December 2016

Kicked off the Holiday Season with Jess' Annual Ornament Party Exchange.

Fire Truck Santa cruised through the neighborhood.

Brought home our Christmas tree.

Madden's wish list to Santa.

Skylar's wish list.

1st Grade girl gift exchange.

Celebrating Jake's 35th Birthday.

Kids first concert.  Kidz Bop at the Grove in Anaheim.

Checked out the Mission Inn Festival of Lights.

Annual Gingerbread House making with Papa.

Rancho Bernardo Inn Holiday Event.

We had a Christmas miracle with Madden finally sitting on Santa's lap.

New Years Eve at the Sheraton Hotel.  The theme was "Out of this World."

Christmas 2016

I really have been enjoying not working.  I have been getting so much more stuff done which even included decorating the house for Christmas much earlier than past years.  Jake thought I was crazy when I start busting out Holiday decor before Thanksgiving.  Since I'm home so much more I wanted to really enjoy the house being so festive for as long as I could.  This was even the first year we had real Christmas lights hung on both stories of the house.  Yes, Jake is totally against professionals hanging holiday lights, but I just couldn't help myself and I wanted to see the whole house lite.

For Christmas Eve we of course drove up to Riverside early in the morning to make sure we were there for the tamale spreading.  I was really proud of Skylar because she got right in there and spread a ton of tamales.  Skylar also turned into the tamale counter and counted each and ever tamale we made with Papa's counter.  Madden attempted to spread a couple but he we get upset anytime he got masa on his hand so he was out pretty quickly.

We had a really mellow, quiet Christmas Eve which isn't usually the norm.  I don't know if it was the weather being so cold or just that my Dad didn't have his music blowing out everyones ear drums that it was nice being able to really enjoy the whole families company.  The kids opened presents which was really cute because the 4 littles ones (Skylar, Madden, Jaylee, and Carmen) would give each other hugs after ever present opening.  The parents white elephant was a lot of fun with several presents being stolen.  My garden gnome was a hit being stolen a couple times.  

Christmas morning was magical like always.  The kids ran down and opened up presents in such a quickest it was all over in a matter of minutes.  This year Santa brought Madden a bike and Skylar a Hatchimal.  Both what they requested.  Madden was a bit disappointed when he came down and saw that his bike didn't have the color green in it, but he got over that pretty fast.  We all helped hatch Skylar egg which took longer than anything else.  Madden wouldn't even open up a box that he knew was clothes, he would just had to to me and say "clothes," and be on to the next.

Skylar made out with a Easy Bake Oven, Polaroid Camera and tons of clothes.

It was a Pokemon Christmas for Madden for sure.  He got anything and everything Pokemon, Laser tag guns, and Legos.

We stocked up on new games for the family.

Don't think any of us could of asked for a better Christmas Day. 

2016 Holiday Card

For this years Holiday Card I wanted to do something different and funny.  Having done some research I came up with our idea, ordered the backdrop, and made our photo reservation at JC Penny's Portraits. Yes...JC Penny's.  

I was so thrilled that the kids were a go for the picture.  They didn't argue about their outfits and Skylar even asked to wear the bandana which totally made her outfit even better.  Taking the pictures turned into a bit of a mess.  First we looked crazy rolling into JC Penny's with a lineup backdrop, a bat, and a bottle of champagne.  The first photographer they gave us couldn't figure out how to hang the backdrop.  Which enraged Jake...haha! He was getting so upset, refused to take the pictures, and demanded that we leave.  

Once I calmed him down a bit and convinced him we are here, lets just see how they turn out, I ended up popping the champagne which spilled all over their studio.  Needless to say were were a bit of a mess.  We cleaned up the studio with tissue, and started finally taking pictures.  The kids rocked it.  We had to keep reminding Madden not to smile, to be tough!!  We did one round of pictures and got some so-so ones.  I think the Manager could tell we put a lot of work into our idea and was sweet enough to put us in another studio where we were able to hang the backdrop and get what I believe was our best Holiday Card to date (even if we are only 5 feet in it). 

2016 Holiday Card

Madden's Holiday Performance 2016

I must say I was a little sentimental about going to watch my last preschool holiday performance.  Seeing their cute little faces up there singing the sweet Christmas songs brings me so much joy.  Madden was really pumped for his performance, we had been practicing the songs at home and he even told me before we left how excited he was to have Mom and Dad watch him sing.  Well, I don't know if Madden was too excited or got really nervous because he decided to spend most of the performance sticking his tongue out and not singing.  So that Christmas joy I was hoping for turned into embarrassment.  

Walking in for the show.

Tongue in full affect.

Room 2

Yep....thats my boy 😝😝😝

Mr. Jokester exiting the show!  

Afterwards we headed to his classroom for his holiday party.  He played with his best buddies and ate about 7 donuts. 

Madden and his great friend Carter.

Enzo, Madden, Carter, and Zachary.