Thursday, December 27, 2012

The $1 Balloon





Sally got some Christmas money from my parents.

She passed up pretty much everything Toys R Us had to offer,
and held out for a 3-pack of bubbles and this balloon from the dollar store.

August approves.

Christmas Day




 Justin fixed up his old mission bike for Owen.

Skylanders.

The newest family Lego addict.

 His Build-A-Bear Halloween costume is now being worn by his Build-A-Husky.



 And I got a bike.
Last time I had a new one I was 12.
It's so fun.

 Justin also fixed up these electric scooters we inherited from his parents.

 
 After a lazy morning at home, we met Brent & Errin at the beach.








 My friend Annie has a Christmas Day sandman tradition that we copied.




 And my aunt Liesel has a Chinese food Christmas dinner tradition (a la Christmas Story)
that we also copied.
Food was delicious.
The hour wait for it was not.
Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra.


While we didn't get to go out of town this year, at least there were some benefits.

Like...
Not packing up Christmas.
Being in our own house Christmas morning.
Not packing up Christmas.
Going to the beach.
That Brent & Errin were here, too.
Not packing up Christmas.
Taking down Christmas the day after.

We missed being with extended family, but this was a good change for one year anyway.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Eve Nativity





Mary in silver leggings.
A wise man presenting the gift of lip gloss.
A twinkly lit star.
A cow.
Some funny ad-libbed lines.
And a little mayhem.

But they got it.
And so did we.

 Thanks to Brent & Errin for hosting a fun Christmas Eve party.

Post Edit:
Some more mayhem captured on Justin's phone.



Sunday, December 23, 2012

Counting Down

 
Drew was just about in tears when at bedtime I told him he had to wait until tomorrow NIGHT to open his one Christmas Eve present (verses first thing in the morning like he would prefer). The suspense is killing him.

And then there's Sally who finished off her entire chocolate advent calendar a few days ago, thinking that'd hurry Christmas up. Cause when the chocolate are gone, Christmas is here. Right?

And now that I've got presents wrapped, I'm okay with Christmas coming, too.

But until then we've kept busy with bike rides, present guessing, another Christmas party, plenty of Christmas movies, and a San Diego Temple light trip.

 Jones is manly enough to ride the girl bike.

 Nope, not Christmas morning.
Just excited to see some presents under the tree after getting home from school/preschool.

 PJ's and candy lips due to preschool Polar Express party.

 
 Another Santa.
Owen is probably too big to be sitting on his lap.

 Cookie decorating at the party.

This party was held at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad.
It was sponsored by a church in Oceanside.
The last few years they've done service for homeless people,
but this year they wanted to do something nice for military.
I'm grateful, but feel guilty!
They were so generous.






 Owen was one happy kid when he came home from the party with a new BB gun and safety goggles.
(They had asked us in advance for gift suggestions for the kids).

Then today...
They are just too fast stripping out of their church clothes.
I've been hoping for some sort of Christmas card picture all month.
And so far this is the best I've got.
But this is pretty much them...
Angry Birds shirt, undershirt, tattoos that won't wash off, and all.




Merry almost Christmas!