Christmas Surprise

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care....

As you can see there were some gifts under the tree, but it was not so overloaded as it has been some years.

On Christmas morning, our kids arose with eager anticipation to see what Santa had brought for Christmas. When all the presents were opened, they noticed that while they did get some gifts, they didn't get much that was fun....except gifts from Grandparents and Joe and Haylee's family. (Thank you for the great gifts!) There were needed shoes and boots here, a needed new coat there, a few books and so on. Then, behind the tree, there was one small gift  for each kid to open.
Inside this gift was an iTunes card and the following verse:

This card will keep you entertained
After your interest in driving has waned.
We'll settle in for a nice long drive,
Until in safety we arrive
What adventure will it be?
Follow the clues and you will see.
Want your curiosity fed?
Better go look under Mark's bed.

The kids ran like mad, and looked under Mark's bed where they found the following verse inside a wrapped gift box:

This is Alyssa reading out the clue they found under Mark's bed.

I know what you're thinking--you miss uncle Joe
And Haylee and Emma and all the kiddos.
So we're going to Vegas to stay for the night
To help the Prete family to bond to us tight.
And Preston, if you have any luck
You'll see the girl you hit with the hockey puck.
On January Second we'll show up to their place
And leave the next morning--to Utah we'll race.
For the next clue you must go
To a gift Austin got 12 Christmases ago.

It took just a moment to realize that the gift Austin got 12 Christmases ago was his little basketball net. Down at the basketball next were gifts wrapped up for each family member. Inside each gift were tickets to a BYU basketball game with the following verse:

Zeniths and Pandas, well that's all just fine,
But the BYU cougars, now that's the big time.
With Bryners and Kohrmans we'll watch the big game
Loyola Marymount will never be the same.
We won't send you hungry, bith Bryners we'll eat.
We're going to Sizzler for the buffet with meat.
We'll sleep at the Marriott in Provo that night
Their free morning breakfast will be a delight.
And why will be be in Provo on the third?
A clue by the world map will give you the word.

The Kids are cheering downstairs after they read the clue that towld them about the BYU game! 

So, down they went running to the world map which is on the wall in the laundry room. There was one wrapped gift there with the following verse inside:

You'll have to pack up today, 'cause tomorrow we go
We'll drive and drive til we escape the snow
To a place that's warm and terrific
And you can put your feet in the Pacific.
Sunny Southern California is the destination
That will fill our family with fascination.
What will we do while we are there?
Go find a suitcase. The answer is there.

So, the kids went running to the front hall closet where the suitcases are kept. Beside the suitcases on the shelf were 6 wrapped gifts, each of which said "Your final treasure" on the outside.  Under the wrapping paper was a treasure chest with a Southern California City Pass and the following verse inside.

First from a hotel in Santa Ana we'll embark
To Sea World and Universal Studios--a day at each park
Then on he Sabbath, of course, we will rest
Because keeping commandments is always best.
Then we'll pack up and go to Anaheim
Where you'll be assured a magically good time.
Three days at California Adventure and Disneyland
I hear they may even have fireworks planned.
A great family memory will be our creation
As we all go on a California vacation!

The kids were so excited, they were jumping up and down and running around like a bunch of preschoolers. It was a super busy Christmas day, getting everything packed but we were still able to enjoy a nice afternoon with Granny and Grandpa and Ken and Tracy's family. Then, early on the 26th, we embarked on our trip....