December's BIG update

2 kiddos ... one frazzled mom and a traveling dad.

There never seems to be enough time in the day and not enough
hands to accomplish everything I want, including updating this blog.
So in an effort to get caught up, here is my one massive update.
That should catch us up through the holidays and beyond ...
and then, we can start off fresh again ...
It is a new year after all right?

It's always a struggle for us to figure out when to get our Christmas tree ...
yes, we are still talking Christmas.
The year before last, we got our tree too early
so by the time Christmas came, the tree had lost its luster.
Then last year, we got our tree too late ... and hardly got a chance to enjoy it.
Now this year, we planned to get our tree a week into December -
hoping it was just enough time to enjoy it but not enough time for the kids
to get themselves and our tree into trouble.
What we didn't count on was Blake's skull fracture accident.
So our tree got to sit outside and breathe fresh air for a few days.
And then, sat inside our house for a few more days - undecorated.
But by Christmas Eve, our tree was decorated - with all the bells and whistles.

Andrew checking for the best tree ...

Our family photo
We picked the first tree that looked pretty good ...
and took a not-so-nice photo for memory sake.

Tree headed home

Every year since Sophie's first time with a Santa encounter,
it's my goal to hunt out where Santa will be so I can get a crying photo
(mean mommy, mean mommy ...).
I figure it'll be a good memory to have down the road.
This year, I was prepared to have a good photo - two crying kids.
It was going to be classic.
And we found Santa ... twice.
But to my disappointment, neither Sophie nor Blake
were scared or cried.
In fact, I think they might have even smiled.
I was so disappointed.

Our first encounter with Santa came at our friends the Clausen's house.
Dana, Dave and Alexa (otherwise known as the Clausens) just added baby Elizabeth
to the family a few days prior so going out to meet Santa was not really an option.
Instead, they invited the big man to their house ...
and they invited us too!

Sophie and her buddy, Alexa, waiting on Santa

Look at that ... a smile.
How very disappointing!!! :)

The reindeer got lost picking up Santa ...
so the poor man had to walk.

And then several nights later,
we went to Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo ...
to check out the decorated block of houses and of course,
meet Santa again.
Sophie loved the lights and enjoyed meeting her friend again.
She even stopped to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

Pretty amazing isn't it?

With Santa ...

No tears ...

Sophie even told Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

This year, I can say I officially went overboard.
That's the problem when you buy Christmas gifts all year long ...
and don't take into account what you've already got.
You learn something new every day ...

This year, it wasn't until Christmas Eve that we actually
put ornaments on the tree ... and set the gifts under the tree.
I was afraid that Sophie wouldn't be able to resist the urge to all
the brightly colored presents if we set up beforehand ...

And you remember how I told you I went overboard with the gifts?
Well, lets just say it was a late night after Christmas Eve service
... decorating and wrapping.
But watching Sophie and Blake's (especially Sophie's) expression
the next day ... made it all worth it!

The decorated tree ....
with all the gifts under the tree.

Being silly with Daddy ...

Our little Santa Claus

Opening Gifts

SO excited!!!

Blake was far more interested in chewing his gifts
than actually opening them ...

He was quite sad when we told him how opening gifts actually worked ...

But then he cheered up ...
when he figure out it involved presents ...

And so rarely seen
... here I am.
I do exist.
with my glasses on.

Andrew, the kiddos ... and all those gifts ...

Sophie asked for presents for a days afterwards ...
Girlfriend, that's not how it works!!!!

Then we went to my parents' house ...
and guess what ...
we opened MORE gifts!!!

I LOVE this photo of Blake ...

This year, we decided to host Christmas Dinner.
When we first moved into our house in 2009, I hosted Thanksgiving dinner ...
but let's be honest, I didn't cook anything. I just opened up my home,
and the family brought everything else.
But this year, I cooked all the side dishes and bought the ham and turkey.
I thought it was safer this way ... if anything, we would have something to eat.

All the sides -
salad, bread pudding, roasted pepers,
roasted squash and brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes

Along with our family, our dear friends, Ann and Norman,
and cousin, Jake, joined us ...

So now, you're caught up through December ...
2012 ... ready. set. GOOOOOOO .....