My Favorite Things

We spent Christmas with my parents this year. It was nice to see everyone again. Maggie was super-fun, as usual. Jonathan was fun, too, in all of his moustached glory. Oh, who am I kidding? I do NOT think moustaches are the least bit glorious. What purpose do they serve? Food catcher? Lip warmer? Pedophile extraordinare? No, thank you! But, alas...what Jon does with his upper lip is none of my business, so rock on little brother.

Now I'd like to take a moment to show off some of my favorite new gifts I got for Christmas this year, because it's my blog and I can do that sort of thing.

My first favorite gift is this Anthropologie apron. You know...the one I have been coveting for years, but can never bring myself to spend the money on (even though it's totally worth it to look that cute in the kitchen.) This is from Maggie. Thank you Maggie! I was practical and asked for haircutting scissors, but you decided to HOOK ME UP! She also got me some adorable colorful bowls, which I love...not only because they are adorable, but also because they are Made in Portugal--and in my family that is a big deal! And she got me NARNIA movie...Love that, too!

My next favorite gift is this new sewing machine. Woah, I didn't see that one coming! Thank you Mom and Dad for the rad present (like it Maggie? You think Southern Californians still say "rad" all the time. Maybe you're right...It is one of my favorite adjectives), and thank you Jana for picking it out. Next time the Relief Society has a BYOSM (bring your own sewing machine) activity I will absolutely be there...with my own sewing machine! Last night Adam and I put the kids to bed early and played around with it. We sewed up a seam that had split in his work pants. Apparently he was giving someone an adjustment...and you can just imagine what happened next. I think Chiropractors should wear sweats instead of slacks. It's a very physical job! Anyway, our next project will be to sew a surf sock for Adam's surfboard. By the way, Adam loves making surfboards so if you know anyone who wants one, let us know. He can do it for super-cheap and would love an excuse to make another board.

He Passed!!!!

Today is the day. The day I always try not to think about until it really is here. And even then I get nervous and try not to let myself think about the "what if's..." Today is the day that board results come in. And guess what?? HE PASSED!!! Yay! Celebrate! (It must have been the red shirt.) Now he has his National Boards--all four parts--under his belt. Now he can apply for the California State licensing exam. Then he will have his license and we can all call him "DOCTOR". Way to go babe! You are awesome...and I am relieved. Six weeks of suspense is way too long.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

WITH LOVE

Seven Months and Counting

Grandma and Grandpa,

Thank you for our new Christmas Jammies. They are so cute and comfy. We had a lot of fun playing with our new presents.

We Love you!! Merry Christmas!
Love,
Adam, Dana, Katelyn, and Zach

Hmmm...

I think it's time to lower Zach's matress.

O Christmas Tree, O Well We Tried

Last week Adam surprised us by bringing a Christmas tree home during his lunch break. What a sweetie! This morning the tree surprised us by hatching out hundreds of itsy bitsy spiders overnight. Today as I reached for the cord to draw back the window shades next to our tree, I could almost hear the theme music from "Psycho" playing in the background: EEee, EEee, EEee! (I think that's how it goes.) The cord was covered in baby spiders. Then I saw it--all over the tree: the webs. See them in this picture?With itsy bitsy spiders crawling EVERYWHERE. They were so tiny my camera didn't even know how to focus on them, but here is my best close-up. Click the pic to make it big. You can see 2 spiders that look like they're floating in the air. They're realing crawling through their web. Ick! The biggest bummer was that we never even properly decorated it. See what happens when you procrastinate? Adam came all the way home just to put the tree outside for me. No, I'm not that big of a spider-phobe, but I didn't want all those pokey pine needles poking my face. Isn't he a gentleman to rescue me from pokey needles. So now our Christmas presents are homeless. And I guess we're celebrating Christmas outside this year. But hey, isn't that the way Mary and Joseph did it?

At least they haven't touched our Christmas wreath.

P.S. Apparently we're not the first to deal with an insect-infested tree problem. Click here to read nie nie's WAY grosser infestation story. Now please excuse me while I head to Home Depot to demand a refund!

Fashion Show

Mom,

Look for your grandkids wearing all the seasons warmest fashions this winter. Here are Katelyn and Zach in some of their favorite ensembles, bought especially for our trip up north to see YOU (and Dad).

