Saturday, December 19, 2009

Annual Christmas Date

It all started with "The Nutcracker". Brian thought it would be a wonderful idea to take his three year old daughter (all dressed up in her Christmas Dress and him in a tie) out on a Christmas date. They went downtown to see the performance, and then out to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays (now known as the date restaurant)

The next year it was a 'Beauty and the Beast' play, the next, a Singing Christmas tree performance.... and this year, Ice Skating!

This date has become something Avery looks forward to all year long. They talk about possible destinations and the plans gets changed all along the way.

There is nothing more I can say, other than it is just sooo special.


Before the date:


On the ice:












Avery: "I am kind of a genius at Ice Skating, I only fell down three times."

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Redo:

This is why I love decorating blogs!!! They just inspire me! (and they keep me from stalking Perez Hilton's blog)
I just had this urge to change the mantel..... this is what I came up with!

Before:


After:


More simple... more elegant....




Before:

After:










Comments anyone? Which do you like better??

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Decor

I love to decorate, and I love decorating for Christmas even more!!! I have bins and bins of decor, probably because a lot of the decorations have been B-day gifts, and many of them have really wonderful memories for me.

I have a fisherman ornament from San Fransisco, when we saw Anthony Robbins. I have a Santa ornament riding a dolphin from when my husband and I were in Maui for our first time. I have some white glass deer from my Grandmother for Brian and mine first Christmas together. A white tin angel I won at a Bunco group when I lived in Sherwood. I can't even count the number of lighthouses I have..... the list goes on.

This post is mostly for myself (memories), my sisters and my mom..... so if it seems a tad to obsessive please disregard. Since it is likely my sisters will not be able to see my house this season, I wanted them to be able to see some pics!

The finished product:


Some closer detail.


With the lights on.





Collection of large glass ornaments (too nice and delicate to put on the tree where children can destroy them :)










A wreathe my mom made me two years ago. One of my favorites.



The deer from Gram.




Stockings above reach from being pulled down and being hit on the head with a letter.....just a hypothetical. Well not really.



Brian likes to call these my Meier and Frank department store stars. He laughs at the size.




The Tree

Some friends of ours bought a 50 acre tree farm a few years ago. They had their second annual tree cutting party this year! It's such a great time and fun idea. We bring toys to donate for Toys for Tots and then get to cut down our tree for free!!

Below is their airplane hanger!! Yes that is correct. The property has a landing strip also. The hanger was decorated and I couldn't help covet this area!! As a mom of a little boy who just loves to move, I thought about having this space in my back yard! Wouldn't it be magnificent on all those rainy days???



Grandma Patsy and Grace starting out on the Tree hunt.

Jake prepared with the saw.... Who lets their seven year old hold the saw?



Our tree freshly cut.



The fam.




Are there any pictures of my kids not in this pose?




We pulled our tree out to the landing strip and a truck and trailer came by to bring it back to be bailed and taken to the car. The kids and Bri hitched a ride.




Jeff bailing the newly cut trees.



The end result:
9 feet and beautiful!




Zoo Lights

We were actually crazy enough to go on a Saturday night this year.... It was crowded, but with the zoo membership there were no lines for us and the weather couldn't have been better for it! Not in the 20's like it is now!! The lights seemed more brilliant this year, or maybe there were more of them.


The kids are holding their light up wands. I totally caved and bought these for them in the gift shop....and why?? only because this is something I would have wanted as a child.







A courtesy picture of Bri and I, you can tell Avery took this. The shadow is probably her finger :)




Jake being so sweet to Grace, bringing her to see the animal (??!?! what is that anyway) that she was scared of.




On top of the bronze goat statue on the way out.






Giant bears outside the gift shop. Avery asked if they were real.



In the farm exhibit. That is a John Deer behind them. They had the petting zoo open that night. I usually think that I am pretty laid back about a lot of the things I let the kids do, but I will tell you that petting zoo (anywhere) creep me out!
The zoo also had picture with goats (instead of Santa). We saw some other families doing it, and it looked pretty funny.



