Christmas

After opening presents, we went over to my parents house to see the rest of the family.  I didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few.  Brunch was delicious and the kids had a great time!  August is a super cute age and I'm so happy we are here to see everyone!

Christmas morning

The kids got just what they hoped for from Santa - A scooter, Cinderella Legos and a new bike!

Christmas Eve 2014

Christmas Eve we went to dinner with Donald's mom, then back to her house to open presents.  The kids had a good time and got cool stuff from Grandma! 

My mom and Sarah made matching pajama pants for the kids to wear on Christmas Eve.  Super cute!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

After the drama show, we went out for ice cream and while we were there, Donald pulled out Elizabeth's second top tooth!  She couldn't be cuter and it was just in time for Christmas.

She didn't mind people singing the song "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, but she was very clear, she was expecting other gifts and didn't care very much about getting those teeth!

Drama Club winter performance

    Both Sarah and Joshua are in drama again this year.  They had a winter show called "Decades".  It was a few hit songs from each decade beginning with the 1950's.  They were awesome!  Joshua had the song Chantilly Lace, and he was the first person to sing.  As his decade was introduced, he started walking down the riser to the microphone right as the girls said "the teenage heart throb was born".  Everyone just burst out laughing.  Joshua was in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his hair slicked back.  He was the picture of handsome!  He sang wonderfully, even when there were issues with the microphone and I was so proud of him!  Sarah didn't sing until the 90's and she had the song "One Hand in my Pocket" by Alanis Morrisette.  Needless to say, not as much of a crowd pleaser!  She was excellent though!  She had really worked hard and had all the notes down.  I was so proud of her!  They also got the cast list for the spring musical and she is going to be Queen Leona, the stuffed Lion in charge of all the stuffed animals in the play "The Revolt of the Rubber Ducky".  As far as I can tell, the rubber ducky is trying to unseat her and she has to rally her troops to retain her power.  Joshua is cast as a video game figure in the play and I'm not  sure yet whose side he is on!  It should be super cute!  

California Science Center

The next day we went to our church Christmas party, then drove down to the California Science Center and saw the space shuttle Endeavor.  The kids thought it was neat, but really loved the ice wall.  

The way home was a complete disaster as we got caught in the worst traffic I think we have ever been in!  The Bryants were not impressed with LA!!
 

We did still have time to build gingerbread houses and the kids were sorry to say good bye to their friends.  I guess we better start planning a trip to Texas!

Disneyland with the Bryant Family

We were lucky enough to get a visit from the Bryant family the second week in December.  The Bryants live in Texas and Lawrence is one of Donald's old mission companions.  They visited a few years ago when we were down here house hunting and Christy listened to me whine about which house to get.  We had only been pen pal type friends before then, but after that trip, we became true friends!  It is always nice when the whole family hits it off with another family and they were sensible enough to have their kids in the correct order fairly close in age with ours!  Christy was out in Anaheim for a conference and the rest of the family joined her for Disneyland.  We came along the second day and despite a huge storm and predictions of rain, we had a beautiful day!  Here is our family with Santa!

The whole gang!  Lawrence, Christy, Michael, Caroline, Elizabeth, Laura Beth, Sarah, Joshua, Sheila and Donald.  

Elizabeth and Caroline.  

All the girls.

Alisal Ranch

The first weekend in December we went to the "Partner's Retreat"  with Donald's work.  We went last year, and it was nice, but this year was so much more fun!  First of all, he is a partner this year, so a lot less pressure there!  Second, we didn't spend the day wine tasting, so also better!  Everyone he works with is very nice and we enjoyed the time we got to spend just the two of us!  The place we went, Alisal Ranch, in Solvang was so beautiful.  We want to return there with the kids!  The setting was perfect for a fun and relaxing work retreat and I can honestly say we did have fun!  The first evening we had a nice dinner at the ranch.  I didn't take any pictures that night as it was dark and we got there just in time for the dinner!  The next day we participated in the "Olympics".  I was really worried what this could be, but it ended up being super fun "ranch" stuff!  First we roped "cattle", then we did archery, next was air guns, and finally horse shoes.  They had us down by a little lake and except for the laughter and cheering from the group, it was quiet and peaceful!

Here is Donald is our suite.  There was so much room, our whole family could have easily fit!

Here we are getting ready for the olympics.  We were on the brown team along with Bob Princenthal and his wife Michelle,and Jeff and Cindy Williams.  All the other teams had 4 couples, so we were at a slight disadvantage, but still managed to come in second!

Yes, I do have roping skills!  I was the high scorer in my group for this event!

I had gotten a little practice at cub Scout Day Camp last year which also had the theme "Dude Ranch"!

The air guns were actually really fun and I was a pretty good shot!

Horsehoes was the hardest for the women in our group.  You honestly do need strong arms to throw the horse shoes far enough!  Donald was a natural!

We were posing for a nice picture by the lake when we were lassoed!  

That afternoon we had free time and we chose to go horse back riding.  I had only been one other time, 17 years ago in Lake Tahoe with Donald when we were first married.  They gave me a super mellow horse, so it was a piece of cake!  Donald was on a HUGE horse.  I really don't think the pictures do it justice!  It ended up being just the two of us and the guide.  We were on ranch property the entire time and it was so beautiful and peaceful.  We saw a group of deer and they weren't even afraid of us!

Can you tell how big his horse is?

Later that night we had a fancy dinner at the restaurant at the Chumash Casino.  It is a 4 star restaurant and everything was delicious, but seriously, there was so much food!  Overall, it was a great weekend!

Family Pictures

Last winter at the Young Women Fundraiser at church I bid
on and won a photo session from a lady in our ward. We finally got around
to setting up an appointment and I'm so glad I did! Kim Kohlieber was
wonderful! She was supposed to give us a 45 minute session with 10 digital
images. Instead she spent almost 2 hours with us and gave us over 80
digital images. We were totally spoiled! I love all the pictures she took
and it is hard to decide which ones to get printed!

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving was both wonderful and horrible this year!
Wonderful because we had so much family here! Vickie and Clayton and all
four of Dennis and Cathy's kids came, as did my parents and Brenda and Ash
and Betty. What made it horrible was that right as we sat down to dinner,
Betty passed out! Brenda and Ash had to take care of her as she became
quite sick. Since we had all the food hot and on the table, we proceeded to
eat. It was a little awkward knowing she was right there and so sick!
First, we were going to send food home with them, then as she wasn't well
enough to travel and several hours had passed, they ended up calling an
ambulance. She went to the hospital and was given an IV and medication
and we released. She is home today and resting. Despite all that, all of
the cousins managed to have a good time. The kids all played games, while
the adults visited. We even got a text from Keilana right in the middle of
dinner! Later, Wayne and Jolene and August came by for dessert. August
even helped me do a little vacuuming! Overall, it was a nice day, despite
Betty being ill!

 

Vickie and Mom

 

Dad

The "banquet table"

The garland we made listing all the things we are thankful for.

The cousins playing games

Ash in his turkey hat that Lizzie made.

My apple and cherry pie.  Elizabeth helped me decorate the cherry pie. 

My pintrest appetizers!  I think they look pretty cute!

Sarah, Jessica, Daniel and Stephanie, Daniel's girlfriend.

The gang at dinner, minus the Givargis family tending to Betty.