Christmas vacation--west coast

This winter vacation, we drove from Seattle, WA to as far as San Diego, CA.  

and vice versa.

ARE WE NUTS???!?!!  Yes, yes we are.  

Don't worry.  

We had hospitable pit-stops.

P.S.  I apologize for no pictures at pit stops 1 and 2.  What were we thinking?!??!?!? If any of you took pictures, send them here and I'll post them.

1st Stop: Portland Oregon (3 hr drive)

Highlight: 

Mexican dinner with Dan's cousins, and sleeping at Uncle Mark and Aunt Ann's house.
We thank you for your hospitality!  Sorry that Elena kept trying to eat the "ma-i-net"

2nd Stop: San Jose CA (11 hr drive)

Highlights: 

1) Slept for 3 night's at Dan's grandparents' house, spent time also with Aunt Sharon and hubbie John.
They loOoOooOoved her.  That a girl.  Gr8t Grampa Foulger and Elena relaxed and watched a movie together.  Dan THOROUGHLY enjoyed Gma Foulger's french toast, home squeezed OJ, and endless, ENDLESS bacon!  Thank you Sharon and John for introducing me to the existence of "Tron"!!!On the way back we were also fortunate to see Dan's parents.  More presents for Elena!!!.  I demand rent money as you are creating a toy flood in our living room, causing us to possibly evacuate our little abode :)

2) Day trip in San Francisco            

3rd Stop: Temple City, CA (home of Genny) (6 hr drive)

Highlights: 

1)San Diego w/ Sister Katie and hubbie Jamie.

2)Visited w/ Genny's school friends and Gma Higdon, no pictures :(((
Visiting highschool friends always warps me back into the past and I feel like a teen again.
Thanks Dini, Katie, Shortee, Shelzy and Faith!
Gma is 98 years old.  Can you believe it!  She has lived for almost an entire century!  Her brain is still so sharp, just amazing.  Dan and I dropped by her house and took an afghan and a stitched quilt that she made, with her permission of course.  Thank you Gma!!!

3)Christmas lunch at Acapulco (soooo traditional)

Higdon child #2, 5, 4, and 1.  Child #3 is missing in Virginia---booo hooo.

4)Dinner with Korean relatives and "elf yourself entertainment"!!!

5)DISNEYLAND, aka happiest place on earth! 
I remember as a teen thinking that Disneyland was boring!  I was only into fast rollercoasters and could care less about animated manikins.  Something changed!  It's like my eyes were opened!!!  I am amazed at the ingeniousness behind the making.  I guess the difference is now I realize how much hard work it takes to create such entertainment, and now I am in absolute awe!

Hippy dad Steve, Korean mom Kim, Genny, Elena, Dan, sister Katie w/ hubbie Jamie

5) Bonus Picture--waking up to see some of this going on:

Driving back to reality....

Good news: yesterday's job interview went well!  This is both exciting and a little stressful I must admit.  A couple times a month won't hurt.  However, I found out that I may be working some days during the Christmas holiday.  Maybe even on Christmas day!  But that's only if I get the job.  You win some and you lose some.