By the train.




It really was a nice night. The kids were great, or maybe I just thought they were because it seemed like everyone elses kids were crying! And why wouldn't they be....their parents making them walk around in the cold, just to see some lights....Ha.
As much as my kids challenge me, I wouldn't trade them for any else!!

Gotta Love Girls

Avery and Grace came down stairs the other day with bathrobes on and my curlers in their hair.



I just had to laugh!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Birthday Surprises

My Dad and Sister share November 11th as their Birthday. And what has become customary is going out to dinner with the adults to celebrate. Cake is usually followed up at one of our houses with all the kids. You see my parents can really understand the beauty and importance of a dinner with just adults!!! I have come to absolutely love and look forward to these occasions.






Well in between good seafood and a lot of laughter my Dad let me know that he read our (my sister and my) blogs! I guess I didn't have any idea and that was my surprise.....


So like I did for my Mom I wanted to write the 62 things that I love about him for his 62nd Birthday! He is quite incredible and after this list you will indeed see why.


1.He is smart. 2.As mentioned above, he has an appreciation for a good dinner out with no children. 3.That being said, he loves his Grandchildren. 4.He especially loves to hold the babies. 5.He speaks Hebrew 6. He has a love of learning new things 7. He can shop with the best of them! 8. He is an avid reader 9. He love Bob Dylan 10. He takes good care of the missionaries 11.He taught us to take care of others who have less 12.He drives fast cars 13.He wears beautiful striped ties 14.He watches the watch channel and orders watches for everyone he loves 15. He can debate 16.He likes Obama and doesn't like Glenn Beck 17. He laughs at John Stewart and gives me the play by play. 18. His ability to remember dates is uncanny. He can tell you who won the world series in 1980 and who was on the team. 19. He can do this with scripture too! 20.He went to medical school (with three small children, some of this should be to my mom's credit also) 21.He speaks 4 languages. 22.He loved his mother 23. He has delivered a breach baby. 24. He taught me to be responsible with my money (time and interest) 25.He loves to listen to loud music and let his children do the same. 26 He bought me my first pair of Air Jordan's in high school ( they were blue, and in my parents basement probably until they moved last June) 27. He played sports in High School 28. He associates with General Authority 29. He has dedicated much of his life to service. 30. He and his partners delivered thousands of babies. 31. He can explain a tubal ligation or hysterectomy on a piece of paper at the kitchen table. 32. He gives amazing talks 33. He wears great shoes and loves saddle shoes. 34. He love to watch racing (especially motorcycles) 35. We used to go motorcycle riding in High school. He even tried to teach me to ride. 36. He laughs a lot. 37. He is kind 38.He is also stern. 39. He encouraged all of his kids to get an education. 40.He paid for mine (this is one of the reasons I feel and believe I am able to stay home with my children, not having to pay off huge student loans) 41. He loves to read to my children 42.He does puzzles with Grace 43. He treats all of his children equally, or at least tries his best to. 43. He grew up in Southern California. 44 Went on his mission to Germany. 45. He loves my mother 46. He only praises her (which is easy to do). 47. He took me to a Bob Dylan concert, and my sister to the Rolling Stones. 48. I get some of my most current music CD's from him. 49.He is beyond generous 50.He teaches my children about Christ, kindness, and money 51. He has a Long Beach Dirtbags shirt. 52. He has survived the Emmanuel Burn center 53.The missionaries love my dad. He feeds them physically and spiritually 54.We bought meals and gifts for those in need every Thanksgiving and Christmas growing up. 55.He has instilled in me a love of learning and being smart 56.He love to teach 57.He is a dynamic speaker 58.He has an IPOD and incredible speakers 59. He loves Crab and seafood (me too) 60. I feel like I can always call him with my questions. Especially medical ones 61.He doesn't complain. 62. He makes it to see the grand kids play in their respective sports



And for next year: 63. He loves me, He loves my husband, He loves my children.








Dad, Happy Birthday. I really love you. Here is to another 10!