Christmas & Braden's Birthday

Chris was on call Christmas weekend, so we killed some time while on our own making gingerbread men for Santa. We found a recipe the Pioneers used while in Nauvoo. Bailey rolled out the dough...Brody just stood around looking good...Brooklyn got caught taking pictures on my phone...and Braden got excited at the prospect of eating and set the table on his own without being asked.

Christmas Eve we woke to some chilly weather.

No pictures of Christmas morning...but pictures of Braden's B-day. He was pretty excited at the thought of finally turning 4!

There are pictures I took of Braden after his Christmas program at preschool (which he refused to perform in) with his teachers.

A Moment of Silence...

The McEuen Family Christmas Video is in the mail.

After LONG, arduous hours of tears and sweat after a major computer malfunction, it has been burned and is on it's way to Nikki's house.

So, for those waiting for other items requiring my computer - you're just going to have to wait a bit. My computer and I are taking a time out from each other.

But...would everyone email me your blog addresses again? Those got lost when I had to wipe my computer.

Thanks.

Is Santa Claus Real?

I was on the phone with Nikki the other day, and she told me the funniest story. Kali asked her if Santa was real. Nikki replied, "What do you think? Is he real?". I guess Kali thought about it for a minute and said, "I'll know he's real if he brings me a scooter for Christmas." Nikki said that was too easy a request and promptly said, "Then I guess Santa is real." Casey sitting close by said, "I'll know Santa is real if he brings me $700 bucks." To which Nikki promptly replied, "He's not real for you buddy."

I just LOVE Casey!

Brooklyn's B-day

We're not morning people here...but we got up early today to have chocolate chip pancakes and hot chocolate for Brooklyn's birthday.

Poor Brooklyn fell on our neighbor's tredmill and got pretty beaten up, but figured it was okay since her debut as Mrs. Claus is over.

Fa La La La La, la, la, la, la

Between California and Virgina/D.C., I'd been gone for a week and a half. Our trip back to Georgia was LONG with holiday traffic, so we didn't make it home until late Sunday night after Thanksgiving. I was hosting part of our ward's Relief Society Christmas progressive dinner at the house, which left me with Monday to decorate, and Tuesday to clean. It was stressful, but I have to admit that I get to enjoy it longer this way.

Washington D.C.

I hadn't been to D.C. since I was a kid. Chris and our kids had never been, so while in Virginia, why not go all the way? Here's Jefferson's House - Monticello. (On the back of a nickel).

While in D.C., it was FREEZING and windy. Thus...all the crazy hair.

I remembered Arlington as a kid, but this time it meant a whole lot more since we've had two friends killed while serving over seas. While there, we were able to visit the graveside of one of those men. Very touching; humbling.

Thanksgiving

On our own for Thanksgiving this year, we called Chris's cousins to see if we could crash with them in Virginia. So...we took a road trip. His aunt and uncle restored a 100+ year old house in rural Virginia, and let us stay there. It was beautiful.

Behind the 'big' house is a little school house that was built with the original farmhouse, (how many times do you think I can use the work 'house' in this sentence...more than you'd think!) and they were required to keep it as it. It was so small...amazing that anything could have been conducted in it; pretty awesome though.

Thanksgiving morning, we woke up to all these condors sitting on the shed.

Chris's cousin Cassie lived in Flagstaff while we were there, and I hadn't seen her in almost 11 years! (FYI: This picture was taken after hours of cleaning and food prep, we had just finished dishes and I pulled my hair up and was sweating. Just so you know...I'm not that hammered looking usually.)

I'm not sure we had enough pie.

THANK YOU Claswsons! Gina-Zac-Taralyn-Cassie.

WA, AZ & GA meet in CA

Last year, Carol Stephens came to visit me in Washington, so we decided to make it an annual 'get together'. We met up in Cali this year.
We started out in Santa Monica. After walking around for a while, we put 'bakery' into our GPS to try and find food. We walked 4 blocks to find this...a DOG bakery. We weren't that hungry.

We had several successful shopping trips. They were rather enjoyable! (Yes Mom and Anne, I did learn something under your tutelage).

Keeley got us tickets to see Jay Leno. It was a blast. We had so much fun, and he was hilarious.

Keeley's aunt put us up in her house in San Clamente, so we hit the beach.

I had SUCH a great time. Thanks Carol and Keeley!