Disneyland!

Wow, so much time has gone by since I last sat down to share. We all had a wonderful Christmas and received so much more than we could ever need. We are so blessed with so much family who thinks of us at Christmas.

Anyway, Emma had been asking to go to Disneyland for the last three or four months. So, after much debate and thought, we finally decided to get the family annual passes to Disneyland.

So yesterday, with full knowledge that the crowds would be as thick as could be, we went to Disneyland and had a WONDERFUL day. And I mean great! There was NO crying!! Can you believe that?

Emma and Caleb both rode the Mattercorn (as Emma likes to call it) although Emma decided that once was enough for her. Sarah rode her very first Carousel. She was full of "Whoa!" and "Oohhh" and she was trembling! I'm not sure if she was scared or excited, but she wanted to do it again! We got to go on the revamped submarines and experience Nemo's adventure. Chase took Caleb on Space Mountain, another first which he loved, while the girls braved the line for the Christmas decorated Small World.

We actually sat down to watch the parade, which was great. Every time a float would pass by, Sarah would turn and ask, "More?"

We had planned to leave and get some dinner, but they were having so much fun that we stayed (even though it was quite chilly) all the way to the fireworks. (We did view them from the parking structure, though, where it was much less crowded and we avoided some serious crowds down Main Street!

All in all, it was a WONDERFUL day at the happiest place on earth. We can't wait to go back!

Our first attempt at a family self-shot.


A little better...

We asked someone else to take one for us!

The Santa Train

Tonight we rode the Santa Train. Every year Irvine Park Railroad transforms into a beautiful Santa's Village and this was the third year that we've gone and visited Santa there. The line's a bit long, and the price is a bit high, but this is the only Santa Caleb and Emma know (can you believe it...they've never seen the mall Santa!) And tonight was Sarah's turn to experience it. She was there last year, but she was asleep. Not that she'd likely remember it anyway. Well, she did decent. She wouldn't go up to him, but there were no tears, so I'm okay with that!

She wanted that candy cane, but big sister Emma had to cross the threshold for her.

Emma's private moment with Santa.

Although he's 7 now, he still believes. I love the magic that their innocence brings.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I know it's not Thanksgiving yet, but I have Decked our Halls anyway. Normally I've never done it this early, but I just felt the urge to get ready for Christmas and I decided to go with it. (Besides, by the day after Christmas, I'm ready to put it all away, so I might as well get as much time as I can with it!)

Sometimes it seems like a lot of work to decorate all over, but this morning Emma looked around and said something that stuck with me. She said, "I bet it makes Jesus happy when he sees how much we decorated for his birthday." I love that she said that. Simply put. And just a reminder to me that despite the commercialism that surrounds us at Christmas, her young heart has not been mislead.

So take a look at how we've decorated for Jesus' birthday this year!

This last one is my very favorite. It's a plush Christmas tree, but the ornaments tell the story of Jesus' birth. The kids love to take them off and tell the story as they put them all back on. Such a great reminder for us all!

We all had to do it

Do you remember Thanksgiving in elementary school? It hasn't changed much at all. Today Caleb's first grade class celebrated the annual Thanksgiving Feast and everyone was dressed as either a pilgrim or an Indian. I'm sure it's probably not politically correct, but it's tradition nonetheless!

Most of our nights look....

like this.

Now that the time has changed and it's dark by 5:00, we've fallen into a new routine. When Chase and I get home the kids are begging to go outside, so usually they head over to a friend's house or we all go out to play. But before you know it, it's getting dark, so we come inside, work on homework as I cook dinner, then settle in to play dollhouse, read books, or video games (mostly for Caleb and Daddy). By 7:00 it's bathtime, teeth time, and bedtime at 8:00. (And then I collapse on the couch and doze off, pretending to watch TV!)

Tonight Chase was at a baseball game and the kids were all in the same room playing dollhouse. This dollhouse was a Christmas gift for Emma last year and has been played with every day since last Christmas. She loves it so much! And Sarah has become quite fascinated with it now, too, watching Emma play and learning how to make the people interact. I love watching how she makes the people move and play, carefully maneuvering each one into the correct spot and getting so frustrated when her little hands just can't make the doll do what she wants it to do.

