Christmas

What a fun Christmas we just had. I'm loving that our tree is still up. We were so excited to get a fake tree so we can have it up as long as we want and keep it for so many years to come. On years when we can't afford a tree it will be nice that we already have one. This year has been so different for us because of finances. We had to tell everyone that we couldn't exchange presents this year. We only bought stuff for our girls. It was so hard to do this but we had to. It's so hard for us too because we love to give presents. Regardless, the kids still got a bunch of presents and we even got a couple. I did end up giving a few gifts of things we already had to the parents.

Both of the girls got bikes. Those were both from us and my parents. The only bike we had was a little 12" bike. It was even too small for Skyler's long legs. Courtney's doesn't have training wheels so she is starting to learn how to ride a bike on her own. She's doing pretty good. Skyler loves riding hers. She takes little breaks and runs instead. She really is a runner. We were at the park the other day and she ran up and down this huge hill back and forth while some of her cousins were going down it on their scooters.

One of the biggest hits has been the little hamsters from Santa to Skyler. They're kind of like knock offs of Zhu Zhu pets. One is in a ball and rolls everywhere. Which is perfect for our wood floors. The other has it's own wheel.

The girls also got a million beads for jewelry making. They have been having so much fun making bracelets and necklaces for themselves and others.

The girls have been watching us play Apples to Apples for a while with friends and are always a little sad that they can't play with us. So, we got them the Disney version of the game. It has pictures and we just help Skyler out with what the cards say. They have been having fun playing that game and the Hungry Hungry Hippos Game that Skyler got from her aunt.

I for one wasn't expecting anything so I was excited to open the Biggest Loser Wii game and Kohl's gift card. I have been eyeing that game wanting to play it to lose more weight so I was so excited. I played for the first time last night and it was awesome. I sooooo need clothes that fit. So, getting a Kohl's gift card was awesome. I can't wait to go pick something out. My mom also gave me a cute purse that has pictures of the kids on it. So adorable! My in-laws still did stockings for us, which I thought was cute.

I'll add some pictures of the festivities. They only go through bike riding in the morning on Christmas because I dropped the camera and broke it. boooo! So we have to get that fixed now. ug! Thankfully we were able to take the card out and upload photos that way.

What a fun Christmas we had. I really felt like we had more time to spend with those we love because we didn't have a lot of the hub bub of the shopping flurry to deal with.

The cousins on Christmas Eve

Our Family on Christmas Eve

My cutie pies!

The traditional pajama picture in front of the tree with all of the kids.

The girls

Christmas Morning: Courtney opening her present from Santa. Her High School Musical Cheerleader Outfit. She was jumping up and down.

Santa delivered on the candy cane request. What's funny is that on the Disney channel there is this one song where the character is singing a song about just wanting a candy cane this year. That was Skyler this year for sure.

Courtney trying out her new bike. Oh ya, Santa also gave the cutest skirt that looks like a Hannah Montana skirt. Poofy. She's wearing it here but you can't see it very well and we don't have pictures of her wearing it yet.

Skyler trying out her new bike.

Advent

A few years ago now we started the tradition of the advent calendar. Only one step further. The kids don't get a chocolate everyday. They get some kind of family activity every day. It doesn't have to be much. Just something we do all together. It's amazing how the activities have changed as the amount in our wallets have changed. Many more nights spent at home being more creative with what we do. We want to instill in our children a love of Christmas and not the flurry of a rushed holiday. Most important I believe is to keep Christ in Christmas. Even in little ways to remind the children of what the special day is all about.

Some of the activities we have done this year are: Pj Run, Ornament Making, Craft night, night with the grandparents, movie night, parties, Book Fair, Making Cookies, Breakfast out, Kid's choice dinner, new pajamas, shop with mom or dad for their sibling (pick one present for their sibling), cupcakes, etc...

Here are some pictures.

Chuck E Cheese's with out of country friends. Charis and Courtney were best buds when their family left to go to Hungary to be missionaries. It was so fun to see them back together again like no time had passed. Beside all of them being obviously older.

Cookie making with Santa at Courtney's school. Here Skyler and I show off our cookies.
Santa!

Pajama Run (PJ Run)...There are a bunch of variations of this depending on who we do it with. This year we just did the 4 of us and the kids knew about it. So we got them all dressed in pjs and they started banging the pots and spoons together on their own. Then they ran all over the house. They literally think the running is part of it. lol Then we got into the car to go look at lights. The night was capped off by McDonalds dessert. Yes, all of us were in our pajamas at McDonalds. It was a great night.

This was a craft night for the girls. We made a Santa Christmas countdown craft. They loved making it and even added more onto him after the picture. They enjoyed taking off one every day. Thanks Mary for the idea!!

