Assisted Living

Our preschool group visited an assisted living center to sing and pass out little gifts.

It was so cute and worth the bribe to get Drew to sing.

Is it wrong that I think it'd be awesome if the elderly caroled back to the kids?

They are both in assisted living phases of their lives so it makes sense.

I Call Do-Overs

Those people down there are Brent/Errin/Jones and Owen/Drew/Sally

The San Diego Temple is amazing.

It doesn't have near the light display that Mesa does.

But it doesn't need it.

However, my kids were nuts during our visit.

And I want them to get it more than they did.

So ya...do overs!

We're going back.

Sea World

Santa's Cottage

Shamu!

Christmas Tails Show

Polar Express 4D

And we ended the day w/Carlton!

He was singing in the Shamu Christmas show.

Sorry Carlton, I don't know your real name.

Also sorry that you went from being on The Fresh Prince to being a Sea World singer.

You seemed like a happy soul, though.

You'd make lots of happy souls if you worked this routine into your gospel number.

We Have a Tree

Last week was special.

2/3 of my kids were sick and Justin was out of town.

By Thursday I was done.

Thought a tree would turn that around.

Drove past "bargain" lots to get to the cute lot at the fruit stand.

Which of course only sold Noble Firs.

They're not cheap.

But are the best.

Was secretly happy I had no choice.

(driving to another lot was obviously not a choice)

Owen walked right up to the tree he wanted.

And stood guard.

Took a pause from playing hide & seek in the trees.

Went home.

Tried to get tree straight in stand.

Got frustrated.

Turned on Christmas music to bring some cheer.

Took a dinner break.

Sally cried cause she didn't like dinner.

Observed that the music couldn't cheer my child or straighten my tree.

Turned off music.

Regrouped.

Turned music back on.

Got tree in stand.

Plugged in lights.

Which were burnt out.

Called it a night.

Next day...new lights.

Love the new lights.

Christmas music back on.

Kids decorated tree mostly themselves.

Didn't even stress.

Liked when Owen pulled out the bird ornaments and knowingly said,
"Dad loves his birds"

(Justin thinks every Christmas tree needs birds)

Too bad he wasn't here to decorate with us.

Paused to note that tree needles point upwards to Heaven to remind us of Jesus.

Is that true? Not sure but I like it.

All ornaments on.

Star topper didn't match feel of new lights.

Thought I needed a red felt star.

Thought of how I could make one.

Then remembered I don't like making things.

Next day while @ Ikea discovered a red felt star.

For $1.99.

And cheery tomato red bulbs.

Both perfect.

Tree is complete.

And is the happiest one we've ever had.

Stop the Presses

If you were considering making the slow-cooker oatmeal I referred to a couple posts ago...

Don't cook it in soy milk overnight (just tried that and it was not desirable).

I consulted with Jamba themselves and found out they:
- cook the oatmeal in water.
- cook it in a "rice cooker thingy" for like 30-45 minutes.
- don't cook it overnight.
- add soy milk before serving.

Cooking overnight still works....the oats just lose some of their texture.
The version I posted below is good.
Just different than Jamba's.

Nightwisp

Please tell Justin not to feed stray cats.
He doesn't need to be naming them either.
Especially if the name is Nightwisp.

Let the Counting Down Begin

Oatmeal Obsessed

I've been eating mueslix most every morning for awhile.
Then last week Errin introduced me to the oatmeal at Jamba Juice.
It made me remember how delicious hot oatmeal is.
And how I've been wanting to make it in my slow cooker for like 5 years.
So last night I did.

I liked it a lot.
It's perfect for Owen, who wants to eat the second he wakes up.

If I had cooked it in soy milk and topped it with a brown sugar crumble,
it would've been just like Jamba's.

I combined all this in my crock pot:
1 1/2 cups steel cut oats
7 cups water (next time I'm using soy milk*)
*post edit: cooking in soy milk is gross; add soy milk after it's been cooked in water
2 tablespoons butter
a couple pinches salt

Then cooked on low overnight.
And stirred in brown sugar and milk this morning.

The Recap

Thanksgiving was hosted by Linus & Sara.
Kid crafts were provided by Bethany.
The food brought by everyone was so good.
I contributed (and recommend) Ruth's Chris sweet potato casserole.
(thanks Sara C for introducing it to me)

After eating, we moved right along to Christmas.
Nonnie brought a gingerbread house for the kids to decorate.

The day after Thanksgiving my family had a little excursion to Sunflower.

Other weekend highlights:

Thanksgiving morning Jazzercise with Rachel (forget the turkey trot)
Breakfast with friends
BBQ and "Tangled" with some of Justin's family (really liked the movie)
Hair done by Karen

It was a short and lovely trip...except for that whole good-bye part.

Happy Thanksgiving!

brought to you by the awesomest/creepiest turkey decorated by a 1st grader ever

Opposites

Exhibit A loves pictures.
Exhibit B does not.

PS I cooked fish for the first time ever tonight. It tasted fishy.

A Foggy Morning

The Battalion

We stoped at the new and improved Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in San Diego on our way to taking Bethany and Gavin to the airport.

I liked it all. The kids liked the hands on area at the end.

Drew's face is my favorite.

10

Justin took me on a surprise trip to Catalina Island for our 10th anniversary.

This was the first time we went away with no kids since having kids.

And it was nice.

Really nice.

Highlight of the trip was hands down the zip line.

I hope we're wearing helmets in our 50th anniversary picture.

We also loved our cheesy/touristy/fun Skyline Tour to the "airport in the sky."

1953 tour bus.
The guide had enough puns to last Grandpa Lunt a lifetime.
This part of the island was so different than the main touristy part.
And it included some bison sightings.

Justin enjoyed many cups of hot chocolate.

He's a little obsessed.

Also loved the casino.

Not a gambling casino...a place of gathering and entertainment.
It includes a theatre where we saw Megamind.
It also has the world's largest circular ballroom.

Coolest place we've seen a movie.

Our hotel was cute.
Loved the courtyard.

I like that locals are allowed to own 1 golf cart.
Only a certain number of full-size vehicles are allowed on the island.
They say there's a 15 year waiting list to get one.

We went to a little Veteran's Day ceremony.

Oh and conveniently got out of the Marine Corps Ball.

Had noooo desire to go after last year.

Very last thing before going home...the Wrigley Memorial Gardens.

This memorial was really cool but the gardens were full of cacti.
The only flower I saw was on a prickly pear.
Not what I was hoping for.

But I loved these 3 days so much.

Thank you Bethany (Justin's sister) for watching our kids!
She did a ton and was so positive every time we talked.
Justin arranged for her to fly in from AZ the night before we left.
It was all the best surprise.

Thank you Justin!!!
Happy Anniversary!

Bedhead

She always wakes up with bedhead but today's version raised the bar.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

A Break

Homework is stressful around here.

The beach was such a nice break.

Thank you sunny day.