This years' photos - California Style

This year we opted for family photos in San Marcos while we were there for Thanksgiving.

I have to admit, I was a bit stressed.

Gathering outfits to pack.

In the heat of the moment, shoes were missing.

It all came together in the end.

I'd do it again just for this scenery.

Gorgeous.

I've trained up some amazing models.

Aren't they cute?

Hars and Barb will be moving to Idaho in March.

We sure will miss this place.

I think Shane and Morgan spotted Nessie in the water!

Our Christmas card this season.

Christmas with the UT Theobalds

 

 

I LOVE Christmas

and everything leading up to Christmas!

 

The treats

 

Silly dress up days at school.

Crazy hair day.

 

Visiting the temple lights

 

Watching Christmas movies (The Santa Clause)

Putting up our nativity

and reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.

This year we watched the video too.



 And we REALLY REALLY love it when we have company!

 

The stockings were hung

Doorway wrapped up tight

and Santa came as promised.

He even ate the treats we left him. (Right Kylie!)

 

I like to wait until the light to let the hoodlums out.

better pictures.

That's the real reason we wrap the doorway.

Complete control.

 

The wrapping papered door is always a hit.

Maybe one of these years someone besides Paige will come out first.

She's just so excited.

and tall.

 

There are 2 little girls behind her.

You'd never know.

 

Group photo

I don't care what you look like

Happy is all that matters

Thats because I'm never in it!  Ha!

Video games for the boys,

My little ponies, tea parties, playing outside and dresses for the girls.

 



Merida, teaching the bride how to shoot the bow and arrow.

 



 

 

And Amy and Brevin got to talk to Court.

I think that's all that they really wanted for Christmas.

 



 A perfect day at the riparian preserve and park.

 

As soon as the company left, Mo passed out cold.

Cousins are so much fun!

 

Fall Football

Football practice consumes a large portion of our fall season here in the desert. It's hot...it's sticky...it's sweaty. I won't lie. Sometimes it's just downright unbearable. But then you get your first cool day, sometime around Thanksgiving, and you remember why you live in this place. Perfect nights with lovely sunsets and we feel like we could stay at football practice for hours on end, playing and visiting with friends.

It was a rough season for the Bulldogs. They ended the season at 2-6. They learned a lot. They had a good time. That's all the matters when it all comes down to it.

 

 

 

Gingerbread party

I have this friend.

Hollie

 

She's pretty great.

Look at her cute family.

Plus, she's rockin' those tomato colored skinny jeans.

We jog together twice and week, play volleyball together and hit the gym together.

Every year she has a gingerbread party around Christmas time.

 

We've only been able to go once because of office parties or ward parties.

That one year, 2009, we may have not been aware of the rules.

We didn't bring our own decorating items.

Turns out that Hollie provides the house only.

oops

So we went earthy with the theme and created a house from nature.

Dog hair, grass, sticks, leaves....those sorts of things.

Disqualified.

It has to be edible, they said.

I'll argue this issue 'til the day I die. 

Leaves, edible.  Sticks, edible.  Grass, edible.  Dog hair, gaggy but edible.

There were a few nilla wafers in there that somebody gave us.

 

 

This year, I vowed that we would be attending.

 

The three little pigs was our theme.

Bret's brother had the same theme.

oops

I thought we were so original.

Turns out the judges liked ours though.

Harkins movie tickets complete with popcorn.

bam.

And we were still able to go to our ward Christmas party on a different night. 

I wouldn't have wanted to miss these girlies with Santa.

Get this.

Santa says to Paige..."Now I know what you're going to ask for...a new car!"

Okay Santa, so she's tall.

Take it easy, she's only 9.

 

Mo was so intent on his every word.

She had to make sure that he got her order right.

She asked for a My Little Pony train.

 

 

Paige wanted to ask for a My Little Pony castle...

but, her classmate, Kayce was standing there listening,

so she asked for Minecraft instead.

Wouldn't want to look like a ponylover in front of the peers, now, would we?

Ha!

She Has Guts : Part II

 

 

Yup, she has guts.

She had never even rehearsed in front of us.

She wanted it to be a surprise, she said.

Flawless.

In front of a huge crowd at the town of Queen Creek holiday festival.

I'm her number one fan.



Turkey Time

 

We left for San Marcos on Paige's birthday.

We watched Paige perform in her 3rd grade musical (her first solo!)

and then picked the kids up from school with the car loaded and ready to go.

 

 

One of the first times we have gotten there at a decent hour. 

Just enough time to celebrate Paige's 9th birthday.

She was completely impressed with Grandma Barb's candy bar cake.

 

 They love waking up to yummy mini-box cereal that we never buy at home, and seeing Molly in her

festive sweater.

 

 

Every occasion calls for My Little Pony.

Under the pergola, perfect.

Grandma gave Paige money to pick out her own set of ponies.

 

 

 

Shane, trying on his racing gear for the turkey trot.

Thank goodness he voted them too uncomfortable to run in.

I love it when he laughs until he cries....priceless!

 

 

 

Ready for the race! 

 

 

The kiddies ran/walked/rodeinastroller too.

Kylie wanted to hold Morgan's hand the whole way.

 

 

The event photographers took pictures of them crossing the finish line.

  Mo swears they won the race.

 

 

 

 

 

It was such a fun race with perfect weather and Barb's first walking event since she donated her kidney to Todd. 

Shane, Brevin, Tyler and I finished and then looped back around the help push strollers and run with the little kids.

 

 

Then, it was time to stuff our faces.

 

 Maybe some of us ate a bit too much!

Saturday was a bit chilly, but we braved the beach anyway. 

Barb, Amy and I bundled under a blanket while the kids played in the sand

and ate the picnic lunch.

The seagulls were feisty.