Aquarium

Over Christmas break we took the kids to the Long Beach Aquarium which was awesome!

Seen here are my children being attacked by an eel.  Where else can you get that?

Aquarium choke hold

My personal favorite tank was the jelly fish tank

Portraits

I took the kids to the mall for some Christmas portraits. This time it was Griff who was in a bad mood; therefore, no single shots of him.

Christmas Morning

 

Best Christmas morning ever!  This was the first Christmas that Kali really understood the whole Santa situation.  She was sooo excited for Christmas morning, and when she came out and saw the toys she about had a heart attack.  It was really sweet.  She kept hugging everything really tight. The picture above shows the enthusiasm perfectly.  That went on for hours.

Griff was excited too but on a more low key about it.  He quietly hoarded all his new cars and got to work driving them around.

This is Aaron and his new best friend

Later that morning we went back to Kai's for more gifts and food. I had to try out the gift I got Kai in the backyard.

Best gift award goes to Krin for the gift he got Maurice.  A big box filled with papers and old crackers that said "You got Nada from Santa."  There may have been a gift card taped to the bottom.

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve at my grandma's house was fabulous as always.  She makes delicious food and puts together a nice little program about the birth of the Savior.  She always makes sure the little kids are involved, and this year they were each assigned nativity figures to place on the mantel.  I love these pictures KC took of Kali placing the figures ever so gently.

And of Aaron singing a solo of "O Holy Night"

Christmas Choke Hold

Later that night we went to Kai's house for some hot chocolate and to let the kids open one gift together.

Kali and Tasha 

Kai read "The Night Before Christmas" to them

Family Photo Outtakes

The day we took our family picture was pretty rough.  Kali cried the entire time!  She didn't want to take pictures, and we were losing light so we tried to force her into it. 

This is what we were dealing with.

But Aaron, Griff and I tried to make the best of it despite her pouting

Thanks Tash!

I Need New Clothes!

Last night we took the kids out to look at some Christmas lights, and after looking at the photos, this first one looked really familiar.  I looked through my old pictures and found one of me standing in front of the same tree, 9 years ago, wearing the same jacket!  Please send me a new jacket!

2011

 2002

Kali, Kailer, & Jordyn

5 happy cousins

Sitting on a stranger's front porch.  Seemed like the perfect bench for a photo op.

It's The Time of the Year For...

Silliness at home/ Christmas music dance parties

Snuggles with Uncle Dirky

and Uncle Krinny

Finding that tree that sings to you

and riding home with it on top of the car

placing the star on top...

twice

and a round of ear infections for everyone!