Temple Square

On our way back home from Delta we met up with Mark's family at Temple Square. We wanted to see the lights this year and it was worth braving the cold to see. I love Christmas lights and I marvel at the amount of lights that are wrapped around each tree there on Temple Square.

Vanessa really liked the red lights and had a lot of fun seeing them all. We didn't stay too long because it was so COLD and we very hungry. We all met back at our house and had some hot Chicken Noodle Soup to warm us up and played some games together.

This past Christmas week has been very busy with some many activities and traveling but we are so glad that it was! We were able to spend time with all of our family and had a lot of fun together!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

A Visit to Grandma's House!

On Saturday, we spent the first part of the day with my family playing games and just having fun. That night we headed to my Grandma Rowley's house to play some more games and stay the night with her!

We really had a great time and I love spending time with my grandma! She means so much to me and I am so grateful that my kids are able to spend some time with her and get to know her.

We got up and got ready to go to church with my family. Church was really good and I was able to see my friend Jen and her family. It has been a while since I have seen her and it was really great being able to talk to her and see how she is doing.

We ate Sunday lunch with my family and played some more games with them before we headed home. We had such a fun weekend with my family! I really miss seeing them and it was so great to be able to sit and have fun with them! Thanks to my family for such a fun filled weekend!

Christmas 2009

We woke up around 7:30 am and had to get the kids up so we could head down stairs. Vanessa was saying, "Santa came, Santa came" while we were going down the stairs. She came into the living room and saw her kitchen. She walked up to it and immediately started cooking us some food!

We had to pry her away from it so we could have some breakfast. We had some special Christmas cereal that Mark found at the store. It sure was tasty. After cleaning up, we headed to the living room to open our presents!

This Christmas by far has been one of our funnest! It was so much fun watching Vanessa and Owen unwrap their presents. Vanessa really had a lot of fun opening each present. She still wanted to play with each toy before opening another presents. Owen got very excited when he could touch the paper. All he wanted to do was put it in his mouth.

Santa sure did find us! Vanessa got a play kitchen and a chest full of dress up clothes from Santa!
She also got some books, a Mrs. Potato Head, play dough, a doll that can go in the tub, play make-up, a doll stroller, some movies, clothes and a fishing game.

Owen got some books, a toy truck and a few soft toys from Santa! He also got a big stuffed animal, clothes, ring toys, Legos, a movie and a play mat.

Mark got an surround sound system, a computer remote, the new Mario Bro. Wii game, the movie "UP," some shirts, the new Dashboard CD, and some nose hair clippers (he asked for those).

I got Photoshop Elements, a cute pink and black scarf, a necklace and earrings, perfume, black boots, a nice wall clock, and a jewelry armoire. I am so very excited for all of my gifts!

We had such a fun time having Christmas at our new place! We will alway treasure the fun memories that we have made!

After opening presents we hurried to get ready to head to Delta. We stopped by the Sorensen's home and got to see what they got for Christmas and then were on our way to Delta.

Grandpa and Grandma Mendoza and the kids were all very excited to see us and we were also excited to celebrate Christmas with them! We got there and we sat down and exchanged gifts. Vanessa and Owen got some pjs and clothes, toys, and Vanessa got her very first Barbie!

I got a make-up carrier, a journal ,a cooking grill, and a coke glass. Mark got a spot light, a flashlight, and a hot and cold pack.

After opening presents, we enjoyed a nice ham dinner that mom had prepared for us. We then spent the remainder of the night playing games and playing Nintendo DS. Maria and Reagan got them for Christmas with some fun games. We had a blast playing together. Vanessa really loved playing with the DS. She still loves them!!

We feel very fortunate to be able to have such wonderful families to celebrate the holidays with! We love you all!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve, we spent the morning and afternoon getting the house ready for Christmas and getting things packed so we could head to Delta Christmas Day.

Later in the evening, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen's home to eat a delicious turkey dinner, play games, and make cookies for Santa. We had a lot of fun playing with all of the family and making cookies. Vanessa really liked rolling, cutting out and frosting the cookies. Even Owen tried to make cookies. Mostly he tried to put the dough into his mouth. He did however get a taste of the yummy frosting.


