Family Christmas card

Here is what we put together on the computer to send out to people this year. Only trouble was, we didn't have all of our addresses together and thus didn't get enough printed to send out. When all the cards from other friends started arriving, we had to quickly print off some more. Next year, we will be ready!

https://acrobat.com/#d=Kn6WnZMqxpcdIIMdSSgCIg

Tried to post this on facebook, but would not allow posting pdf file. If this link doesn't work, let me know.

Random Christmas Memory

This week I had a funny Christmas memory pop into my head...

The year was 2003 and Aaron was in medical school. Becca was about 7 months and Sarah had just turned 3. I had picked up a few things at yard sales and stashed them until Christmas but didn't really have a wow present, we just didn't have the money. Christmas Eve I was passing by the large garbage bin (really a fenced in area where you could ditch couches, bikes, larger items) and I saw a cute slide and thought that was a perfect wow gift. After the kids went to sleep I went out and got it and brought it in. I started to wash it off and it cleaned up really well. Then I noticed ants, lots of ants, lots of big ants crawling out of the wholes of the slide. They had gone into hibernation in the slide but when they came into the warmth of the house they woke up. This did not phase me. I took the slide apart and took the yellow part up to the bathroom where I rinsed the ants out. I added bleach and rinsed and rinsed until all the ants were gone. I assembled the slide put a bow on it and the girls loved it in the morning. Becca was only 7 months but she could climb and slide like a pro!

graham cracker houses

Every year growing up we made graham cracker houses...we have carried on the tradition with one exception, Aaron thinks it is just gross to wait a whole month before eating the houses so we only wait 24 hours. Becca's is a temple, Sarah was making a spaceship but then changed to a frog, Aaron's is a tree house, and mine, David's and Emma's are just normal houses. Emma ate more candy than she put on her house. Hum, we probably all did :)

Actual conversations

David: Emma, tackle me. Hey Emma, tackle me.
Emma daintily tiptoes over and tickles him making tickling noise.

David: No, no, no. I didn't say TICKLE I said TACKLE. Like this...
Emma: Wah, wah, wah.

Poor David, no one to tackle him.

In the car.

David: Moooooom, Emma learned how to say the word bum. (like he was tattling on her for using fowl language)

Too cute!

Sometimes life is just too cute! I have the best video of Emma feeding David popcornn but it just won't load! I don't know why. I have tried twice and even let it run over night.

David is my most affectionate child. He loves cuddling, snuggling, playing with my hair and sitting on my lap. Emma is all girl. She loves cute things, lip gloss, babies and shoes. If anyone has a good suggestions on how to make my movie work please share!

Happy Halloween...almost.

Tonight it rained on and off while we went trick or treating. Emma LOVED it. She was fascinated that people would give her candy. She would open up one candy and lick it and then open another candy. Half way through the night David fell down (it was kind of hard to walk in the box) and half of his Lego pieces fell off so we made him into a domino. Sarah was Yoshi (a dragon from super Mario brothers..you can't see her spikes and tail.) Becca was a cat...you have to love the simplicity of a cat :)

Can you guess who's pumpkin is whose.

Happy birthday and a happy trip too!

Sarah celebrated her birthday 4 times this year! Her first party was about 10 days before her real birthday. She had a dragon party with about 8 friends complete with dragon games, pizza, how to train your dragon movie and dragon cake. She really enjoyed it! Then we went to California this weekend and had cake with Grandma and Grandpa Smalley and then we went to Great Grandma Smalley's house and he cake there too. Becca said, this is the birthday that just doesn't end! Then we went to Disneyland on her actual birthday and she had a button that said Today is my birthday so EVERYONE in the park wished her happy birthday. I think she felt really special :)

Poor little Emma conked out right before the carousel. When we were standing in line for Peter Pan (probably the longest line we had to stand in ~ 15 minutes) she wanted to ride the carousel SO bad, but they were closing the park so she never made it!

The girls went on the "fast cup" and dad, David and Emma rode in the "slow cup" I was so proud of the kids for trying almost every ride (space and splash mountain not included...next time...)

A little swimming fun at Grandma's house...it was chilly, but the kids loved every minute of it!

I had never been to Tom Sawyers island before and it was AWESOME. We had a blast exploring the caves and climbing up and down things. Can you tell Emma just woke up.

First ride was Finding Nemo. It was cool how they played the movie in the water!

Last but not least we met mickey. He was really the only character we saw the whole day. We mostly stuck with the rides and apparently missed the parade, but Emma LOVED seeing him. She gave him a great big hug and kiss.

Saying goodbye to grandma...it was just too quick of a trip. We will have to make it again soon :)