Family Pictures

Scott's family pictures 2009

Linda, Susie, Adam, Traci, Scott
Dave, Bella
Skyler, Courtney, Grandma, Uncle Bob

My girls

Daddy's girls

Grandchildren with their Grandparents picture

Cousins

Susie, Bella, and Adam

Great Grandma with her Great Grandchildren

Thanksgiving Weekend

So maybe I should have perhaps done these in order. Oh well. Thanksgiving weekend was so much fun. Scott's sister, Susie, her husband, Adam, and their daughter, Isabella flew in for the weekend. Scott's parents flew them down to spend Thanksgiving with all of us. We couldn't have been more excited when we found that out.

This was on Thanksgiving right after we got back to Linda and Dave's house (Scott's parents) after picking them up from the airport.

Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy!

Courtney loves holding Bella.

So do I!!! She wanted to be a cruiser all around everything. So cute!

Oh the things your uncle teaches you.

Ahh that was some good whipped cream with my pie.

The next night the girls all stayed with their grandparents while the 4 of us (Scott, me, Susie, and Adam) went out on a double date. We went to Pat and Oscar's and Golden Spoon. It was fun to get away and have adult conversation. We got the idea to have an impromptu sleepover. The kids could be in their own sleeping beds (their camping mattresses) in the other room while we all played games until who knows when. We had so much fun playing Apples to Apples this night.

The next morning we did family portraits at JCPenney. Afterward we went to Red Robin for lunch. Then back to the house where the visiting with lots of family and friends continued.

Precious Bella

A cute one of Susie and Bella.

Ahh we can't wait to do it again. It was so nice being able to see them every day they were here. What a great weekend!

Disneyland and New Moon

Strange combo, but who cares. I'm getting caught up. :)

I took the girls to Disneyland by myself this time because Scott's annual pass has expired. We can't renew it right now so in the meantime we are still going with whomever has a current pass. Right now it's the 3 of us.

I was so excited that the girls were going to get to see Santa this year. This doesn't happen every year so this was exciting for me too. Courtney told Santa that she wanted a "cheerleader outfit". Skyler told Santa that she wanted a "treat candy cane". He looked at her and smiled. Then said, "Well, I can give you that, right now." You don't even know how excited she was.

They got to meet Mrs. Claus too. And we got to see Santa leave. As he left he told Mrs. Claus that he needed a break to eat some cookies. :) The kids loved that.

One of the girls' current obsessions is "The Nightmare Before Christmas". When we walked by this we just had to take a picture and go in the "Jack Store" (as Courtney calls it). Now she wants some Jack Skellington gloves from there that don't even cover the finger tips. I guess it's all the rage, but looks silly to me. One of the boys in her class has them.

In front of the tree at Disneyland. Eventually their heads will actually meet the tree.

A fabulous group of us went to see the movie, "New Moon". New Moon is the second movie in the Twilight Saga. And based on the second book in the Twilight Series with the same title. We went to the earliest show the day after it opened. Most of us had gone to Christmas Presence the night before so we got up early to go see it.

Can you tell how excited we are?? Scott was being so funny texting Shauna back and forth before the movie about Edward. My phone had just lost battery.

Aww it's my mommy

Tamara, Lori, and Olivia

Tamara and Mom were very excited about their souvenir cups. Hey, why not for just 25 cents more?

Need I say more? Na. Now, I'll give Jacob the hot body award, but it's still about Edward.

How lame. They didn't have a poster for New Moon out. So we found the next best thing. Eclipse is coming out in June. How exciting! I'm so glad that we don't have to wait a full year. Nice surprise.

Christmas Presence

I thought I would get all caught up blogging about certain events that have been happening. Christmas Presence was one of them that was very special. It's an event that our church holds that is a fancy dinner night for the ladies. Well, one night was casual and one was fancy. My mother-in-law got a table for all of us to go to "Fancy Friday" (as people started calling it). There is also a boutique to enjoy. This year every table was hosted by a woman and they decorated the table however they wanted to. It was fun seeing so many different creative tables. Then there was dinner, dessert, raffle prizes, and a speaker (who were also singers). This year was "Crimson Bridge". Here are a few pictures from the event.

One of my BFFs, Shauna and I


The second part of Christmas Presence is to share with others. They request that you bring an unwrapped gift for a child. Then on a different day many families from the community come to pick out Christmas gifts for their children. Most of them this is the only way they are getting anything for their children. While the parent(s) are shopping the kids are having fun with our kids program. And the kids are making a gift for their parents. It was amazing how many gifts were there. They just kept coming in too. At the end of the day, they had so much left over that they donated them to various charities. What an amazing event.

L to R: My Mom, Marcia, Me, My Mother-In-Law, Linda

Some of our table

I was so glad that Tamara could join our table this year.

Linda's beautiful table decor

Since Linda had an extra ticket (that she already paid for) we told her to put the other ticket in the raffle. Good thing she did. She won twice!!