Monday, January 16, 2012

Christmas & New Years = CO & UT

We have a 17 month old toddler....  Sometimes I wonder if we forget that simple fact when we plan some of our trips.  We had this great idea a few months ago that we would travel to see both sets of grandparents over the holiday season.  The Scoffield's have a new winter home in St. George UT and we thought it would be fun to see everyone.  So here was the travel itinerary which seemed very logical when we made it but didn't seem quite as fun the closer we got to the trip:

Dec 24th - 7 am: leave home for SEATAC airport, 9:30 am fly (3 hours) from SEA to ABQ, arrive at     1:45 pm MST then drive 3.5 hours to Ignacio CO (total of 11 hours of travel door to door)

Dec 28/29th - drive 8.5 hours from Ignacio, CO to St. George UT (we stayed overnight in Page, AZ)

Jan 3rd - 6 am:  leave St. George and drive 2.5 hours to Las Vegas for a 3 hour flight to SEA (total travel time of 8 hours)

Sounds reasonable right?   In our past life this would be an adventure.  In our current life it could have been a DISASTER!

But no... it was not a disaster as I had anticipated.  We have been blessed with a child that travels exceptionally well.  I really don't know how we got so lucky.  Except for a few moments on the airplane when she really didn't want to be sitting on our laps anymore, Elin was such a good girl and seemed to enjoy being out and seeing new things.

CHRISTMAS -Ignacio, CO

We spent the Christmas weekend with Grandma Aila, Grampy, Oscar, Randi and Deekon and Lincoln.

Maija, Elin & James - Christmas Day

Lincoln, Elin & Deekon - Christmas Eve


Lincoln, Randi, Elin, Oscar & Deekon

Deekon, Pappy (Grampy), Lincoln & Elin
Grandma Aila (Mumu) & Elin
We all had a great Christmas and Elin loved her new toys especially her doll stroller and diaper bag (backpack).






She was SO excited to see the boys and would hug them every time they came over.  She also loved playing in the snow.

Deekon, Elin & Lincoln
We spent most of our time just relaxing and visiting with our family.
Oscar, Randi, Deekon & Lincoln
We traveled from Ignacio to St. George and made a brief stop at the Four Corners Monument


YUM- we introduced Elin to Navajo Frybread, she loved it!
 and drove through Monument Valley.



We stopped overnight in Page AZ at Lake Powell. Elin turned 17 months old there.


We also drove through Zion National Park.


NEW YEARS - St. George UT

In St. George we spent a few days with GG and Papa, Julie and Olivia.

Temple Square with "wows" (as Elin calls Christmas lights)
Papa, Elin & GG
Olivia, Elin & Julie
We had a nice time seeing the sun. We went on walks, played at the playground and went swimming.  Elin was happy to have her cousin Olivia in St. George to play with especially because Livie brought her dog Sugar with her.  We spent New Years at home, I don't think any of us actually made it to midnight :)


Olivia & Elin



Ward, Sherry, James, Julie and Olivia in front of the Scoffield's St. George home

Julie & James
We had a very nice holiday season and loved seeing so many of our family. We were, however, all glad to be home in our own comfy beds.

Maija (James & Elin)