Christmas time is here!

I love December. I love the Christmas trees. The stockings. The hussle and bussle. The Christmas songs. The school programs. Its all so busy but so wonderful. It’s a great way to follow Thanksgiving (which I didn’t take ANY pictures of…Mae…hint. hint.)

Breakfast with Santa. This is about as close as Sadie would get, especially since he hadn’t given her her candy cane yet. She needs sugar to get over her inhibitions.

The ward’s Christmas program was so sweet. Luke and Ethan were excited to be shepherds. I cried. I’m emotional like that in December. Or maybe is all year round…hmmm.

Luke’s school Christmas program came first. Its kind of a bummer that he’s one of the tallest kids in his grade because he always gets put on the back row. Again, I cried. It was too cute.

He also lost his first tooth in December. He was pretty excited that the Tooth Fairy was going to come. But since he forgot his tooth at Vovo’s house the first night the Tooth Fairy couldn’t come back around for a couple nights. That’s her story and she’s sticking too it.

Ethan changed schools mid semester. He’s now attending Davis Magnet School. We’re hoping Luke will get in next year. So Ethan’s school program came the week after Luke’s. I had Sadie and she would not let me take a picture unless I was holding her. Hence the fuzzy picture. But I thought it was cute that Ethan was throwing me the I Love You sign. Or maybe it’s the Rock On sign…its too fuzzy to tell.

Last, but not least, we got to take some family pictures! Mae did a great job and we got some fantastic shots. Merry Christmas!

 

 

The bathroom remodel continues

Steve’s brother Brian stopped by for a weekend of fun work on our bathroom. This is usually exciting enough but this time he brought Porter along for the ride…bam! Excellence. Not that you aren’t excellent yourself, Brian. It was a whirlwind weekend but they accomplished some major work. Thank. You. I can’t say it enough. Especially to you, Denice and Anna. You were husbandless so that I could have some work done on my bathroom. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now, lest you begin to question whether there was really “work” done…here’s the proof!

Lots of dry wall went up that weekend. Its amazing how dry wall makes it feel like it’s a room. It will be a room…eventually. And dry wall gets us closer.

Do you know how heavy dry wall is? I do. And I was glad this wasn’t me and Steve in this picture but Allen and Steve instead.

The last time Brian was here he left a big hole in my wall. What’s another hole right? Well, that hole looks much better now that its closed up with dry wall. One day it will be a fancy closet. Put on your imagination caps and envision it with me.

Brian is hard at work. He always keeps the pace steady, steady…does not waste a minute.

And this is what Porter did. Ethan and Luke loved having a cousin to visit them. I really didn’t want to send him home!

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

Penryn, CA. Oh the memories!

We made a quick trip to Sacramento the first weekend in October (I know I already did an October post but this one deserved a post all its own) for a wedding. Steve took the opportunity to revisit his old stomping grounds in Penryn, CA. Yes, we’re putting Penryn back on the map people! It’s a quaint little place. I’ll show you around.

Here’s the exit you take from the freeway. Quite exciting right?

Penryn is so cool, they have this restaurant that’s a club! Steve couldn’t tell me if the food was any good, he hadn’t ever eaten there but it must be because it was still around.

This is the old. It was kind of a let down seeing it. I’ve heard so many fond memories of this home. The lawn that needed to be mowed with a ride-on mower. The pond in the front. The spacious house. The projects that upgraded it.

This is what was left of the pond.

This is the garage Daddy Dan expanded.

We left the house and drove right on over to the elementary school Steve attended. This is the bench that Uncle Dave put in for his Eagle project. Go Dave!

The kids had fun on the play ground. I think Steve shed a tear…ok, not really. But it sounded good.

Penryn School, ladies and gentlemen.

Steve wanted to drive by the high school he remembers his brothers attending. Del Oro high left some impressions, I’m told.

While we were in Sacramento we got to hang out at our cousin’s grandparent’s house, affectionately called Bubba and ‘nuther Bubba. They are some of the best people. Thank you Ralph and LaVeta!

Sara’s wedding was beautiful! Mae did a great job on her first wedding as a pro photog. I loved the backyard setting. Congrats to Sara!

Unfortunately, we had to come home RIGHT away because Sunday morning Steve was sustained and set apart as second counselor in our ward’s Bishopric. We were so glad to have Mom and Dad come for the special occasion. Our O-side family came up too and it was a party! Steve hasn’t worn a suit since we got married…aw, the irony.

Halloween? What? Its October.

Ok, seriously, who waits until December 30th to post about Halloween? Not me. I wouldn’t do that. I mean, that’s just blatant procrastination. I’m not like that. I wasn’t procrastinating, I just didn’t want to. It’s a problem I have lately. I’m trying to get over it. This is going to be one heck of a post because I’m going to revisit the beauty of October. Of course October was full of Halloween festivities. First there was the school Trunk or Treat. We did a way better job of decorating our trunk. Our car battery was dead by the end of the night but it was worth seeing people jump when they came up.

The kiddos before the trunk or treat started.

Then there was our ward Halloween party. Sadie was a-dor-able. I’m liking this princess thing more than I expected. Sadie was also pretty thrilled that people were handing her candy like it was broccoli.

Of course, we can’t forget the Miramar Air Show. Steve took the boys down (I don’t remember why Sadie and I didn’t go, must have been a good reason). They LOVED it, needless to say.

 

Ethan and Luke have been taking swim lessons for a while now. The place offers free swim, even to the siblings, and Sadie finally decided she had had enough of watching and wanted to participate. Well, that’s all fine and dandy but the place also REQUIRED a special swim suit….supposedly to comply with Health Regulations or something silly like that. Anyway, the only suit they had for Sadie was this two piece so I HAD to buy it…twisted my arm. Oh. My. Goodness. Sadie was adorable…again. (am I using enough of the … effect?) I will never buy her a two piece again but this time I won’t regret.

Do you love her pose? I do. Love it.

Luke’s class about to parade. That’s one of his best school buddies, Matthew Anderson as Batman.

Here comes Ethan! He was Jango Fett. If you don’t know who that is…look it up, I couldn’t tell ya.

Sadie and I got to visit a pumpkin patch while the boys were at school one day. It was for our Mommy and Me group. Sadie was really practicing her two year old attitude that day. At least I got this cute picture out of it.

Our lovely cousins crashed the trunk or treat too. I love Ellie’s buns…go Leia!

So Sadie loves my phone. She’s addicted to the iphone as much as I am. She took this picture of herself. It’s a gem, don’t you think?

Aw, that’s the close of October. Get ready for November…comin’ right up!