My New Wall Arrangement

I've never really decorated my house with tons of family pictures.  I just figured...I already know what we look like, we see each other every day...what's the point?  But I was really happy with our latest family portraits and they are a little more artsy to me than just regular studio photography so I decided to do a collage.  I love how it turned out.

(BTW...everything you see was purchased before 1/1/13...sticking to my goal!).

A Tank of Gas and A Ton of Fun!

 Lance has to go to pretty dumb training once a month for three months in a row as part of his promotion to Lieutenant a year ago.  The only upside is it's in Monterey and one of the benefits of homeschooling is we can do it anywhere! So we decided to join him down there for a few days this week!

 Normally, I wouldn't rave about a hotel like this.   I mean, it was nice.  We were on the 10th floor and that was pretty cool since this was our view.  It offered a free breakfast buffet every morning with seriously everything you can imagine and complimentary snacks and drinks every evening. That was cool, too.  The beds were uncomfortable and the walls were paper thin, but still I LOVE this hotel!  And let me tell you why my friends... two room suites!  Getting a baby to sleep in a hotel is usually very complicated especially with two other kids there.  But not in a two room suite!  We put Riley's crib in the bedroom, put her down at her regular time and SHUT THE DOOR!  The rest of us were free to continue our fun in the living area as late as we wanted!  It was heaven! 

Her favorite thing the whole time was climbing in the bottom drawer with her blanket!

Not too happy about having to do school on vacation! (But still got it done)

 The weather was so perfect. If it would have been like this in January at home I wouldn't have liked it because I really love winter weather, but since we were on the coast it was a nice treat! We played at the park.  Dennis the Menace park was closed so we found another one and got it all to ourselves. 

The ocean was amazing.  It was low tide and so we saw a lot of cool things. We got to touch hermit crabs, sea anemones and even huge starfish.  Who needs to pay to go to the aquarium?

We went to the wharf for some candy and saw two cute sea otters playing right by us. 

The highlight of the trip for the girls though was the hotel's indoor spa and heated pool.  Every night when Lance got out of class they put their suits on and headed down for a swim!  Swimming in January is pretty cool!

The hightlight for me was the night Lance booked me a massage at a spa. It was so sweet of him because he just texted me in the afternoon to tell me he'd made me an appointment.  He gets a per diam and prides himself on being very frugal on days he is there by himself, but when it comes to me he is always so thoughtful and generous. The massage was luxurious!

We had a fantastic time and are already looking forward to going back again next month. Maybe the training's not so dumb after all! :)

The Final Package

My UPS driver and I are practically BFFs I've gotten so many packages delivered over the years.  But since this is my "no shopping year" we won't be seeing each other for awhile!  Today I got my final delivery of items I ordered in December.  Aaahhhh, how I'll miss this! 

Christmas

As usual, Christmas was a wonderful event for our family.  We are so blessed with the life we have.  My parents came to spend the week with us which was really fun.  Christmas Eve we had a big dinner with them, my aunt and our dear friends, the Ashbys.  

The kids table

 

The adult table

 All the kids having fun

After a short presentation about the true meaning of Christmas, we opened presents from aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas.

Christmas morning we got up very early because Lance thought he heard sleigh bells outside.  We all hid at the top of the stairs and sure enough in came Santa with the magic key we'd left by the front door.  Avery was a little scared and asked to go back to bed, but was able to get in the spirit quickly once she heard Santa say he was putting a present under the tree for her.  He took some cookies for the road and was off!  Very exciting!  And then it was time to open them!  

I'm not including pictures of me, because it's very early in the morning and nobody needs to see that, but I did get rather spoiled.  I got earrings from Avery, a candle from Sophie, and a new Kate Spade purse and a new fancy smancy ice cream maker from Lance!

After all the presents were opened and the stockings were down, Grandma and Grandpa went back to bed while the girls explored all their new treasures!  Then Lance made us all our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of Ebilskivers.

I'm already looking forward to next Christmas because it is the most wonderful time of the year!

A Few December Hightlights

Riley starts nursery....and loves it!!

 

Sick little girl!

Seeing the temple lights with cousins, aunts and uncles.

Playing and seeing Christmas lights at Children's Fairyland in Oakland.

 The Nutcracker at the Gallo Center... a present from Grandma and Grandpa Haight.

 

Lots of Christmas Baking!

Making a gingerbread house with Grandma Scott

 Cupcakes for Relief Society lesson handout

 Ringing in the New Year with the East Coast!