Christmas Break 2009

Yes, I am way overdue on posting about our Christmas trip. Just been anti-computer lately, don't know why.... There are GOBS of pics here...sorry 'bout that!! I had over 250 to choose from and I didn't want to take the time to do separate postings like I did last year since I've already taken so long to do these.

For the second year in a row, we spent the ENTIRE Christmas break "on the road". As soon as the girls got out of school, we hit the road that afternoon for my parents in NM. It made for a VERY long day and late night, but it was well worth it!

We weren't on the road 30 min. when the "how much longer?" started. GRRR!!! We were all very glad when we finally got to Grandma and Papa's!

As usual, while there, the girls LOVED playing in Grandma's big tub

I love these crazy girls!!

ready for church

we made our traditional gingerbread house

the girls have fun putting it together and putting all the candy on, but the instant they're done, they're asking if they can eat the candy :)

AAAHHHHH!!!!!

got gums?!?!

goofy

The girls and Grandma listening as Papa reads the true Christmas story from Luke 2 before opening presents

a tradition from when I was a little girl that I love to have carried over to our girls

YAY!! Time to open presents

lots of cool stuff

Stopped in Ruidoso, NM to check out the snow on our way to CA. The girls thought it was very cool, but between some snow and an accident, our already long 12 hour drive was turned into a little over 14 hours. Not good!!!

we travel in shoes that are easy to slip on and off at our fuel and potty stops, but clearly not appropriate for snow :)

After a VERY LOOOONG traveling day, we finally made it to Jeff's parents in CA. It is amazing that everyone survived. We were so sick of hearing, "how much longer?", "I'm tired of being in the car", "when are we going to get there?", "she's touching me", "she's copying me".....times three in very whiny voices!

they have so much fun with their cousins

We opened presents with Jeff's parents, his sister and her family Christmas Eve

stockings Christmas morning

all of them asked Santa for a pink Snuggie...

...they were very happy

I am so glad they are so easy to please!!

We had visited the grandparents at their homes, but were glad that both were feeling up to getting out to come to Jeff's parents Christmas day.

the great-grandkids with Grandma H

with great-Papa S

our girls with two of my cousins' kids

on our way to San Diego

WOO HOO!!

free entertainment....watching the planes take off and land at SD airport

they LOVED it!!! :)

We left the airport planning on going to Seaport Village for a little while and then taking the girls on the USS Midway. An aircraft carrier museum in SD with more than 60 exhibits and 25 restored aircraft. Unfortunately, those plans got changed because of a broken camera. We were only able to spend about 15 min. at Seaport Village before our camera quit working and we had to leave and go to Target for a new one. I just COULD NOT spend the rest of our trip without a camera, it's bad enough that we don't have a video camera! I only got one cute pic of them at Seaport Village looking out over the water...

love this picture with Payton's hand protectively on Bransyn's back

got this picture of the big pile of seaweed that Kendal saw and said, "Look, Daddy! A big net!" :)camera quit working :(my new camera...IT'S PURPLE!! and has a nice big screen to view pics :)
Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go back to Seaport village or go on the USS Midway because we were meeting Jeff's parents at Shelter Island to eat some yummy Point Loma Seafood.

The girls ate their McD's in the car while waiting for Grandma and Papa to get there. They said it was too cold to eat outside. However, it wasn't too cold to play...

It was a fun day!! All snuggled up together in bed at the hotel. Excited for the next day...

Kendal was doing a little reading before we left the hotel....from the Bible! :)

We're going to Sea World!!!

slug bug Shamu!

waiting to pet a dolphin

oh so close, but never close enough :(


they all got splashed by a stingray trying to escape

that was some cold water!!

they didn't care!

We went on the Sky Ride...

Daddy and his girls

Waiting for the Shamu show to start...

Yummy cotton candy

we saw Clyde and Seamore

FEED ME!!!!

the girls with the animals they picked out

Kendal got a polar bear, name: Terrabella

Payton got a pink turtle, name: Pinkabella

Bransyn got a purple turtle, name: Purplebella

:)

had to break out the jackets for the rest of the evening

BRRRRR!!!!!

going on a "helicopter" ride

Kendal is clutching Jeff's arm. We had them convinced that it was a real helicopter. hehe!

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

We took them on the Journey to Atalntis ride.

PAYTON LOVED IT!!!!

KENDAL AND BRANSYN DID NOT!!!!

