L.A. Zoo

Recently I realized that Allison had never been to the zoo. What?! What kind of mother am I? By this same age my other children had been to the zoo MULTIPLE times! I'm really slacking with poor kid #4. But I did redeem myself by tagging along with some friends to the zoo. Allison LOVED it! I knew she would. I just don't know what took me so long! It was a great day with great friends and amazing sunshine! Love California!



1/25/11

Dad's Cool Job

One Saturday, Dad called us up and said to hurry over to the college - the helicopter was landing. He had to be there with the fire truck as a safety backup, so he was able to have us join him. The kids thought that was pretty cool to see the helicopter land and then take off a little later. They got a thorough tour from the pilot and Darren was excited with lots of questions as he is considering becoming a pilot in the future.






12/4/10

The Happiest Place on Earth!

This truly is one of our favorite places to be as a family. It's the perfect time for us to visit Disneyland - everyone is brave enough & tall enough for the rides, nobody is in diapers, nobody cries. We love Disneyland! Sadly, this was our last trip before our annual passes expired. It will be a LONG time before we shell out money for that again.

I love this pic of my kids:


We spent a couple days here, camped within walking distance. I love when it is decorated for Christmas.


This is my attempt at a last minute family Christmas card photo. Alli wasn't very willing.




Dec 2010

California City - December

One of our favorite family activities is to go riding in the desert.
We went here for a couple nights during Christmas break. It was FREEZING! The kids don't seem to mind though. They still have a blast!



DARREN:



RYAN:



BLAKE:

Christmas 2010

Here is a quick review of some December activities:

Allison's Preschool Christmas Program. She worked hard to learn the words to all the songs and did great!




My Sunbeam Class: I'll sure miss them in 2011. I loved teaching Alli's class!


Sugar Cookies: A favorite tradition with the kids!


Christmas Eve at Grandpa's: My family tradition. It's fun to be with all my siblings and my kids get to spend time with their cousins!


Christmas Morning: Santa was generous as always!


Santa's Ornaments: Each year, Santa chooses an ornament that reminds the kids of something exciting from their year. Here's what he picked this year.

Cute!

 

 

 

 

After seeing similar drawing of my friend Rebecca's kids, I called the artist and had her do these drawings of my kids. She's a 14 year old girl who has a lot of potential! I think these are adorable and I'm so glad I had her do this. How cute!

Sewing Projects

First let me say... I don't really know how to sew. I love that I have a sewing machine and I tinker around with a few things: hem pants, sew on a button, sew a straight line. But I've never really been 'taught' how to sew. I'm not really sure how to read a pattern. That said... I'm really excited about my little sewing projects I took on this Christmas. For some people this may not be a big deal. But for me it is!

Here is Allison modeling one of the apron's I made for my neice. I made an adult size one for her mom also, but didn't take a photo.





In our family gift exchange, we have Jason's sister this year. She has 3 girls. I made them each a flannel Christmas pillow case with matching pj bottoms. They live out of state so it was tricky to make them without trying them on. My boys are roughly the same ages so they were my models. They were thrilled to be trying on girls pajama bottoms! ha ha My kids each have a Christmas pillow case that we only use during the month of December. We pack it away with the Christmas decorations and pull them out again the next year. I thought I'd do the same for my nieces.





And a few pillowcases for nephews on my side of the family:


I made Alli & her doll some matching pj bottoms also. They are already wrapped so that photo will have to come after Christmas.

Halloween 2010

A few days before Halloween, Allison's preschool class went to the pumpkin patch. I love this annual tradition. Here is a photo comparing last year and this year. She's growing too fast!






Saturday night, we went to the ward Trunk-or-Treat party! Daddy had to work so we stopped by the fire station for a brief visit and then on to the party.


The party was great. There were lots of carnival games, face painting, chili & bread, room to room trick-or-treating, etc. Alli and two other sunbeam friends were kitty cats. So cute!


I loved the kids costumes this year.
Ryan had a hard time choosing but was very excited once he did. Now he can't wait to try out real football and is awaiting next years sign ups!


Darren got out his airsoft guns and gear and was totally in his element! No surprise there.


Blake's proved to be the most challenging costume this year. He FINALLY decided the night before the party what he would be. His favorite candy bar! Happy to have him excited, I ran to the fabric store and spent Saturday morning throwing this costume together. I think it turned out ok!



My little kitty cat decided her costume ages ago! Since we already had all the pieces except for tights, this was pretty easy. I thought she would change her mind in the days and weeks leading up to the big day, but no. She did not waver. And I'm glad. She was adorable! She watched the calendar daily, counting down to Halloween. She was so excited!!


I was so impressed at our Bishopric who really got into the spirit of things! They not only dressed the part of prisoners, but took it to the next level by enclosing themselves in a jail cell made of PVC piping. They closed off the clerk's office foyer at the end of the hall and passed out candy from pie tins. It was perfect!




Darren won a prize for his 'cheeseburger' pumpkin decorating. He did the entire thing himself, including cooking up a one pound hamburger patty.



Oh, and I was there too.


Happy Halloween!!

Fire Station Play Date

Before school started up again, I took the kids bowling along w/ their friend Conner. Bowling is always a fun past time with my kids! Afterward, we made an impromptu stop at the Fire Station to visit Dad. We got more than we anticipated during that visit!




Boys climbing on fire trucks:



Jason thought it would be fun to give the kids a ride in the fire truck. He buckled them in and drove them around the block. What a treat! (I have no photos since I was in the truck too). When we got back, Jason parked the ladder truck in the driveway and raised the ladder for the kids. They thought that was pretty cool. But that's not all:



He asked the kids who wanted to climb UP the ladder!! WHAT?! Blake was our first volunteer. Each of the kids took a turn after. So did Mom.


BLAKE:



RYAN:


CONNER:



ALLISON:



MOM:


This was an extra fun visit to the fire station. A couple weeks later, Jason transferred from this station (44) to the station closest to our house(42). It is bittersweet because he's always had a desire to be at station 42, but his home has been at station 44 for about 10 years.