Cozy Christmas

Dear Grandma-

Thank you for sending this cozy snowman blanket. We love it!

Love,
James, Jacob, & Jessica

I Hired a Tripod

Something inside of me just NEEDED to have a family photo of how our family is right now. Since we are bidding farewell to our family of five, I hired a tripod to capture this moment just before we raced off to church.

Home for Christmas

When I hear the carol, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" I do think about driving to Utah to be with my siblings and parents. We've always enjoyed traveling to Utah to be with our extended families between the holidays. We like the kids to see their grandparents and play with their cousins. The last time we didn't go to Utah was when I was pregnant with James (my other January baby). That year my parents came here.

This year we are celebrating with our own nuclear family in our home. We are missing the family gatherings, the nice dinners, and looking out at fresh falling snow. But since I'm surrounded by my Jon and my children, I'm right at home.

Our Christmas Card

Let's see. I'm finally to the Friday before Christmas. This was our last chance to finish shopping while the kids were in school. I was still deciding on a stroller travel system and we had Christmas cards to order.

Last year I made a goal to design my own card. I considered NOT sending a card this year because I was running out of time & our family photo was cancelled because of rain. Jon said we should just send new year greetings after we had our baby. I almost bought into the idea, but I LOVE getting Christmas photo cards & family newsletters each December.

So these may not be the elegant card with a beautiful family photo like I imagined, but I really like how they came out on the fly. We've had our snapshot taken with Santa at California Adventure for the last three years now. I think it was on our card two years ago. This is a picture from Wednesday evening. It's amazing how we only took three shots and we had one with EVERYONE looking at the camera. Jessica rarely flashes her beauty queen smile - and there it is. YEAH!!!

I purchased a digital scrapbook kit to have coordinating papers & elements from HERE. This is what I came up with. If you haven't received yours in the mail, check your e-mail and then send me your updated mailing address :)

Berry Merry PJs & Being Wise

While the brothers were at school having a Grinch Party (with all things green) or a Winter pajama party, Jessica had a couple parties of her own at preschool. Monday night I made Jessica change out of her Berry Merry Christmas pajamas, so that she wouldn't get them dirty for school. It was a pajama party where the kids watched Charlie Brown's Christmas.




Then on Thursday Jessica had her Nativity & Christmas Carol performance.

Look at these wise guys waiting in the wings for their journey to the stage.



Pondering...


Comparing jingle bells with her shepherd friend.


Jingling all the way...



Wishing you a Merry Christmas!!!

Watch Out Below - California Adventure Photos

So maybe you thought that last week was our LAST time at Disneyland. Well, it was supposed to be. But we needed one more visit to California Adventure. Then that idea snowballed into pulling the kids out of school early on Wednesday so we could catch the afternoon parade at Disneyland and actually get good seats. You can see the whole parade from where we were sitting in the other post.






Can I just say that Pluto has always been one of my favorites with my kids. He gets right down on their level and plays with them. I think each child has been fascinated with his whiskers & round nose.



Have you met Giselle? Her carriage ride down Main Street was kind of like the pre-show.



I guess it's funny to have Jacob wearing his barfing face in our picture. Years from now will we just think he's a ham? I was hoping for the cute photo with my kids.








Jacob has been more willing to try out the BIG rides. James is still too afraid of heights and speeds. He doesn't even like Snow White's Scary Adventure - which is Jessica's favorite now that she's already ridden Small World a dozen times. Jessica was willing to brave the rapids, but she's an inch too short.

Our whole family - pregnant mom, little sister & all - were able to ride Soarin' Over California together. (James didn't want to, but was coerced so we could be together. He didn't complain after he conquered the ride). It was special to be on a BIG ride as a whole family.




We also went to see the Aladdin musical production one more time.



James LOVES going to the Mission Tortilla Factory. They sure are tasty. And after all these years we finally realized that you can tour the bakery where they give you yummy sour dough bread.

Christmas Fantasy Parade

Since we live away from our extended family, we needed to have our own traditions that we could do together. Each year that we've had Disney passes, we've made it a point to nestle into the crowds and watch the parade, play in the foam snow, and enjoy the Christmas fireworks. We went last Wednesday evening before our passes expired.

