Friday Fragments-What I Did on My Christmas Vacation

JOINING MRS 4444 FOR FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

Well we are back from our trip to California.  We left the Monday after Christmas trying to get home before New Years.  We arrived home the Friday after New Years.  Part of it had to do with not being able to leave before noon, because Mr BC had to pick up parts at Moss Motors, for the Triumph, he is restoring.  He thought as long as he was in town......This put us in Los Angeles, right in the middle of evening traffic.....really bad traffic and we it was bad all the way to Victorville.  Essentially we lost a whole day, thank you very much.

When we decided to stop early the next day, because we were beat.  The nice lady at the KOA Kampground, encouraged us to go on well past Flagstaff, as they were expecting a massive weather storm and might not get out the next day.  From then on we were out in front of winter storms the rest of the way home.  After the last trip to CA in the winter and this we have decided we are not winter campers.....Though the weather while we were in CA was fantastic.  Getting home is problematic.

As I said the weather was beautiful in Carpenteria, where we camped at the State Beach.  This was our view out our front door.

A trip down the beach takes you to the naturally occurring surface asphalt the Chumash Indians used to seal their canoes.  Petroleum seeps are still visible along the beach bluffs at Tar Pits Park on the campground beach of Carpinteria State Beach. *Wickipedia

Christmas was fun with the boys...both have grown so tall and I love that I can hold a rather grown up conversation with almost 6 year old Лука, He is as patient as he can be most of the time, with his little brother.  He got a bigger bicycle this year. 

It was the only thing that, almost 3 year old Caшa, didn't claim.....Mine, mine, mine!  

 Caшa, already has a smaller glider bike that he can maneuver quite well.  They both went out for rides, later in the day with the kids in the neighborhood.

Everyone stayed healthy while we were there so thankfully we made it home healthy.  Though, Thursday all day, Mr BC was laid low with a very upset stomach bug.  I did not know he had all that in him!  It has not progressed to anything else so maybe it was something he ate.

Christmas Surprises-Memory Monday

This week's prompt is: My Christmas Memories

I am doing a lot of online shopping this year in preparation for our trip to CA for Christmas with the kids and grand kids. I have a few surprises and Christmas is all about surprises.  Mom and dad were careful to hide the gifts well so that. 'Santa' would surprise us well.  When I was about 10, I was so hoping for a big bike.  I didn't think I could wait until Christmas morning so I snooped everywhere.  What I did not know, is that my wise parents hid it at my grandparents house until Christmas morning, so I came up empty. in my search for my hearts delight a five speed bike.

My Cousin, who lived with the grandparents. was in on the secret so I hounded him to tell me what he knew.  Eventually, he spilled and I was so happy. Until Christmas morning when there it was......a bike.....a beautiful bike! But I was disappointed because the surprise was...no surprise! That was when I learned that it wasn't so exciting to KNOW what you were getting for Christmas....and I never really snooped again. Surprise was an essential ingredient for Christmas gift giving.  

When I had girls of my own, I tried to instill the element of surprise. Especially when one of the girls was so unsubtle about searching, that she left the dining room chair, still in place, in the bedroom closet. There she had riffled through the top shelf, not so unsuccessfully, looking for loot. So I knew I had to be more creative in my hiding places.

So we were always the mom and dad, who had to make a trip to parents or friends homes, to pick up the Santa gift. Or else, Mr BC was staying up until two am..... to put the Glamour Gals Cruise ship together.....Oh, so many tiny parts and stickers for the walls. This was a good surprise that Christmas. 

I also remember the Christmas that, DD1 got her first big bike.  We did not put it next to the Christmas tree, but in the front hall.  Her face dropped so far to the floor, that I did believe she was surprised that she didn't get the expected bike. Her sister's little bike was there, but not hers. Oh, the disappointment, until she turned around to see she was not forgotten. I believe I should have said Gotcha! But I didn't. Christmas is meant for Great Surprises.