Dreamy Del Mar at Christmas!

Right about August, Papa started talking big to me about how wonderful the Grand Del Mar is in December, and how we've never seen anything like Disneyland when it's decked for the holidays. What was a girl to do? Besides pull her kids out of school for a week to do December Del Mar style? Plus they said we could bring our friends the Allens - we were in!

  

                                    

Ah, the Villa. Complete with 5400 square feet of private, solid luxury. And an elevator. And a personal golf cart.

The lobby of the hotel part of The Grand was stunning, of course! Oh the trees, and the roaring fires, and the flowers everywhere. And the gelato was as good as we remember!

They had chestnuts actually roasting on an open fire by the front doors of the lobby. When we tried to dig up chestnuts and roast them in Ireland that one time, they were disgusting. These however, were actually quite good! And how fun to nibble on them while gazing at the Grand Christmas Tree while sampling the complimentary hot cider and cookies!

We're not in Idaho any more, Toto!

Poolside lunches - the kids' favorite thing! I don't mind it either - thanks Papa! Such a treat!

 

The kids were in the private hot tub quite a bit...

...but the big pools beckoned as well. Look at that sunshine! We were so lucky - the weather was great!

 Part of the dreaminess of staying at the Grand is the amazing detail work and finishes of every surface of the house. For example, take the master bedroom (complete with two bathrooms, four tvs, an office, and a workout room). Not only is the ceiling guilded with gold pattern work, but the walls are tied with actual ribbons in bows.

 

Yes of course, this is what my bathroom looks like at home. Marble inlays, dual vanity, soaking tub, walk in closet, tile backsplash and all! Yeah, I wish!

What's a vacation home without a grand piano? This was Papa practicing Sleigh Ride, which he will be playing with Nanny at the Idaho Christmas Eve bash at her house. And yes, that's the theater room behind him, with a huge big screen and reclining armchairs. We spent a happy few hours in there watching The Three Amigos and Miracle on 34th Street. (PS Spencer recently told me that when he grows up he wants to be a Three Amigo. He'd make a great Little Neddy Knickers!)

 This is the detail work on the ceiling of the library/game room.

 Redge chillin' at the dining room table where the kids did homework and we played Take Two.

 I love our room - it's so calming, and fits us perfectly!

The kitchen is so beautiful - especially with Nana in her bathrobe!

The Grand has a complimentary shuttle service (in a posh Mercedes van - on the way there, anyway) to the 15th street beach in Del Mar, where they will proceed to supply you with beach chairs, towels, water, beach toys and umbrellas. They set it all up for you and anything - talk about customer service! Then they come pick you up in the "sand van" where the kids didn't even have to wipe their feet off to climb inside. Oh these people know their way to a mother's heart! We had them take us out there and pick us up twice... and the sand stayed in their car! It was awesome!

The kids loved the beach - we stayed for hours and hours! All the kids practiced their cartwheels - again and again and again... even I got dizzy!

Sunday night we went to see the lights at the San Diego temple - wow! Beautiful. Only it was cold, and the kids had already gotten soggy walking along Seal Beach in La Jolla, so we couldn't stay for their Christmas program which happened to be that night. Too bad ... but the kids were all the better for a warm bath and early bedtime!

Ammon, Spence and Hyrum. And red eye.