamiko got a $100 Costco gift card which I bought from him. He also got a bonus and a nice jacket. The downside of the jacket is that it says the name of his work across the back and all over the lining. Hahahah

Speaking of jackets, all Adcocks are now proud owners of Columbia jackets. Allie had one. I had one. Kamiko and Mel needed jackets so we bought them each one for Christmas and they picked out Columbia. I know Keenan has one somewhere, too.

So, Christmas approaches. I have all my kids at home. And all their junk, too, because they're all in between apartments. Kamiko has bought someone's contract in Provo and will move in later in December. Allie bought a contract in Provo, too. She has moved some of her stuff, but stays here at the house because nobody is in Provo. Mel is changing dorms. She's moving from Stover Hall to Hinckley Hall, so she had to bring all her stuff home. Wow. Kamiko's mission buddy Mark Rice was also here for about 3 weeks with all of his stuff. He's also in between apartments. It's a regular hotel. It was fun having Mark here. He seemed to enjoy the Sinterklaas festivities of chocolate and nerf guns. 

I'm watching all the Hallmark Christmas movies I can. The shopping is done. Mel got her wisdom teeth out. She was very weepy on the meds right after the procedure. Her top teeth were rough. She's been swollen and unable to eat much for 5 days now. She just graduated to grilled cheese sandwiches. She's hoping to fully enjoy Chinese food at Fong's on Saturday (Christmas Eve). I had my first colonoscopy and survived. Things are just fine.

Annual gingerbread house making. We cheat and buy the kits. It's so fun.

Mel's friend Larissa joined us. She'd never done gingerbread houses before.