The big day

A Christmas before Christmas

I love you Mom! Isn't my Mom gorgeous!

Hayden is my amateur photographer. He loves taking pictures! He took a tons of the TV, toys and this one of the cat!

Darryl always gives Shawn the best presents! See how happy Shawn is to open his present! It was a light tree! How exciting? I guess its a guy thing!

This was the year of Pokemon, Batman and DVDs!

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread houses with friends! Graham crackers, frosting, red hots, m&m's oh my! It was a little messy, but oh so fun!

A Christmas celebration a few days early! With my Mom, and step Dad.

Christmas day with Shawn's parents!

This was one of the best holidays ever. It was everything you could ever ask for from a holiday. We had a great time visiting with my family. My Mom and I baked up a storm, it was so fun and delicious! We just relaxed, we went to the movies, and even did a little shopping. They took the kids Saturday so Shawn and I could go out for our Anniversary! Then on Christmas Eve Shawn's parents came. We had a great dinner, and set out cookies for Santa! Christmas morning Grandma played Santa and handed out the presents. The kids got everything they asked for...and so much more! We had a very yummy pull apart cake for breakfast! After relaxing for a while Shawn talked Poppa into helping him set up the tramp...in the mud, in the rain! I was expecting it to be really bad, but they didn't have a single problem putting it together! The kids love it, they had fun jumping on it in the rain! Poppa is the BEST! For Christmas dinner Shawn's two step brothers came over. And Jamie was there just in time to help with all the last minute preparations for dinner (thank you, you saved me)! And Grandma made the ham! We had a little Christmas message that everyone took a hand in. The next day, Candy and I went shopping the sales, we went everywhere, and found some great stuff! While the boys all went boat shopping! Then the best present: they took the boys home with them!! It was so quiet when they left, I loved it! We are going to meet them at a spot in Ca where we will go dirt biking for the New Year's holiday! I cant wait!

Ahh. The life of a cat.

To sleep all day, and then jump on your person all night! What a life, could it be any better?

Decking the Halls

I love snowflakes. I have these everywhere. I really wanted to recreate the dinning room from the movie The Elf, with all the snowflakes and white paper chains hanging. I loved that. But man, these snowflakes were more time consuming then I thought possible. But we'll see, I still have time!

My Christmas tree is looking a little sad. It needs more ornaments. Hmmm...Time to dig out those silver balls, maybe that would help!

So the last two years I haven't really decorated for Christmas...because we had just moved. Yes both times. So I was so excited to pull out my boxes. It was fun seeing everything again. Each decoration has a memory with it. My favorite ones this year were my red glitter bird ornaments that I bought after the holiday last year with my Mom, yes another one of our shopping excursions.

On December 1st we set up the tree, ate home made chicken noodle soup, and watched The Nativity. It is such a good movie, if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!

I am trying really hard to enjoy the Christmas season. It just gets so dang rushed. And with all the concerns, such as what to get Grandma, or is it going to get here in time? and its so crowded everywhere. But nope not this year we are just going to enjoy it. No way getting around all the craziness, at least I havent figured out how (let me know if you have!) so why not embrace it! It is a beautiful time of year, so many oportunities to talk about what we believe in with the kids, and enjoy the family, and lets not forget an excuse for baking!

Looky Looky

So I've been wanting a cat forever. When Shawn and I got married he made me get rid of my cat. Not that I blame him, my cat hated him. He would scratch and hiss at him, and then the last straw was when he left a little "surprise" on his pillow. So this has been 9 years in the making, I had to present a strong case, and guess what I finally won! But its funny because Shawn fell in love with a two year old tom cat, and had to have him for himself! So yes we came home with two cats! Scampi is 3 mo, she is the one Hayden is holding, the poor little thing has been dragged around since we got her. But luckily she lets Hayden hold her. And then the big cat is Mr. Lucky. Mr. Lucky is very mild, he doesn't like to be held, but he does like to be petted. They are both black, only Scampi has one characteristic that will help you tell them apart, she has a tiny white spot on her chest. I will have to get them different collars so you can tell more easily. But for now its obvious because Scampi is so tiny!
When we first introduced them to Andrews they both hissed, and hid. But now Andrews just follows them around, very stealth like, and the cats let him. I hope they will all be friends soon.

The red nose reindeer

Remember when puffy paint was so cool? Or maybe that was just me that thought it was cool, its a possibility! Anyhow, I thought I'd resurrect one of my favorite painting mediums and make these shirts for Hayden's preschool class friends. They are super cheap, like maybe $1.30 per shirt? But if you wanted to make them a little nicer I'd suggest buying a heavier weight shirt, cause these ones were just under shirts, and are pretty see through. But they make cute jammie shirts. What kid doesn't want to wear their own hand print red nose reindeer!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we went to Paso Robles. Its a tradition we've had for years. It's so great, we absolutely love it there. How do you know I am telling the truth...cause we drove 11 hours, with two kids, in Shawn's cramped truck, with no CD player, and no DVD player. That's how you know. I love my aunts house, its so beautiful, and always filled with laughter, love and...cats. I came home itching to buy a cat, maybe I will go look tomorrow, hmmm. Anyways. Dinner was amazing, I ate so much it hurt! But it was so worth it. The kids kind of ran wild the whole time (sorry aunt Dale), they rode bikes outside, played Lego's and games inside. Their favorite is being able to run between my Aunts house and my Grammy's house. I think it makes them feel older, or more mature because they can be outside all by themselves. See that's the thing that's so great about it there, they live out in the middle of nowhere, on a million acres. And oh, it is so gorgeous. Its wine country, with rolling hills, green pastures, and if your lucky you can spot a deer. Well, actually, even if your not lucky you'll still spot one cause they are everywhere. Thanks so much for letting us come and take over your house, and eat all your food! We love guys a ton.

Playing, Living, Loving, Laughing

We were siting at the table taking a break, trying to talk Ethan into letting us take out the GINORMOUS splinter in his foot. But alas, there is no negotiating with Ethan.

Don't be fooled, these two aren't hugging. They had wrestled each other to the ground (with Ethan at their feet stealing their shoes!). No JK, they are sisters, and apparently they get along in spite of that. JK. They have a four year difference, and they truly love each other. Aren't they beautiful? What can I say they have great genes! Becca looks up to her sister, and tries to be like her. I hope my boys will get along better when they are a little older, like these two. Mine wrestle, but not with smiles on their faces!- Maybe there is still hope!

Walking back to the car, after being there for like four hours. -And they weren't even done yet. It was such a perfect day.

Go Xander Go! REACH!!

A day at the park

Wait, is he helping him across, or is he pulling him down? Knowing Hayden you can never be to sure!

These boys were (ARE) monkeys. They loved the monkey bars, they went back and forth at least a hundred times. I thought for sure we'd be treating blisters by the time they were done.

These two are inseparable. Literally joined at the hip.

My gorgeous cuz, and Ethan, making a silly face, of course. Would you recognize him if he wasn't?

A new tradition

Wait is that a pic of me. How'd I let that happen? Who took that?

This year we started a new tradition of an ornament exchange. I didnt actually find out until after I was done with all my shopping, but my sister's got my back! She bought extra ones for my family. There were some really pretty ornaments passed around!

Around the table

My beautiful cousins. Candice, her boyfriend Chris, Darrel, and Hillary

Here is the kid table. My GORGEOUS nieces and E-dawg

My amazing Aunt, and Uncle, Candice and Chris. Did I mention already the food was amazing.

My Grammy, and Dad.