So many pictures, so little time...

Just for the record, there is nothing wrong with having an 80 degree Christmas. It's quite a treat. Apparently we missed a big snowstorm at home, but we are not heartbroken. Here is us at the beach and yes, the kids are swimming. Also Bryson discovered a latent talent for bird training.

The Hunters, a nice family in our ward, invited anyone who wanted to come pick the extra oranges from their orchard. Yum! We made orange peel candy and had fresh-squeezed orange juice every day.

Thanks to my Aunt Jacki we were able to make a Sea World trip. They've really upped the ante at the kiddie playground. All I remember were the huge nets, but now there are little roller coasters and teacups and a carousel--all kinds of fun stuff. We still spent most of the time on the nets though :)
Ella was pretty tickled about Shamu himself. She thought it was hilarious when he got the audience wet. "He's being really naughty. He needs a time out, mom!"
They turned the Wild Arctic ride into a Polar Express ride for the holidays and we had just read the book the night before so the girls were pretty stoked. Actually I think Becca knows it word for word. I think I saw her mouth moving as she was quoting it during the ride.

Kristen's dog Snickers just LOVED the babies. It was pretty gross when he would come running because someone had spit up. And by "gross" I mean extremely practical, since it saved me a trip to get a burp cloth.
Nana made us all matching jammies!!!
And since Santa brought us Guitar Hero, consider this an open invitation to rock.

Sometime in the past four years that I've missed, I graduated to the big kids team at Christmas Eve football. That was a little jarring for me. I'm that old?!

Addison had a fetish for electrical cords and plugs, which is kind of funny since her dad is an electrician. Here she is underneath Avery after having crawled across the room to attain said item.

Until next time...

Old Fogey

These are the cupcakes that made it unscathed to DXNA for Bryson's birthday embarrasment extravaganza. Bryson chose the all-you-can-eat crab legs buffet in Mesquite for his special bday dinner and then we polished off the night watching Hancock at the McCooks. Wow, next year begins a new decade. Mark your calendars now guys: we are going to have to have a big bash for that one.

Happy...um...holidays. All of them.

So it was pointed out to me this afternoon that something has been wrong with my blog -- technologically speaking -- since none of my new posts have shown up since Nov. 17. No need to contact tech support: I've just been busy. There actually haven't been any posts for almost a month. So let's fit all of the season in one biggy because we're headed to Florida next week and probably will be eating, eating, and eating (no time for blogging).

Here is Thanksgiving at Bryson's mom's house. She is renting a really cool basement with lots of nooks and crannies of fun space.

Avery got engaged to Derek Harris. We like the fam, so we're cool with it.

Over the next 10 days, we slowly set up our Christmas tree which we re-purchased again this year from CostCo. We bought one last year, but a strand of lights burned out on the bottom so we returned it after Christmas. Really, it was broken. We try not to make a habit of purchasing items and returning them after we are done with them. But since it's easier to store a gift card than a huge tree, we just waited until this year to buy it back. We are officially CostCo's worst nightmare.


No screaming babies this year for Santa! These pictures are from the live nativity out at Tuacahn. Ella told Santa all she wanted for Christmas was a candy cane because he had a huge bin of them next to his chair. Can do, no prob. Happy holidays!

Finally Fall

So we headed out to Zion National Park this past weekend to scout out a little cooler temps and see if the leaves had changed yet. It is, after all, almost Thanksgiving. Here are a few things you can expect on such an expedition...

Bryson experimenting with new tricks on our camera

Two little munchkins camping out in the leaves (one is having a little bit more fun than the other)

Avery gearing up to fill her diaper

Parents who have significantly scaled back on their ridiculously long excursions (this is Emerald Pools, shortest hike on the map)

And a bonus shot from the other day at the Sugar Loaf

I would like to brag that Ella completed the entire Emerald Pools hike on foot (it's about 2 miles the way we went). We also saw five Bambis, one of which crossed the trail right in front of us. I won't say who, but a close family member once accused us of trying to kill her by taking her on this exact same hike because it was so intense. I'm not saying who...but you know who you are.

Ok, us too...

After much discussion, we are joining the massive privatization movement. You know the drill: leave your email address and I'll send you an invite.

Busy Little Elves

Ta-da! At last, the prototype.
Yuletide meets princess in this Christmas tutu designed to put a little extra sugar where there's a lot of 3-year-old spice. Oh yes, those are rhinestones.
I saw this idea at the What Women Want Expo and thought a tied-together tutu looked like a manageable project. I'm making one for each of my kids and my nieces this Christmas so we will have a festive little fairyland...

Coupon Conquests Cont.

I clipped. I calculated. I conquered.

Here's what I came home with today for a grand total of $12.72:
18 Betty Crocker cookie mixes
9 cans Progresso soup
8 boxes frozen Green Giant vegetables
4 boxes Chex cereal
4 Knorr sides plus veggies
3 boxes Betty Crocker potato mixes
2 boxes Macaroni Grill pasta mix
2 boxes (8ct) GoGurts
2 packs Trix yogurt (6 ct)
1 Skippy peanut butter

And they sent me home with $15 of store vouchers. I have probably been to Albertson's four times in the past week, and I can't guarantee that I won't go again. I get home, look at my receipts, and think "Why didn't I get 25 of that item???" and then I'm back on the calculator figuring out another 95 cent list. Oh, I am definitely addicted...

Assorted Halloween

Our camera's been having issues lately, so I've only got pictures of Ella's spooky Halloween lunch. We had a few friends over and ate yummy treats, which Ella thought should be followed up by present-opening. Wrong kind of party, but my kind of girl!
For the memory bank: Our ward had a fantastic Halloween party this year replete with a chili cookoff, trunk or treat, the works. It was completely packed and a great way to celebrate Halloween Eve, an oft overlooked day. Fortunately, Devin was out of town and Bryson got promoted to the chili judging committee. Unfortunately, Ella went to the feel-the-yucky-brains-and-eyeballs activity first during the kids games and refused to participate in anything afterwards, including three-legged race and beanbag toss.


Picture of the day: All partied out.