3:03 a.m.

It was only a few hours since we had retired to bed when James came into our room. "Dad," he whispered. I gazed at the clock - 3:03 a.m. I calmly replied, "James, Dad is sleeping. What do you need?" James said, "I think I heard Santa." My body ached for rest, but I understand the Christmas morning enthusiasm. "I'm so glad he came. It's not time to get up yet... I love you."

James did return to his room down the hall. But if any of you were up around 3 a.m. Christmas morning, you'll know that we had super loud Santa Ana winds. It took me nearly an hour to fall back to sleep.

Just after 5 a.m., James returned to Dad's side of the bed. "Pleeease, I'm begging you... Can we just go downstairs now?" The truth was that James & Jacob had already gone downstairs to steal a peek. They even tried to eat breakfast (evidence of bowls, spoons, cereal, and milk were set out on the table). But they couldn't dump the stockings or open the video game boxes without our blessing. So, I reminded them of our agreement which bought me just enough time to wrap myself in a blanket before going down. Even on their return trip downstairs there was plenty of enthusiasm and smiles of rejoicing.

Christmas morning at our house is a VERY EARLY morning.


James wished for the Wii System w/ Super Paper Mario.

Jacob wanted the Nintendo DS.

Jessica dreamed of having Belle's dress & she got a doll & tea party set to go with it.

Mom needs a new infant carseat & likes the travel systems. Dad gets to share the stroller and carrier toting responsibilities. He can also share the new measuring cups, spoons, & spatulas for the kitchen. I think Santa left him some basketball shoes (he's the new coach for church ball).

James was super excited to find out that Mom & Dad got him the Mario Galaxy game too.

Jacob wasn't bothered that mom found a few Game Boy Advance used games on Ebay to use in his DS.

Jacob also LOVES the Lego building sets. One from his brother & one from his parents. He loves to work with his hands.

Jessica was the easiest to please. From the $1 Target spot she received: Cinderella purse, Hello Kitty notebook, pen, & princess journal. Those four dollars provided a wealth of enjoyment for her. She wanted to nestle in behind the tree in the corner to watch her Barbie movies in the DVD player. She also loved having new princess pajamas (she wears those like dress-ups too).

Pretty special to have her own lip gloss.

Grandma sent a Sleeping Beauty dress-up set. These are the only shoes that she willingly wears around the house.



By 5:30 a.m. (after I threw in a load of laundry), Jon & I were in the kitchen making Danish aebleskiver pancakes. Nobody else was interested in eating. Santa left them with their own candy stash which they lived on for hours.


What a Merry Christmas!!!

The Night Before Christmas

On Christmas Eve we loaded the family in our mini van to go see the Christmas Lights. After a healthy bite from McDonalds, the kids and Jon walked through the holiday display. I with my swollen feet and very pinched nerve drove 1 mph, stopping occasionally to take pictures through the windows.

We had planned a family talent show which kind of turned into a family war, so it was postponed until New Years. We needed to define the "acceptable talents" for our show. The boys wanted to do lightsaber fighting, goal keeping demos, or chapter book readings. It didn't really reflect the Christmas Spirit as Jacob was practicing his "I'm going to kill you" lines from the Star Wars scene. Jon was thinking more along the lines of reciting a holiday poem, playing an instrument (ie. Jon playing his guitar), sharing a Christmas story, or singing a carol etc.

We did make it through Luke 2, despite repeated questions of "how much more do we have to read?" We sang a few carols around the piano. Then settled down in front of the TV to watch Mr. Kruegar's Christmas & the Nativity. The kids were more responsive to listening to a Christmas message from the videos than from their parents. And at one point there was peace and evidence of the true Christmas spirit. Maybe that's why my parents had us watch those movies every year.

We made the Christmas Morning Compromise. I promised to get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. IF they:

#1- made their beds
#2 - picked up their room
#3 -combed their hair
#4 - brushed their teeth

I like for us to all go down together, so we can see their enthusiasm and Jon can capture it on video. My parents started making rules like this because I was the one who would get up around 2:00 a.m. and wake my sister to sneak downstairs. Sorry Mom & Dad.

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.