Lots of cold . . . no snow

It isn't looking too much like Christmas here in Utah right now. We had a day of excitement when it snowed but by afternoon nearly all of the snow had melted. That didn't stop the kids from trying to shovel the entire neighborhood's walks to gather enough snow to make a sledding hill. It was a pretty pitiful hill and is now just a lump of ice on the front yard. It's sure been cold though. Time to do the "can't find my mittens/hat/boots" dance. It is sure a switch from the weather we experienced at the beginning of December in Anaheim! Yes, that's right I said Anaheim! We made an impromptu trip to the Happiest Place on Earth with about 70% of the Jeppson clan. It was Charlie's idea to use this time while my mom is still mobile and relatively well to make some memories together as a family. About a month back my mom made her wishes known that she no longer wants to fight the cancer that is growing in her body and she has no desire to be hospitalized. It was a very difficult decision for her to make and Charlie and I chose not to fight her on it because it is her life and her body - we both respect her decision. Plans are in place to work with hospice when the time comes to help make her last days as comfortable as possible. For the time being she is doing well considering. She tires easily and has some pain and discomfort but is still mobile. Mom had lots of anxiety the few weeks leading up to the trip and struggled with adapting to each new situation but on the whole did really well. We all took turns pushing her through Disneyland and California Adventure in a wheel chair so she didn't tire out too bad. The weather was pretty good compared to what it was in Utah but it got pretty chilly as the sun went down. Some of the highlights were:

playing Wii/ping pong/pool with the cousins.

visiting Mickey in Toon Town as a family

riding Tower of Terror

World of Color

getting to do It's a Small World twice in a row

watching the Christmas Parade as a family

catching very realistic snowflakes on our tongues during the It's a Small World lighting ceremony

drinking hot cocoa before bed

pineapple frozen yogurt in the Tiki Room

lunch at Ariel's Grotto with the princesses

JJ getting into the Jedi Academy show

watching the Aladdin show together

lots and lots of cotton candy, mickey lollipops, mini candy canes and fruit by the foot

Asher falling asleep snuggled up on the couch between Brandon and Emmy

All the kids said that the thing they most enjoyed was just spending time with their cousins and Grandma J. They each bonded with one or two of the cousins and pretty much stuck by them like glue.
Asher's favorite ride was Soarin' Over California (this one really freaked my mom out!)

JJ's favorite rides were Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean

Hannah's favorite ride was Star Tours

My favorites were Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain

Lance's favorites were Star Tours and Tower of Terror


When asked what her favorite part of the vacation was my mom said the parade. She has always loved a parade and she had a big smile on her face during the whole parade. She really didn't enjoy most of the rides. She liked It's a Small World but that was about it.
Since returning home we have gone to Lance's work party that was dinner and then a concert by the Bar J Wranglers, taken the kids to see the play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and attended the kids Choir and school concerts. JJ got a part in the school play and because of her age age Hannah can only be in the chorus of the play - which she is sad about but at least she will get to participate that way. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward too like Hannah's baptism!

Wishing all of you a peaceful Christmas season full of love and family.