Christmas in McCall/Happy New year.

The plan was to go to California. We had great expectations. We were going to drive down to see my family in Bakersfield, then visit Jon’s family in San Diego. We were going to be there for 3 whole glorious weeks. That was a little ambitious. I must have forgotten what it was like to have a newborn. I also must have figured that this new baby was going to be completely different than her sister and LOVE the car seat. Silly, silly me. Coco is the happiest baby in the whole world, unless she is in her car seat. She becomes a screaming mi-mi and squalls like a banshee. Then, the second she is removed from the said torture chair, she is her smiling, giggling self again. Not exactly the right ingredient for a 23 hour car trip. So, we had to nix that plan.


Instead, we decided to meet my sister and her family half way (just a 6 hour car drive. I could endure crying for 6 hours, I guess) at a vacation rental in McCall, Idaho. (They have a 9 month old who isn’t exactly happy in the car either) We have driven through McCall countless times when en route to Boise or Twin Falls, and every time we say "Wow. This looks like a cool little mountain town. We should come here and explore sometime." But we never seemed to have a good excuse. So when my sister and Heath suggested we meet there for Christmas Jon and I were excited. And, oh, I am in love. I never thought I would find another place would rival Sandpoint in my heart, but McCall may just do that. It reminds me so much of Lake Tahoe, with all the Ponderosas and the beautiful lake, but without all the casinos and traffic. There is groomed (!!) Nordic trails everywhere, a gorgeous alpine lake, 3 ski hills, and an ice rink in downtown. The town is adorable too, full of shops and restaurants and very friendly locals.

We spent most of the week outside. Lots of skiing, sledding, walks to town, and spa-ing. (That was the one thing Reese and I insisted that the home we rent have--a spa! When we were inside, there was Rock Band, card games, Yatzee!

Our Two peas.

If any of you don't have a Chariot they are one of the greatest things for parents with kids. We received the ski attachment form Grandma and Grandpa Livingston for birth/Christmas for us. We put it to good full use. *Jon Typing here* As the Bartender at Salmon River brewing said "It's not just a stroller, it's Freedom!" Yes, he was a bartender not a salesman.

We missed all of our California family and were sad that we couldn't visit this year (there is always next!) but this was a great backup plan.

New Years Eve Note

After we returned home from McCall, we realized that we didn't have a family picture on here. So on new years eve, we made a concerted effort to take a family picture, and yes, with two little girls this was the best we could do with the auto-timer.