Christmas Eve

We began the day by having the kids each open a new Christmas book...

Then, the Tracy family arrives and it's time for gifts, food and fun!







We ended the night singing away on the Karaoke machine. Courtney (above) is a gifted singer and showed us how it's supposed to be done! Katie stole the show with her dance moves...

More Holiday Memories

Baking cookies with friends...

Could my smile be any bigger, jeez! Probably Beth's fault...her dry sense of humor makes me laugh so hard...
Tracy is a kid magnet!

These are from the night we decorated our tree...

And these are from the "Breakfast with Santa" we went to for the first time thru Parks & Rec...Katie loved it!


Finally, this is the night of the kids' Christmas performances through school. Caleb's kinder class sang "Must Be Santa" and Emma's third grade class performed to "Jingle Bell Rock". I choreographed the 3rd grade dance (with lots of help from Joey Snow), which was such a blast.
Thank you everyone who came to watch the show!!
Katie waving to Santa at the Breakfast...

Night Out with our Little Men

Some of Holly's extended family were involved with a Christmas show in El Cajon, so we took the younger boys to see it. What a great experience...I was totally impressed. Here we are with our handsome escorts...I look at these pictures and just want to freeze time!!

Christmas Baby Shower

The Pleasnicks have been blessed with their second daughter, Elizabeth Anne (Izzy). She was due on Dec. 25th but (thankfully for Beth's sake), arrived a bit early! These are pictures from the intimate shower I hosted with the help of her Discipleship group friends. Everyone was told to dress comfy and we kept it very simple...cinnamon rolls & coffee. I love that Beth is a no-fuss type of gal:)...and who wants to get dolled up anyway when you are 9 months pregnant!

Congratulations Pleasnick family!!

Advent Celebration

We had such a great time with the Miller family, celebrating Advent on many of the Sunday evenings leading up to Christmas. Tony and Holly know how to pack in a ton of memorable holiday activities, let me tell ya! We decorated Gingerbread houses, read Advent devotionals with the kids, went to holiday musicals, and joined them for their annual trip to sing carols at a home for seniors.

My very simple Advent wreath & candles
Holly and the boys with a Gingerbread house still intact...for now
Hate to rub it in, but ours lasted all month Holly!
Holly lamenting the roof cave-in...
Jonas and Tony working on something...TC HW??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyMCyIfK4hk

I saved the best for last...you've got to check out this footage of Caleb and Parker singing Sunday School songs for their teacher, Mrs. Mueller

Field Trips

Emma was required to take three field trips this fall on her homeschool days, which was a fun assignment to accomplish.

First, I took her to a concert at the Master's College, where Dave Wood's daughter was singing as part of her Music degree (she has an amazing voice). Below we're pictured with Lisa Wood and her daughter Abigail...we visited them in Idaho over the summer. Very special to see them again in CA!

Next, we spent an afternoon at the Temecula Children's Museum nearby...and had the place all to ourselves.

Finally, we took advantage of our Sea World passes and visited Alaina at work, taking care of the otters in their exhibit. How many kids get to go behind the scenes at Sea World?! It is sooo cool when your aunt is an Animal Care specialist!!

Thanksgiving

Vintage photo! I love this picture from Emma's kindergarten year...this was from their Thanksgiving feast.
Emma hosted a tea party with friends from church after we read "An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving" by Louisa May Alcott. The apple cobbler on the right (above) is an original recipe from her estate in Concord. A film based on the story came out this year and we enjoyed watching it as a family...a fun new tradition!

Thanksgiving Day was very warm and we enjoyed sharing it with Jonas' parents and brother, as well as the Pleasnick family. Beth, I need to get a copy of the pictures you took!