hanging out in California

It was so much fun to come back home and visit my parents and siblings. Now there are even more grandkids to party with. We stayed for 3 weeks and did so much. We played games, cooked yummy food both indoors and out, had Christmas, went to animal parks, sewed, and so much more.

Visiting Santa

Went to see Santa at the Mall in Temecula with Family.

Went again all dressed up to take picture with Santa at the Shopping Center in Menifee. Matthew wants a Diego Talking Backpack, Elaine a Dora Talking Backpack and Nancy a baby and stroller (so she can stop stealing Elaine's baby and stroller).

California Adventures

Grandpa let us do some work for him around the house to earn money for ZOO passes as a Christmas present. It was so much fun to go with everyone and see the animals as the WILD ANIMAL PARK. This was the first time for all the kids. Matthew had been to the zoo once, but not the wild animal park. We did so much: the petting zoo, safari tour, shows, seeing animals, and grandpa let all the grandkids go on the Carousel. We are going again when we come back out because we now have annual passes for all of us.

SAN DIEGO TEMPLE in CALIFORNIA. We took the kids to see the temple where Nathan and I were married. Elaine thinks it looks like a castle. I love this temple. It is my favorite one. The Nativity statue was out for Christams.

OCEANSIDE,CA. It is a must while in California to visit the beach. The salty ocean air, rolling waves, and sandy treasures await. This was Nancy's first time to the beach. The kids had a blast running around, finding shells, digging holes, and playing in the water. It was a bit cold, but it was winter after all. We didn't plan on going to the beach as you might be able to tell by the kids wearing their regular clothes, but we didn't care because there were more clothes in the care they could change into after. The plan was to go to the San Diego Zoo with Grandma and my sisters except there was no parking, so we left and went to the beach instead. I think the kids didn't mind too much. We can't wait to come back in the summer and spend the whole day.

TIME TO PLAY CATCH UP:

SEPTEMBER 2009:
Elaine’s 3rd Birthday!!!! She is growing up so fast. Her party was fun and full of family. She loves princesses and ponies. Good thing because that is what she got. At her party we did pizza and cupcakes, lots of games like pin the crown on the princess, princess bingo, find the glass slipper, and of course had a princess piñata then did some dancing at the ball with our disco ball. I hope she appreciates all the time I put into this. I loved doing it for her either way. Awe my little princess.
Nancy begins to walk. Okay stumble. Wow I can’t believe we have already hit this mile stone. Oh my cute little baby Nancy. We have several nick names for her including duzzer, and babah. Such a little cutie pie.

Matthew started Kindergarten!!!!!!! Now I really feel like my children are growing up too fast. Matthew is in Ms Stefani’s morning kindergarten class with his neighbor friends Marlow, and Ferrid. He loves going and recess is his favorite part. He struggles with sitting and holding still, but is doing great with his academics. On Wednesday’s school starts late for teacher meeting, so Matthew takes a Spanish class while he waits for school to start. He attends Creekside Elementary in Boulder, Colorado about 1 or 2 miles or so from the house. GO Cougars. In the mornings he takes the bus to school on route #536. I had him in KCARE for a while twice a week, but it became too difficult to keep up. Oh well. I go by car, foot, or bike to pick him up and then its lunch and nap time! Yeah.
Nathan and I are also both in school this year. I am taking College Algebra and Spanish I. Nathan is finishing up credit to graduate in the Spring. Horray. I can’t wait to be done with this stage. Nathan took the LSAT for law school entrance applications. He is still not sure if he wants to do law or Spanish Masters, so he is doing his applications for both. We should start to get answers back early next year.
OCTOBER 2009:

Stephanie's 23rd birthday!!!! Nathan took me for a great night out to the Adam’s Mystery Dinner Theater in Denver. I laughed, danced, and ate yummy food. They gave me a birthday shout out and called me on stage to do the monster mash. The crowed there was great and the acting was well done. Nathan gave me some great shoes and a CU sweater. We did cake at Julia’s house (she babysat so we could go out). Thanks Julia! While we were out there we went for a hike and babysat so Julia and Jim could go out. Lots of fun!!! So glad we have family nearby. ;-)

Free day at the Denver Zoo!!!! I took the kids down to the zoo for their 100th birthday party. They gave out cupcakes and had lots of fun activities and crafts going on. Julia and her kids came too. My cousin Natalie made it for a short while with her new baby and son, but had to leave early to get her other one from school. We spent the whole day there almost.
COUSINS!! On the way out I let the kids get some souvenirs at the gift shop. They got these cute zoo cups and snow globe pencil sharpeners.

Nancy continues to improve her walking, while Elaine and Matthew work on their biking skills.
Matthew has NO TRAINING WHEELS! Good job kids. Just keep trying.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES included trick or treating around the complex, a party at the church, and a family housing event. The church party was fun to make cupcakes, pumkins, go through a hunted house, play games, and did a parade.

Matthew also had a great pajama fall party at school and we all went. They played games, and made pancakes and cookies.

Elaine was a fairy care bear, Matthew a scary shark, and Nancy changed between an angel, tiger, and dress up doll (Matthew and Elaine fought over what she should wear so we put it all on her). All in all there was a lot of sugar and fun.

NOVEMBER 2009:
NANCY TURNED 1!!!!!! Such a sweet moment. We got her a little cake from King Soopers with little ballons on top. She didn’t know what to do with it. She started by rubbing her nose on the balloons like little nose kisses. It was so adorable. Finally daddy had to help her taste it and then it was all over. She loved it. We got her some baby fabric books with Sesame Street on them. She has this thing she does where she likes to walk around the house with books in her mouth, so we thought these would at least not get wrecked when she did it. Sniff sniff my little baby just keeps growing and growing.

I pulled out the Christmas tree and decorations. Yes, I know Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet, but we won’t be here for Christmas and I want to enjoy it. We hung lights all around the living room and the kids wanted them on all the time.
Thanksgiving was fun. The kids did a Turkey trout with the other children in family housing. I work on Resident Council and was in charge of the ribbon to run through at the end. It was fun and the kids did great. Later we went down to Phillip’s house to visit for a couple days before all heading back up to Julia’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. We had all the fixings and Nathan got me the LION HOUSE BAKERY cook book. We made a ton of Lion House dinner rolls. They were so YUUUMMMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!!! We went for a walk to burn off some of the calories afterwards.