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

everyones happy now playing in the kid area

Kendal was freaked out about walking across the moveable wooden bridge. The other two ran across to the other side. It took Kendal forever to get to the other side. She's such a scaredy-cat! She gets it from her Grandma W (my mom), I do believe!

We had a wonderful time at Sea World and wished we could spend more time in SD, but it was getting late and we had make the drive back to Jeff's parents. I had the next day to get us all packed back up again to head back home, making a stop at my parents again on the way.

waking the girls up VERY early so we could get on the road for our 12 hour drive...they DID NOT want to get up!!

We made it back to my parents house where the girls enjoyed a couple more days of...

wrestling with Papa

roasting marshmallows


and hanging out with Grandma and Papa

Peace, out

Unfortunately, our vacation was coming to an end and we had to head home

a quick pic with Grandma and Papa before hitting the road

Kendal and Payton are asleep under their blankets

Bsyn sleeps a little more normal :)

We made it home without incident and considering the amount of time we spent in the car on the road over two weeks, we are extremely thankful for God's protection. We had an awesome trip and on one hand, we were sad to see it end, but on the other hand, we were happy to get back to our normal routines...even though that meant school and work.

Until next time...

Stay tuned....

While I am crazy, busy trying to get things together for our trip, I thought I would take a moment out to do at least one post in December. However, it's really not much of a post other that to let those who read this know to look for some updates in about 3 weeks or so. As I mentioned I am busy getting things ready for our trip. We are leaving this afternoon when the girls get out of school (early release) and headed to my parents for a few days to spend an early Christmas with them. Then we're off to California for a week to see family there as well as take the girls to Sea World again or to the SD Zoo. We haven't officially decided on which one yet. We'll stop back at my parents on the way home to spend a few more days with them again before making it home. We will spend the entire two week break on the road, so to speak, but we are all REALLY looking forward to it. We can't wait to see our friends and family that we don't get to see often enough. The girls are especially excited to see their grandparents!!

As we approach Christmas, my prayer is that you, my friends and readers, will have a blessed Christmas as you celebrate with your loved ones. May you reflect on the true meaning of Chirstmas....the birth of Jesus Christ. Many blessings to you all!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Thanksgiving, Anniversary, Black Friday

THANKSGIVING
The holidays always make me sad that we live so far from both of our families. It makes me think back to when I was a kid and we lived in the same town as all of my mom's family and my dad's parents. Holiday get togethers (as well as the "just because" get togethers) were always looked forward to with much anticipation and excitement. Gathering at the house of whoever's turn it was with all the family is some of my best memories. Ones that I truly cherish! It makes me sad that our girls don't get to have that with their grand-parents, cousins and aunts and uncles.

This Thanksgiving was, once again, just the 5 of us. Jeff had to work that morning, but thankfully just until noon which was perfect. I did what I could the day before to be a little ahead of the game and was able to have a slow start on Thanksgiving morning. I slept in...sort of and was able to enjoy my morning 5 cups of coffee snuggled up with the girls watching TV before getting showered and ready to get in gear for "chef" mode. I made our traditional Thanksgiving feast. Turkey (of course!), mashed potatoes, gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs, relish tray, rolls and jellied cranberry. Y...U...M...M...Y!!!! Everything went off without a hitch. Couldn't have been more perfect! This was the first time I had done this and felt ahead the whole time. I even stayed caught up on all the dishes as I was preparing things. Very odd for me!! :) When we were done eating, the only dishes I had to wash were our dinner dishes. And can I just say...THANK GOODNESS FOR DISHWASHERS!!


ANNIVERSARY
Jeff and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Yay, us!! However, that anniversay happened to fall on Thanksgiving day so it wasn't filled with much fan fare about it. I spent most of the day in the kitchen, but we did remember it and we did get to spend it together and that's what is most important. To us, anyway!!