Because we were going to be gone for Christmas, we got to exchange and open our presents from the family. Our main gift was...A Family Trip to Disneyland this coming May! We are so excited!! Thanks Dad and Mom!! Mark got the "Karate Kid" from Aliyah and I got a nice exercising jacket and Hawaii shirt and flower from Amanda. Vanessa and Owen both got a cute Disney character jacket so they could were it on the trip. Vanessa's is Mini Mouse and Owen's is Tigger. Vanessa also got some play dough and chap stick, a puzzle, and coloring book. Owen also got a fun toy from Aunt Laura.

We really had a fun filled day with all of the family! We were all very excited that Santa was coming that night and so excited to see Vanessa and Owen open their presents!

Playing Barbies

Vanessa just recently started to enjoy playing with Barbies and so did Owen. He got a hold of one of her Barbies and really had a lot of fun playing with it.

Santa!!

After the movie we took the kids to see Santa at the Mall. Vanessa was excited to see him and kept saying, "Go see Santa!" Of course when we got there and she saw Santa she instantly clung to me and was not about to let go. When I asked her if she wanted to sit by Santa she responded with, "No, tomorrow."

We were able to get some pictures with him and they turned out pretty good. We all had to be in the picture to even get Vanessa close to Santa. She didn't cry which was good but she didn't smile either.

Owen on the other had thought it was pretty neat. He kept staring at all of the lights and when he saw Santa kept staring at him.

Vanessa wants a play kitchen and Barbie for Christmas. She has been a very good girl this year and I bet Santa will bring her what she wants!

While heading to the car, Vanessa said that she wanted to go see Santa again. I asked her why and she replied, "I want another candy." We couldn't help but laugh. What a little smarty pants!

Family Outing

Yesterday, we decided to take Vanessa and Owen to see the new Disney movie, "Princess and the Frog." Vanessa was really excited to go and watch it. I was wondering how well she would do because this would be her first movie at the theater since she was a baby.

She was able to sit through about 3/4 of the movie. She thought it was pretty funny and liked watching the characters on the big screen. After her attention span was spent, she wanted to walk up and down the lighted stairs. Luckily there was not many people there so I let her play on the stairs while we finished the movie. I was proud of her. She did very good.

Owen did good as well. He slept most of the time.

Bubbles Galore!!

So this morning while I was getting Owen down for his nap, Vanessa decided that she wanted to take a bubble bath. She came in to get me and said, "I put bubbles in the tub!" I go in to investigate and sure enough she had dumped the whole bottle of bubble bath into the tub! I tried my best to save what I could and then I just gave up and turned on the water. Vanessa jumped in and had a blast playing with all of the bubbles!

Christmas Outfits

This year I decided that I was going to make Vanessa a Christmas dress. I was going to make Owen's but I found a really cute outfit for a great price. I couldn't pass it up. So the dress turned out so darn cute! The kids just looked so cute in their little outfits!

Happy Birthday to Me!

To celebrate my 24th birthday, Mark and the kids took me out to eat at Garcias Mexican Restruant. I was so in the mood for some great Mexican food and it tasted so good! Mark told the waiter that it was my birthday and the whole crew came out and sand Happy Birthday to me. They also made me put on a sombrero. It was just a tad bit embarrassing but it was well worth the free fried ice cream! It was so much fun just being out with my family!

So Sunday, the 20th was actually my real birthday and it was just as fun! We actually made it to church on time and I got to spend the day in nursery (Vanessa wouldn't let me leave). I had a lot of fun playing with the kids and teaching them some of the songs that I know. It was a blast.

We came home and Mark fixed me a yummy lunch and I then got to open my presents. I got the new Harry Potter Movie, some very cute brown boots, earrings, and some slippers. My other present that Mark is giving me is my very own shopping day! I can't wait!


Mark baked me a yummy yellow cake and frosted in with Party frosting. I love the little candies in it! It didn't want to come out of the pan so we just had fun eating it from the pan!

At the end of the day, we went to Mark's parents place and had my favorite meal..waffles with whip cream and berries! It tasted so good!!! Later, they sang to me and had cake! It was so much fun to celebrate the day with my family! I am so blessed to have such great people in my life!