Wake up, Sleepyhead!

Whaaa??!!

Is this really my daughter?

Still in bed at 9:47 AM??!

What did I do to deserve such a treat?!

Christmas Came Early This Year

We've been kickin' it oldschool in our house. Ever since Adam cleaned out his dad's car and found this:

Oldschool Gameboy COLOR (neon green) complete with Legend of Zelda game cartridge. SWEET!

Cookie Crazy

Adam: What did you do today?

Katelyn: Make Cookies.

Adam: What else?

Katelyn:

Cookies, cookies...aaaand.....Cookies.

Dana: Literally. That's ALL we did.

Beautiful Day

Today was one of those perfect days.
I got an early Christmas present from one of my dearest friends. She took Katelyn and I (and her two daughters) to a performance of the Nutcracker. It was the most enjoyable Nutcracker performance I can remember...for a couple of reasons. 1. The company (I love Bertha's family like my own). 2. Katelyn loved it, and that made me happy. 3. It was condensed (to cater to the children). 3. In between each scene they explained what was about to happen (also for the kids). 4. Santa was there.

After the ballet we ate lunch at South Coast Plaza...

Then we were off to a recital that one of Bertha's daughters was playing in. Zach and Adam came along as well. All of the performers did an excellent job. I got a couple of pics before my camera batteries died.

Afterwards Katelyn went back to Bertha's house for an impromptu play date. Adam and I jumped on the opportunity to get some Katelyn-free Christmas shopping done. It was wonderful! And we got a good chunk of our shopping over with, so I am stoked.

Thank you Bertha for such a perfect day!

The Coolest Dad Ever

Twice a week Adam stays home with the kids at night while I go out and work for a couple hours. They usually have fun and do things that I never let them do when I am in charge.

The other night when I came home they were all huddled around the TV watching cartoons. The house smelled like chocolate.

"I made brownies. In a heart-shaped pan," said Adam.

Awww, how sweet! I thought.

"They are what we ate for dinner," said Adam.

Huh? I thought.

"I wish I could vomit," said Adam.

So funny! And Katelyn was stoked. She thought it was the coolest night ever.

Granny B Turns 100 Today

Recent Granny quote:

"I'm still perkin' but I'm runnin' out of steam." Granny, I love that you have been around to watch so many generations grow up. I love to visit you and hear your stories over and over again. I hope you will be around to see my kids grow up. Is it possible to live that long? But I've always had this feeling that you will never die. I hope that you don't. Is that selfish? I know that you are excited to "get your wings," but things won't seem the same when you are gone. But since you will eventually have to leave us, just promise me that when you do, you will say hello to Grandad and Grandpa and Uncle Tim for me. I know you miss them like crazy, and I miss them too.

I wish I could be with you today to celebrate and sing Happy Birthday to you.

You are one amazing Granny and

I LOVE YOU BUSHELS!

Happy Birthday

Love, Dana

Dana Point

Somewhere...Beyond the sea...Somewhere, waiting for me...My lover stands on golden sands... And watches the ships...That go...Sailing.

--Jack Lawrence

Officially "Not Poisonous"

Jana and her girls came over today to help us make some Christmas cookies. Yay!

This:

Became this:

Kate & Ava:

Kate: "Can I eat this one? Pleeeeease?"

Zach: "Can I help with the gingerboy?"

Then Adam came home and declared the cookies "Not Poisonous"

My HERO!

Lake Arrowhead Village

During our trip we spent an afternoon in Lake Arrowhead Village. It was like a cross between Old Sacramento and the shops in Mendocino. Very cute. And it was all decorated for Christmas.
If you click on this photo you can see who's who in the ornament. The kids LOVED this picture.

And now I'd like to present the awards for the first EVER Lake Arrowhead Village awards show...

The award for the Coolest Dog EVER goes to this dog. He is a Cadaver Retriever and he owns his own sunglasses.

The award for the Cutest Kids EVER goes to Zachary and Katelyn.

(in my heavily biased opinion)

The award for the Pinkest Roof EVER goes to this house:

(See it on top of the hill? You can't miss it.)

And the award for the Best Chocolate Factory EVER goes to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Sorry Charlie...(Bucket). Small joke.