Welcome Home Chris! Easter Vacation in CALI!

(Wowseroony, this post has a lot of pictures, but we don't get to see our Cali family very often, so I took lots. Bear with me!)

Welcome Home Elder Chris Hunsaker!

Our nephew Chris returned honorably from an LDS mission last week and we had the amazing opportunity of going to California for his homecoming and for the Easter weekend. 

It was such a great vacation!

The California Hunsakers- 

Rob's brother Mikal & wife Jenn, Claire, Hayley, and Chris. Bryce is also on a mission right now.

We flew to Sacramento last Friday afternoon (April 22nd), enjoyed a great Easter weekend, Rob came home early Monday morning for work, and Drake & I stayed until Tuesday evening.

One thing I hate about vacations- They go by way too fast!

Here we are boarding our tiny plane.My squinty boys are pretty darn cute!

Drake did well on the plane ride, just got a little restless because he was tired.

Granny Sheri got him this new computer to play with on the plane and he loved it.

It was so great to see Chris!

He was an amazing missionary and we are excited to see what the future brings for him.

We are most excited that he is planning on heading to Utah to attend USU come fall- much closer to us then El Dorado Hills, CA. 

It's always refreshing to be around a newly returned missionary who is burning with the spirit and so full of life.

These 2 are more like brothers or cousins then uncle and nephew. They are only 6 years apart.

Ross & Elaine, Jess, & Collin also came out from Elko for the homecoming and it was wonderful to spend time with them! It's really hard having our family live so far apart from each other and we cherish the time we get to spend together. 

These kiddos played hard ALL DAY LONG!

Mike & Jenn's backyard was their favorite place to be- playing with rocks...jumping on the tramp...

 

...Riding in the wagon, etc, etc.

I kept commenting on how great it was to see Drake playing with other kids because he hasn't really played with others before now, just stared at them.

Drakester livin' the high life-

On Saturday, we took the kids to a nearby park to meet the Easter Bunny...

 ...and to participate in an Easter egg hunt!

Drake picked up a few eggs and then watched all the other kids the rest of the time. He looked so cute dragging his basket around.

I love the picture below of Drake & Grandma Hunsaker.

 (I have to laugh at all of these pictures of Drake because he always looks so grumpy in pictures, but he really is a happy kid. We obviously just stink at catching it on camera.)

The weather was a bit overcast while we were there, but still better than home so we spent lots of time outside.

Drake loved the playground at the park!

And he especially loved the swing! Thanks Grandma for the push!

We went on lots of walks and I happened to snap this precious picture that I'm completely in love with.

Bueller didn't mind all of the walks at all- he is the best dog!

This was on another day when I took Drake on a walk by myself.

The weather was nice, I could smell the scent of flowers blooming, and everything around me just seemed so green and lush, so I snapped a picture.

I could easily enjoy living in California.

My walking buddy!

We stayed one night at the Hunsakers house, then moved over to "the mansion". Friends of Mikal & Jenn's offered there home for us to stay in since they were going to be gone on vacation. I couldn't believe there generosity. We stayed there with Rob's parents, and Ross' family.

It was the most incredible house and featured this amazing massage chair that Chris is relaxing in.

Also, how nice of them to provide a recliner for little Drake! haha isn't that the coolest!

This house also featured a heated toilet seat, bidet (you know, the French toilets that spray water), and dryer on the toilet in the master bathroom. 

And Yep, I tried it out- Awesome!

HAPPY EASTER!

EASTER CLOTHES!

Chris did an amazing job on his homecoming talk. 

Easter was a great day spent with family.

The kids playing in the backyard after church with the Easter egg side-walk chalk from the Easter bunny.

Lunch at a delicious Chinese restaurant on Monday.

On Tuesday, we drove into Old Sacramento for the afternoon, before Drake and I flew out later that day.

Jenn, you've never looked better. Love this bunch!

Drake has some big shoes to fill!

A nice lunch on the river with family.

It really was such a great trip and just so wonderful to be with Rob's family. I say this every time we get together with them- Why can't we all live closer!?

Here is Drake posing by our small airplane before boarding to return home.

I took him into a little toy store to kill some time at the airport and he played with this nasty green monster toy. When I tried to put it back when we were leaving, he laid down on the floor and threw a tantrum.

It was worth the $3.99 because it kept him entertained on the plane.

The plane ride went well. I was nervous about being on my own with Drake, but as long as I kept presenting new treats and toys, he was entertained and sat still the for the hour and a half flight.

The only minor incident came from a grumpy old lady sitting in front of me that turned around before we had even taken off and said, "I just came from a flight where I was kicked in the back the whole time! Do you have a child sitting on your lap or something?!". 

Me- "Yes, as a matter of fact I do" (Drake had been sitting perfectly still by the way). 

Grumpy lady- "Well, Ok! I SURE hope he goes to sleep". 

Me-in an annoyed tone "Nope, he probably won't". 

A couple of minutes later, she complained to the stewardess that she didn't have enough light because Drake had shut the window panel behind her (it was really bright and hurting his eyes). 

"Can you do something about this?", she said to the stewardess as she pointed back at Drake.

Good thing I had a super nice 40-year old guy sitting next to me that said he'd back me up in a fight. haha!

Seriously, what is wrong with some people!

Drake also experienced his First and Second "INJURIES" on this trip.

First, he fell down and scraped up his knee. He didn't make a peep until I tried to clean it off and put a Band-aid on it hours after it had happened. Then he flipped out and was screaming his head off. 

The second was a bit scary.

Drake & Collin were playing outside and suddenly, Drake started screaming. We found Drake's face and eyes covered in a clear, oily substance and a citrus cleaning solution right nearby.

His eyes were caked with it.

I picked him up and rushed him inside to the sink and threw him under the faucet to start flushing his eyes.

Good thing Jenn was there (a very experienced nurse) because I felt a bit frantic in the moment and she helped me so much. The solution said to flush his eyes for at least 15 minutes! Yikes!

He was sobbing and sobbing, but it had to be done. So we flushed and flushed his eyes.

He eventually calmed down and was quick to forgive us, but, boy, did I feel awful having to do that to him. I was quite emotional about it- just hated seeing my little boy so upset!

Daddy calming him down-

Okay, I didn't mean to end this post on 3 bad notes- oops.

We really had the greatest time!!!

We are so thankful to Mikal & Jenn's family for making this trip possible and for showing us such a great time. The best times were just hanging out as a family playing games and visiting. 

Thank you Hunsakers!!!