Jan. 2018--Extended Semester Break Means Trip Back to the U.S.

Semester breaks in China are long--really long! After administering final exams on Christmas week, 2017, we departed for Salt Lake City airport on December 29th. The next semester isn't scheduled to begin until March 5, 2018. We were greeted at the airport by daughter Crystal with her son, Micah, and daughter Tiffany. We arrived very late, around 1:00 a.m. and these daughters had secretly schemed to have us all spend a night in a hotel suite near the airport. Somehow, they actually canceled our previous hotel reservation by pretending to be us when they talked to Hotels.com.

The next day we arrived in Rupert Idaho where we set up camp at Tamara and Tom's house. Things were quite hectic as Tom had started daily radiation treatments in Twin Falls, a 40 minute drive away, and Tamara was still recovering from her C-section birth of baby Hailey Sue. In addition, Tamara had her three boys from Florida, her other "baby," LaRae (15 months old), Tom's two children, and two dogs.

We had a wonderful time with Tom and Tamara and others at their house. Tom eventually was able to start driving again, and we did some fun things together.

Idaho has hot springs!! Even in January, fun at the outdoor pool can be exciting. Left to right: Crystal, Tamara, LaRae/Tom, Joaquin/Chuck, DJ, Juliana, Jeremy, (distant pool--Micah and unknown person)

Game night with Essie (front left), Chuck, Wyatt (even if he's hiding), Rev (same), Dasch, Xander, and Tom

LaRae in a rare moment when she is actually just sitting down quietly. 

Xander love little sis, LaRae

Grandma paradise--hangin' with newest grandchild, Hailey Sue

No, it's not Halloween, and that's what's really scary about this picture. They just dress this way all the time. 

Aunt Crystal, Aunt Tiffany sharing time with their new niece.

The mother, Tamara, with new baby and sisters

In Syracuse, Utah at the home of world travelers, Jason and Elvira Palmer. Jason is Chuck's nephew. Clockwise from Chuck is his sister, Lisa, Elvira, Sahama, Crystal, LaRae, Tiffany, Hailey, Tamara, Jason, Chris, Tom.

Pizza with Micah and Crystal (left side of picture), and Mikayla (top right), Laraine's niece. 

Yuck, dog kisses!  Jeremy holding baby Hailey with LaRae and Tamara looking on.

Crystal holding Hailey

Fridge magnet magic. Cousins bond over artwork. Joaquin (Jeremy's little boy), and LaRae (Tamara's daughter)

Micah really had a blast at the hot springs

DJ is not too proud to play "hand and foot" and even wear his "foot holder"

Waking up grandpa. Asking him to show some videos on his phone, Juliana and Joaquin seem pretty content. 

Tamara holding Joaquin and LaRae

Goodbyes are hard. Jeremy and Juliana head off to the airport. Jeremy flew his two children to Idaho from Georgia to spend time with siblings and family. 

One of these days, DJ, you'll have your own. Until then, enjoy cousins. 

DJ at a mini-family reunion lunch with Tiffany and her two children, Presley and Griffin. 

Tiffany, DJ and Micah

At Lois Anderson's house. Chuck starts a card game with Lorene (Laraine's twin), and DJ

DJ with his grandparents. He's certainly getting too big for his britches. 

DJ taking a selfie with family members (clockwise), Kelli Duncan, Lori Uresk, Lois Anderson, Ann Marie Pulley, Laraine, Lorene, Tiffany, Griffin, Chuck, Micah, Crystal, Melissa Ruiz, Elva Jean Thornton. These are all relatives on the Hone side of the family.