As we were all playing, Caleb wanted me to read the Jingle Bells book, and before I knew it, an impromptu round of Christmas caroling ensued!

As we were singing, I just knew I had to catch it, because I know how fast these days go by, and I'm trying my hardest to savor them.

Yes on 8

Since tomorrow is the big day, and my friend Julie's blog inspired me to vent a bit, there's just something I've got to get out there. It is driving me crazy hearing those commercials out there by CTA that say "California teachers are for equal rights...that's why they say vote no on prop 8." Well I am a member of that union. I am a California teacher. I do support equal rights. But I think the definition of marriage is a man and a woman. I don't think that denies anyone rights. I think it simply keeps marriage as what it was intended to be. But that's not my point.

My point is, why is my union, whose dues I pay into, promoting a proposition that has nothing to do with education. True, if it does go down, there may be some stories in books that talk about a dad and a dad, and that's not what I want my kids exposed to. Nor is that what I want to share with my students. In fact, chances are, if that story were in my text book, I'd skip it. Simple.
But still, I digress.

Why is my union using my money to promote something that not only do I full NOT support, but that they have no business being in anyways? They tell us that our dues only go to political support if we request them to go that way. But then they blanket all teachers under their campaign.

So I just had to get that off my chest. And I want to let you know that when the next school year comes around, I am leaving my union. If they're not representing my point of view, then I don't need them!

I'm Alive!

Cinderella, Obi-Wan Kenobi (from Star Wars, mom), and our little puppy (we tried to make her piggy tails look like ears since she didn't like the hood.)

I have missed sharing my pictures with all of you! I know everyone gets busy, but man, it makes me sad when I can't even do the things I enjoy. It just seems that by the time everything settles down at night, I'm just so exhausted that I doze off on the couch, and then I can't even focus on the little things around me, let alone try to blog.

Mason (a wrestler) and Caleb (aka Obi Wan Kenobi)

Our little puppy doesn't talk...but she can bark!

But tonight we had some fun and I've gotta share it. And tomorrow, well, tomorrow my first "baby" turns seven. How did that happen? Just know that time goes fast for us all. Last night at dinner Emma said to me, "You know, my life is just going so fast. I can't believe tomorrow's Halloween!" Chase and I could only look at each other in silent agreement. Too fast, too too fast.

Makena and Emma...

We had lots of fun trick or treating tonight. Didn't take Sarah long to pick up on this concept. I can just imagine her thoughts..."What...go ask them for candy...okay mommy, but you always say no!"

Happy Birthday Dear Emma!

It still amazes me just how quickly time passes. Last week we celebrated a day that happened five years ago: the day we met our first little girl, Emma Kylie. I don't feel like I'm much different than I was five years ago, but I know she certainly is!

September 27, 2003

Emma decided she wanted to celebrate at Build-a-Bear with her cousins, so we did, and it was a great day. She woke up early and we were opening presents before eight in the morning!! After a yummy breakfast, we went to the hair salon so she could look "fancy" because after all, you only turn 5 once.

Then we went to lunch with our family, our cousins and their mom, and Aunt Nani at Red Robin. Now that was an exciting lunch!!

From Red Robin we headed to Build-a-Bear where the girls created their lovable companions, complete with new outfits as well.

(First we stuff them, then we fluff them! Even Sarah was excited to fluffy up her new doggy!)

Soon, everyone was tired...and the crazy bus (aka our Sequoia filled with 5 children and 3 adults!) made it home.

Finally, we ended the evening with cake and ice cream and grandparents...and of course more presents!! I think this was her best birthday ever.

Family Pictures

Sunday mornings, though they're busy, are when we all look our best. It seems like a good time to try to get a few cute pictures. Of course there's hardly ever time for that, but this particular Sunday, we were running early for once! Just wish I was in a couple of them!