Rock Chalk Christmas

There's a quote that says, "True friendship isn't about being inseparable. It's about being separated and nothing changes." I can honestly say that we have true friends. Thousands of miles separate us, and we all lead busy, overly active lives thanks to careers and children, but we make the effort to stay in touch. There are definitely periods of time when the phone calls are few, but a quick text or family picture shared online keeps us all linked when the going gets tough.

Over the last couple years, we've made an earnest effort to gather at least once a year for a reunion. Yes, we missed one another. That's what spawned the idea of an annual reunion, but it wasn't until that first gathering in Napa that we truly realized just how much we missed interacting with our dear friends. For this Holiday Reunion, we made the trek to Kansas City since that's where the majority of our out-of-town friends live, and as an added bonus we could also visit some seasonably appropriate weather. It's really hard to feel the Christmas spirit in 80-degree weather!

Speaking of visits, there was an extra special visitor awaiting our arrival in Kansas...Santa Claus paid us an early visit to double check the children's wish lists and confirm whether they had landed on the under the naughty or nice columns. Since Santa brought each child a little present, I'd say things were looking good for them on Christmas morning. Although, Baylor seemed a little nervous!

While there were no tears, Grant certainly wasn't fond of Santa. He wanted nothing to do with the big guy! Each time we tried for a picture, Grant pleaded to be rescued from Santa's arms. I hope he didn't take it personally!

This is the best one! If you can zoom in, Grant's face is priceless! Priceless!

Another unsuccessful attempt at a smiling picture on Santa's lap. Grant just didn't trust the beard!

The boys LOVED the KU basketball jerseys that Santa brought for them. How did he know we had plans to watch our beloved Jayhawks play?!

Of course, Santa is a very busy man this time of the year and had to be on his way, but we too were about to pile into a sleigh. We were off to tour the city's Christmas light displays! Seriously? What a fun night!

This was the first limo ride for a few of the children, but you'd never know it. Watch out Hollywood! We've got a few that seem destined for stardom.

How do you possibly top a night like that? It was perfection! Luckily, there is no shortage of family fun in Kansas City. We decided on ice skating at Crowne Center. This was another first for a few of the kids. My boys did fairly well. They didn't resemble Michelle Kwon gliding over the ice, but they stayed  upright for the most part.

Our visit to the Power & Light District that night had to be the highlight of the trip for all the guys (big & small). This was our first Jayhawk basketball game, and it was a proud moment for Anh. He explained that the Sprint Center arena wouldn't have the intense energy you feel when the team plays at home at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, but it was great to introduce the boys to that level of passion. Baby steps, right? Maybe we'll make it to Allen Fieldhouse next year?

Now that their inner Jayhawk pride was sparked, we kept the ball of school spirit rolling and made a day trip to Lawrence to visit the University of Kansas campus. Anh & I took Jaxon as a baby to tour the campus.

Then, I took Baylor for a few campus pictures once when I visited without Anh. I know! It's not right, but he was busy and couldn't join me. At least we have cute baby Baylor KU pictures as a result of my selfishness.

So, this was our pilgrimage for baby Grant KU pictures!

This trip did more than just provide a little Holiday spirit, it cemented some of the friendships we value most. Time may be short and distances wide, but true friendship can withstand it all! There is no better gift!

Golden Opportunity

Wanting to make the most of our time on the West coast, Anh and I planned a little parent getaway towards the end of the week. Aunt Nguyen happily volunteered to watch all six kids while Anh and I escaped to San Francisco for a couple of days with Mike and Amy. I'm not sure whether Aunt Nguyen really knew what she was getting herself into, but with a little convincing the four of us gratefully accepted the offer. Some of us (me & Amy) needed more convincing than others (Anh & Mike).

Why then are the children in photos that were so obviously taken in San Francisco? Clearly, we deviated from the original plan. I'm not sure whether our brains were suffering from a lack of oxygen due to the high altitude at Lake Tahoe or whether during one of our nights in the hot tub under the stars, we consumed a little too much vino, but at some point, it was suggested that we take the entire gang to SF and like idiots we all agreed to continue the adventure with the group intact. What the heck were we thinking?!

Truthfully, the children were extremely excited to be included, and for the most part, handled themselves very well in the bustling city. After snapping a few pictures at the Golden Gate Bridge we made our way to Union Square and checked into our hotel. Amy and I fought the urge to shop which actually required quite a bit of restraint given the plethora of stores in the fabulous shopping district surrounding Union Square. Instead, we made our way to Chinatown with the goal of finding a decent dim sum restaurant for lunch.

The boys seemed to enjoy the experience. Jaxon and Baylor along with the Davoren children seemed extremely focused on their souvenir shopping. There's certainly no shortage of cheap trinkets also known as "crap" in Chinatown. The kids were in heaven!

As we wandered the streets gazing in store windows, we researched everyone's Chinese horoscope signs so trinkets featuring the various animals could be chosen appropriately. While I am the only true Dragon in the group, Emily and Jaxon both posed as dragons with a mural celebrating The Year of the Dragon as their backdrop. Speaking of these two, they still share a very strong bond. I can see why. Emily is an amazing big sister!

We weren't entirely selfless during our stay in the city. We did sneak off for a child-free dinner at Restaurant Gary Danko as an early birthday dinner for Mike. The birthday boy certainly wasn't the only one treated. Our dinner was outstanding thanks to a warm not stuffy atmosphere and some truly incredible dishes from the tasting menu. What a wonderful experience!

We spent day 2 in the city at Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Yes, they're essentially tourist traps, but kids love that sort of stuff, and everyone has to see these areas at least once in a lifetime. With better planning, we could have taken the tour to Alcatraz, but the kids seemed content to just hear the history as we gazed at The Rock from the pier. Honestly, the kids were way more excited to visit the outrageously overpriced candy store and watch the seal lions napping on the anchored platforms near the wharf.

Riding a cable car was high on everyone's wish lists, and by everyone, I do mean every tourist in the city that day. We waited for the better part of an hour in line to have the quintessential San Franciscan experience. Yet another "you've got to do it once" experience marked off the list!

Oddly enough, Aunt Nguyen and I were seated with Grant and a group of French tourists, and the French tourists were simply fascinated by baby Grant. He was looking pretty cute that day, and I'm not at all biased. The tourists were making a huge fuss over my little guy and snapping pictures of him. Seriously? Maybe I should start charging for the privilege or maybe I need to find my little superstar an agent?

Our final stop of the day is actually my favorite place, The Ferry Building. It's a "foodie" mecca! An eclectic mix of restaurants, artisan-quality food vendors, and culinary stores that to me is an absolute must-see every time we visit. You can wander the building collecting a wide variety of treats, and then secure a table outside to dine as you watch the rush of locals making their way on and off the ferries during their daily commutes. It's the perfect combination of my two favorite activities: eating & people watching!

While it wasn't exactly the "relaxing" getaway that we had originally planned, our jaunt down to San Francisco with the kids resulted in a much better experience. Sure, a little time away from the kids is a good thing, but being together as a family is always preferred. Our children always focus on collecting souvenirs while we're on vacation. However, I've discovered that memories truly make the best souvenirs. I certainly came home with quite a few and can't wait to make more with them in the future!