the month of Christmas

I don't feel right blogging for 2010 until I cover the month of December. So here goes our December in photos:


The kids were so helpful with decorating the tree this year. They really got into it, I think for the first time. Emma just couldn't wait. And it got a little chaotic. Daniel was really annoyed that all the ornaments were being hung in the same spots on the tree and I assured him that I would "fix it" after the kids went to bed that night... Well, you know what, it never did get fixed and I was really okay with it. :)


Autumn had her first Christmas program at preschool... Sadly, we were too late getting there and we missed the program entirely. The place was so packed we couldn't even get a glimpse of the kids. But hopefully Autumn didn't really figure that out and we did give her lots of love afterwards. She was a sheep, hence the blackened nose... What a cutie she is!


Our Christmas cards are always the last I work on at this time of year. The kids and I went to Downtown Disney and all in all, we did a good job of getting some cute and "use-able" shots. Of course I use bribery to its fullest power. And I think this was the only pic taken of me through the whole month of December.

These were taken in Emma's classroom on the last day of school before Winter break. They are not allowed to have official class parties so her teacher compensates with crafts they can eat.
My new friend Kerri took Ethan to her daughter's preschool for the morning - he had a great time and I was so grateful for the chance to help in Emma's class.




I think we have begun a new tradition of going out to look at Christmas lights. We found an awesome place and I'm sure we will go back again and again.

I love that I finally got such a nice photo of Dennis, Jerrie and the kids.

It just makes me so happy and I can't wait to put it in a frame.

Finally, Christmas...
It first began with tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. I will never forget Emma's reaction when I explained how this worked. She looked at me for a second and then kind of worried me because she looked like she was contemplating the validity of the idea of tracking Santa. And then she said "Whoa.", and was hooked.

It was all about the dinosaurs this year for Ethan. Score for Albert and his bucket of dinosaurs!

This kid doesn't miss a beat!

The kids made out like bandits ~



But it's a good thing Emma had something more on her list than her two front teeth, huh? Santa just couldn't deliver that one I guess. :)




Okay, NOW I feel like I can move on. Whew! :) Take care folks and have a great week!

last post of 2009

Wow, every year at this time I wonder how the heck it got to be the END OF THE YEAR! Seriously. Seriously.

Since I don't have much time before we head over to our friends' house tonight, I thought I should at least post our 2009 Christmas card... like IN 2009. :)



Those kids of mine actually have moments of cooperation these days (and LOTS of bribery helps matters as well).

I wish all of you a beautiful, fruitful and blessed 2010! Thank you so much for being a part of our lives. I may be sad that another year has to come to an end, but I look forward to seeing what the new year has in store for us. And I love the chance to start off fresh again.

Love and best wishes to all of you!

Ten on Tuesday

October is maybe the busiest month of the year for us... With Emma's birthday, lots of sessions and all the regular seasonal activities, it gets a little crazy. This year add on LOTS of school stuff, a family reunion in Ventura, taking my dad to the doctor, etc... It was almost more than I could handle. But I LOVE the fall season and that makes it all good.

So our October in pictures:

1. Back to School Night ~

Daniel and I had a great time learning about what goes on in Emma's classroom. We just love her teacher. Much was explained about the random things Emma talks about at home. Such as, why she suddenly loves green apples. :)


2. Emma's birthday was half celebrated a day early.

We picked her up from school and went to lunch at John's Incredible Pizza. That night we did the whole cake and gift thing since we weren't planning on being home for her actual birthday.


3. I can't believe Emma turned six!

You guessed it - we spent the day at Disneyland on her actual birthday.

(Her first time on Thunder Mountain was a hit!)

The day ended much sooner than we anticipated because our little birthday girl was a bit too interested in going home and playing her new DS... BIG mistake in giving that to her the day before. Can you imagine not really wanting to be at Disneyland because you'd rather play games? I was bummed because I thought it would be fun for her to see Fantasmic for the first time, but oh well. I'm over it.


4. Bailey Family Reunion in Ventura ~

For the first time in years we saw everyone on my dad's side for a sort of family reunion, but really anniversary party for my aunt and uncle. We made the trek out to Ventura the day after Emma's birthday and aside from being almost unbearably windy, it was a lot of fun seeing everyone in one place. My cousin's family from Hawaii was in town and my other cousin and her husband was here from New York. It was awesome and well worth the wind blown hair and allergies that followed me for a week.

They played a couple games which of course I got out of by taking photos instead... This particular game was played by most of the adults, but I find it more appropriate (though maybe not as funny) only sharing photos of the kids hopping around with a potato between their legs.





5. Emma's school fall carnival ~

This is also how we now have a pet fish ~

Her name is Gloria. (This fish deserves a post of "her" own at some point...)




6. Our toothless-wonder ~
I know I already shared a gang of similar pics, but it WAS a big October event for us this year and she's just so darn cute!



7. Pumpkin Patch outing ~
Maybe my favorite photo to date of the kids and I.

This is my favorite outing of the season. I love watching the kids and remembering how they have grown through the years.

And I love that they experience it differently with each new year.


As much as I miss my babies actually being babies, I will admit that its nice to not have to carry them (or at least very minimally) through this outting anymore. Whew!


8. Halloween Parade ~
Every year Emma's school does a Halloween parade where the kids come dressed up and class by class they parade around the blacktop. How cool is that? And they played the best music!

This first pic was taken as the kids were heading out to the blacktop and I love her expression here... like a sly little cat! The second pic was taken in the classroom... What a cute idea, huh?

(Just for the sake of remembering this little detail later down the road... When she made it around to where we were standing for the parade, Emma was so anxious to ask us if she could watch Ghostbusters when she got home. I couldn't even get a decent smile or expression out of her because she was so concerned with asking us that. They were playing that particular song as she was parading. It got a good chuckle out of the rest of the crowd because she pretty much asked everyone, she was so loud.)


9. Our dude has added winking to his list of charms.

Definitely worth documenting for the month.


10. And finally, Halloween.
I wish Halloween could always land on a Saturday.

Per tradition, we spent the evening at the home of our best friends... The twice baked potato soup in a bread bowl was super delish!

ROAAAARRR! Ethan's dinosaur costume was a hit and it was so darn cute watching him trick or treat. And I think Daniel's dinosaur carving is my favorite so far.

This kid is ALL about the candy. The last shot of the night - the big kids trading up their candy while all cute and snuggly on the couch.

There is nothing like good friends to share fun holidays with.

And with that, October is a wrap!

all I want for Christmas...

is my two front teeth!


Emma's two front teeth have been loose for almost two months. And then over the weekend, while being a little too hyper in Costco, and while pretending to bite her Daddy's arm as he pushed the shopping cart, the first tooth flew out. Not fell. Flew. This sent us into a momentary frenzy as we ran around trying to find paper towels because she was bleeding quite a bit. We should of just pulled out the second tooth right there because it was barely hanging on. It looked terrible. And crooked. But we knew it would come out soon on its own.



Yesterday, it did just that. While having lunch with our dear friends Jerrie and Dennis, her second came out, with far less drama than the first.


The first thing she did when we got home was run to her money to sort it, apparently making room for the tooth fairy's next installment!

Yes, my daughter has her money sorted in little baggies by all the different coins and bills. She is soooo my daughter.

And now we have this adorable toothless wonder running around, just looking as cute as ever. I love it.




And actually, so does she.



One last one with both kiddos, because I just can't keep the little guy out of my photos these days.


I am so not complaining about that!