BLACK FRIDAY
I am an idiot!! Last year on Black Friday, I went out to Kohl's at 5am, but with a specific purpose. To get our luggage and the digital frames for our parents. So worth it! This year, I decided to go out again, but this time had no real purpose. I decided to go to Toys R Us at midnight to see if they were having any good bargains on NERF stuff for nephews and anything else for our girls and niece. I left the house about 11:30ish for the 15 minute drive to the store. It turns out....I ended up just taking a nice midnight drive. :) I pulled in one side of the EXTREMELY PACKED parking lot and drove right out another side and headed home. It was INSANE!!! There were easily 100+ people standing outside the door waiting to get in. People that were parking across the street were running out into the traffic to get across. The car in front of me had to slam on his brakes so as not to hit someone. I got back home after my nice, leisurly, midnight drive and sat back in the recliner, set the alarm on my cell phone for 3:30 in case I dosed off (totally did) and sat back and watched TV. I had inteded on going to Kohl's again and this year they were opening up at 4 instead of 5. I had no specific reason for going other than seeing if I would run across some really great deal. However, when the alarm went off at 3:30, I decided that I was too tired, not to mention, too broke to go there...just because. I reset the alarm for 4:30 instead so I could be at Walmart by 5:00. Once again, I had no real purpose for going. Well not for anything for Christmas anyway. They have these reversible bubble jackets that the girls have been wanting and when I got their ad this week, it had them priced at $7 instead of the usual $13 so I figured I would go up there for that at least. Now, you may be wondering, "why in the world would you go to Walmart at 5:oo in the morning and deal with all the crazies for an $18 savings?" The only way I know to answer that is because that's how I am...a cheapskate and if I can save some money, even if it means going out at such a horrific hour, then I will. Plus, I thought I might run across some really great deal, but there were just WAY too many people in there so I paid for my three jackets and the NERF gun (at regular price) one of our nephews wants and headed home. Got home in time to throw on some sweats, wash my face and brush my teeth before the alarm went off for Jeff to get up for work. I fixed him some turkey sandwiches to take for the day, sent him on his way, got my coffee brewing (I was definitly going to need it) and as the aroma of coffee beans filled the air and my body screaming for sleep...the first child emerged from her bedroom. The day had begun! I tried to stay busy so I wouldn't crash, I even walked with the girls as they rode their bikes to the school to play on the playground. It was such a gorgeous day! I made it through the day, even watched my friends girls for an hour or so that evening, but I was so happy when my head hit the pillow that "Black Friday Night". Turns out, I didn't have to be at Walmart at 5:00 in the morning for those bubble jackets, that all three love, by the way. Kendal and I were in there this evening and I took her to see the variety of colors they had in case she wanted to exchange the one I got for a different one (she didn't :) ) As we get closer to them, I blurt out (causing a few heads to turn our direction) "SON OF A GUN! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!" There on the top of the rack with a big sign was the price.....$7.00!! MAN!!! Sleep deprived for nothing! I will not be participating in the insanely, crazy Black Friday festivites next year. Unless, of course, there is a specific great deal item that I am going for. :)

Until next time...

Funny Girls

Driving home one night, we were in an area that has apartment complexes on all four corners and in the grassy area by the sidewalk was a for sale sign. Kendal sees the sign and from the back of the van, we hear her (talking more to herself than us) say, "Why would someone try and sell grass? That is just weird!"

While I was fixing dinner one afternoon, I told Kendal to start on her homework and if she didn't know something then to skip it and we would work on it together later. She kept saying that she couldn't do it by herself and after her and I did the multiple back and forth with "Yes you can", "No I can't", she finally said in a very exasperated voice, "No I can't, it's multiplication and I can't multiplicate!!"

The five of us were sitting together watching an episode of Verminators (yes I know that's weird). They were in a house that had a mice infestation and was showing us viewers how bad it was because of all their poo and pee around the house. ICK! Payton was sitting in her daddy's lap and looked up at him and with total seriousness says, "Daddy, how do mice wipe themselves?"

Bransyn and I were in the car and she was in her seat way in the back and kept wanting me to see what she was drawing on her Magna Doodle, so I would look in my rear view mirror as I am driving down the street to see what great thing she has drawn. Each time was, of course, something that looked like nothing, but she had some great description for it. After one particular "drawing" that made me laugh, I told her that she was so goofy.
Bsyn: "I'm not goofy"
Me: "Yes you are"
Bsyn: "No I'm not"
Me: "OK, you're silly then"
Bsyn: "No I'm not, I'm cute!"
Me: "Oh, you're cute huh?"
Bsyn: "Yea, I'm stinkin' cute!!"
Me: "YES YOU ARE!!!!"

Yes, we tell her all that time that she is stinkin' cute.......I fear it may be going to her head! :) I absolutely, without question love being a mom. All our girls are "stinkin' cute" and I adore each one of them!!

Until next time...

Fat Lips

I gave Kendal and Payton instructions to clean the playroom while I gave Bransyn a bath. Kendal decided, for some ridiculous reason, to have a little plastic play picnic cup suctioned to her lips and chin the whole time she was cleaning. Little did she know what would happen by doing that.....

We got a really good laugh at her expense and I have a feeling she won't be doing that again. :-)

Until next time...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY