About a month before Christmas, our parents generously gifted us with tickets to Boise and back to Maine for Christmas. Riley's program gives 4 full weeks off for the holidays, so we were able to do two weeks in Idaho and two in Washington, with ample time to see our moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. We had the best time. We. Love. Family.
Before we left Portland, we had a few festive moments. Visiting Santa at the UNE Christmas party, the elaborate toy train village at the mall, and baking and delivering mass quantities of treats to all our Mainer friends.
Riley was a total Scrooge about setting up a tree or any decor if we weren't even going to be in our house for the 25th, so Hinder and I constructed this cardboard tree so there was at least a little bit of Christmas spirit in our home during the first half of December.
Traveling across the United States, in the middle of a storm named Electra, with three littles, is not for the weak. And we had our fair share of frustrating, but memorable set backs.
Our trip started at 4 in the morning, just 30 minutes ahead of a winter storm that would end up shutting down the Portland airport. We made it out that morning delayed, but safe! The kids even did pretty well on that flight. (except Vyla, who DID NOT understand why she had to wear a seat belt at designated times)
Our flight arrived about 45 minutes late...which made us miss our connection to Boise. Little did we know that would be the only flight available until the next day at midnight. A 38 hour layover! Fortunately, the United Airlines customer service desk is located right next to the Brachiosaurus fossil replica at O'Hare Airport. Accident? I think not. We call that a tender mercy.
Thank goodness for Lorie! She used her magic, switched our airline, and got us out of Chicago the next morning. We stayed an impromptu night in Chicago, enjoyed order in pizza, and the jumping on hotel beds. The Hyatt even had this gorgeous tree in the lobby, a great reminder of why we were making this trek in the first place!
The next day, with just a few delays, and en extra stop in SLC we made it to Boise! We were so stinking excited to be there. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss things until you see them again..like mountains, large roads, open spaces, familiar faces, and...Krispy Kremes!
Out time in Boise FLEW by! We met the adorable Murray twins for the first time, saw The Nutcracker performed for the first time, ate at Kneaders and Corona Village, had massages, Sidnee pedicures (she's.the.best.for.reals), speed flying, skiing, lots and lots of yummy food, went to the temple, and saw every family member. who could ask for more?
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