One year when the boys were quite small, I misread the blockout dates. We arrived at the gates and learned that it would have cost an extra $85 with our passes to get in. We didn't have the money and I was crushed. Instead we parked over at the Disneyland Hotel and were able to visit with Santa. We walked through the decorated Downtown Disney and the boys got to buy Buzz Lightyear spinners at the gift shop. The kids were so excited that we found a THIRD Disneyland park (ie. the Disneyland Hotel). I NEVER made that mistake again.

We love this parade.

Christmas Movies

This month I've been watching the Santa Clause trilogy with my kids. We were able to Tivo the first two & then we rented the last one. I love all three. They are funny, festive, & entertaining.



I ALWAYS watch the Gift of Love. It was released on TV when I was about ten years old which must of been when our family recorded it on VHS. It is based on O'Henry's story the Gift of the Magi. As I watched it the other night, I realized that I still have nearly every line of every scene memorized. An absolute classic and a yearly MUST see for me. My family may not be convinced - Jessica, Jacob, Jon & even James were all asleep by the end of the show. I was moved to tears.



Mr. Kruegar's Christmas is another favorite that I have watched EVERY year since I was a kid. It was a family tradition. My boys enjoyed it this year. They liked how Mr. Kruegar had such an exciting imagination.



The Nativity (formerly called Luke II) is another favorite. We shared this film hundreds of times in the Washington Temple Visitor Center. I become reflective when I see Mary. How kind of Joseph to walk the many miles, so Mary could ride the donkey. But, I must say in this 35th week of my pregnancy how much my back aches for Mary who is swaying on a hard saddle. Her swollen feet need to be propped up with a full body pillow tucked along her side. What a special woman to be chosen as the mother of Jesus. And then I think how chosen I am to be carrying my baby boy. He may not be the ruler of nations or king of kings, but I've anticipated his arrival for a very long time. I can't wait for another four weeks when I can see his face and swaddle him in a cozy blue blanket.



Finally, I'll admit that I discovered the film White Christmas only a few years ago. I fell in love instantly because of the singing and dancing. I haven't watched this one yet. It waits for me on the Tivo. I'm looking forward to seeing it between the holidays.

Holiday Cheer

The budget is L-O-N-G gone this year. Jon & I were able to FINALLY furnish our front room. I even made drapery panels & faux swags (I'm the daughter of a drapery man and I hadn't touched a sewing machine in nearly 10 years). The kids' lists include the Wii system & Nintendo DS with the expensive games that go with it. I've recently spent a handful of dollars getting some winter maternity wear and there's NO WAY I'm going to wait until after the 25th to start wearing them. So, there aren't a lot of things that will be under the tree for me. I'm cool with that. The gift I'm most excited to receive is not to be delivered until January. I'm really getting excited for the arrival of my baby. Maybe Santa will find a way to deliver a car seat so I can bring him home from the hospital.

But, I still have a wish list that would make the season bright. I'll give you the short list:

A potty trained daughter; a few good nights of sleep; a dinner without complaints to the cook; a fabulous massage for the neck, shoulders, & feet; kind words from my children; & a mess free home that stays that way for over 24 hours. A girl can dream - right?

So, I had an OB check-up today. Who knew that going to this routine appointment would MAKE my holiday? My doctor thinks we ought to induce at 38 weeks because it's obvious that I've got a big one coming. If you see a glowing smile on my face it's because I am SO HAPPY to meet him. If you see a disgruntled look on my face, it's because the nerve pinching and leg cramps have reached a new intensity level.

Now here's a review of my delivery history:

James - induced 40 weeks + 2 days - he got stuck & was vacuum extracted - 9 lbs. 10 oz.
Jacob - induced 37 weeks because the water broke & nothing else happened - 7 lbs. 15 oz.
Jessica - induced 39 weeks - she got a little stuck because she was posterior (face up) - 9 lbs. 4 oz.

Any guesses for one of my babies that arrives around 38 weeks?

One other note - delivering exactly two weeks early would put the date right on James' birthday: January 18th.

Santa N Me

Does the perfect Santa photo exist? This is the classic 10 month old stuck in the arms of a stranger pose. Thanks mom for giving me this holiday experience. Check out my rolls - somehow they were cuter back then.