Christmas Lights!

Since I usually take the kids by myself to see the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple, I like to wait until after Christmas when the crowds die down a little. This year was no different. Alexandria does not let me forget to go. She really wanted to go for Family Night. So we did. They had a great time and no one even got lost. It's such a blessing to live less than 10 minutes away.

CHLOE!!!!

"Why do we still have her around if THIS is what she does?" I ask myself.

I guess it's for the moments like this.

Was Santa Good to You?

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of Christmas morning. It's all video. But Isabel got just what she wanted, a baby. AJ got his Obi Wan Kenobi costume and DJ got his Star Wars Spaceship, although Santa messed up and gave him the wrong one, big OOPS! Alexandria got a bike. And Papi got his flat screen TV.

Gingerbread House

We had so much fun putting this together. We can do things like this now in the new kitchen that used to be way too difficult to do in the old kitchen. Yea for remodeling! The next day when I woke up 1/2 the house was eaten and the frosting was licked off but I guess what good is a gingerbread house if you can't eat it?

1985

I swore I never would again but today I gave in. Actually, my downfall began almost 2 months ago. They were there in the store calling my name and it seemed like such a good deal. Besides everywhere I looked everyone else was doing it. And it seemed like they were all enjoying them. I felt so out of place, so old. So why shouldn't I give in? Try it out. I mean is it really going to hurt me? So I succumbed and bought them but then hid them away in the closet when I got home hoping that maybe they would just go away and I would never have to deal with them. Then today came. I was in the mood for something crazy, something different from the norm and that's when it happened. I decided today would be the day when I would travel back to 1980 something. I searched through my closet to find the stashed away bag, found it and pulled out . . .

. . .the skinny jeans.

It wasn't too bad. I'm not ready for these to be an everyday thing but the change was just what I needed.

O Christmas Tree

There is something magical about a real tree. For the past few years we've used an artificial one. It's pretty old and way past its time. This year I wasn't even looking forward to putting it up. Then I thought about a real tree and the rich smell it would bring to our home. I got all excited and I knew, this year, we had to have a real tree.

How was Mexico?

Well, here's the rundown. We got to the hotel and the kiddos were super excited to see Papi. They even helped him bring in his bags. We went to lots of baseball games and froze! I know baseball's not supposed to be played in the cold. I'm not sure why they keep playing when it's 50 degrees outside. Okay, maybe it's not freezing to some of you but to us it might as well be the North Pole.

Saturday, we had some extra time so a short visit to the mall seemed like fun. Who knew Santa would be in Mexicali that day? Oh and he spoke Spanish! Usually our kids are scared to death of Santa but for some reason in Mexico he's not as intimidating. It wasn't too bad leaving Papi since we knew that we would see him soon for Christmas. However, waiting in the immigration line for 2 HOURS to cross back into the USA, not fun. It took us 3 hours to get to Mexicali but 5 hours to get home. There's a funny story about coming home too but I'll have to save that for a face to face chat. For now we'll just say the energy drinks really got to me. ;)

Memory Monday

I loved this face. DJ would do it on a regular basis and it would always make me laugh.

You Gotta Love This Girl

She just had her Winter Sing with the whole school and she did wonderful. She's becoming a beautiful girl.

Sleep Tight

Then

Now

One Tough Girl

Isabel was in bed, all washed and cleaned and ready for a good night's sleep when she started to call, "Mom hurtsme (yes to her it's all one word). Toe hurtsme. Mom!" OUCH! Yea, I'd say that hurts. I have no idea how it happened but the good thing is . . .

. . .she's still happy as can be, ready to smile at anytime for the camera. So we clipped off the nail, gave her a big kiss and fixed her toe right up. Nothing Dr. Mommy can't handle. All better!

Memory Monday

Lucky day! It was Isabel's first smile and somehow I caught it in a picture.

Laundry Done Her Way

"Mommy, wash, mommy?"

Countdown

This is what I miss the most. Just 10 more days!

Memory Monday

See that big mountain behind us. My little Alexandria (three years old at the time) hiked it almost all the way to the top. She was so excited to go on a hike with her mom, grandma, soon to be aunt and uncle that the adrenaline really got her off to a good start. But on the way down she had enough. She finally sat down and would not move any farther. "Mom, can we just take a little rest?" she pleaded. I think that it might have been overkill that day for her because ever since she has no desire to hike any mountain.

Bike Buddies

Just a cute picture. And once again one of the VERY few that they let me take of them together.