Ben and Summer

When I went home for Christmas I flew into Long Beach and spent a night with Alli and the kids and then we went the family the next day at Knotts Berry Farm. Then I also spent a day with them before I flew back to Salt Lake. Summer and Ben as so cute and it is always fun to spend time with Alli. Mom watched the kids so Alli and I could do some turbo shopping! Thanks Mom!Summer and "Pinky" her pig. Look at those adorable dimples! Summer is sure a happy little girl!

Ben was so excited to show me that he lost his first tooth. He told me all about it and then told me that the tooth fairy came!

Summer decided to show me her tonsils. She doesn't mess around, look how wide she opened that sweet little mouth! It looks like she has a little bit of a sore throat if you zoom in.

Summer was giggling and having a good ole time.

Ben sure was cute playing with his trains! I had a great time and get sad when I don't know when the next time I get to spend time with Ben and Summer. Hopefully soon!

Family Fun at Knotts Berry Farm!

It was so much fun to go to Knott's Berry Farm at Christmas time. It was NOT crowded and was very festive. We rode rides, watched Snoopy on Ice, and just had fun hanging out together. It would have been perfect with Becky and Steve and their families!I love this picture of Alli and the boys. Ben was showing Parker that he lost his tooth. He thought that was pretty cool!

Random group shots!

Mom, Alli, Em, and all the kids headed to Camp Snoopy. The rest of us headed right for the roller coasters. Dad, Michael, and Russ road this one roller coaster ride that was like in the water. Look how wet they got (they were soaked even if you can't tell in the picture). Ash and I decided we didn't want to get soaked the first ride of the day!

We had so much fun on all the roller coasters. One of them totally freaked me out though, I seriously thought for a moment I was going to pass out. It was one of those where your feet hang down instead of being in a closed in car. It was still fun but I didn't go on it twice! The one below wasn't scary but was fun.

After the roller coasters, we all met up at camp Snoopy and spend the rest of the afternoon together!

Russ, Dad, Ashli, Michael, Alli, Summer, Mom, Carol, Hannah, Emily, Ben, and Parker.
We had so much fun as a family!

Ben and Parker on the swinging bridge. They loved rigging around on it. So did I...hee hee!

The log ride is a generational family favorite. It always reminds me of Mema. It was her favorite and i remember her riding it on her 80th birthday. I think that should be a tradition for all of us! It is Mom's fav and I know the rest of us love it as well.

Summer and I rode with Michael and AShli. They are so fabulous to be around. Summer was so nervous, can you tell? She was a trooper though!

Russ, Parker, Hannah, Mom, and Dad were in the log right behind us! Parker and Hannah loved it and went on it several times!

Summer and Hannah are adorable all bundled up. The were both cuddly!
This Christmas tree is HUGE. We watched them turn on the tree lights when it started getting dark. Fun family picture! It got a little chilly at night so most everyone bundled up.

Cute Mom with the kids!

Alli and Summer on the train ride. Summer started feeling sick toward the end of the night but was a trooper! We also all rode the stage coach ride together!

We ended the night with a big dinner at the Chicken House!

Parker by the famous Chicken. I can't believe how well all four kids did all day. They were even good at dinner! True Grizzies!!!! A full day of amusement park fun and they were still kicking!

It was such a fun day! Thanks Dad and Mom for including Knott's Berry Farm in our Christmas Vacation! A lot of fun memories!

Christmas Eve

It was so good to be home for Christmas. We had our traditional Christmas Eve, starting out with fun appetizers.

For dessert, mom made big snowflake sugar cookies. I loved them. They were really pretty also, I'm going to remember them for next year!

After dinner, Dad read the Christmas Story out of the Bible while Parker and Hannah posed as Joseph and Mary. Hannah was very attentive to baby Jesus since it was her Minnie Mouse doll. What is Christmas Eve at home without Dad singing "Oh Holy Night." Emily accompanied him and of course I got a tear in my eye like I always do when Dad sings that song!

Parker and Hannah opened up PJ's and slippers, did a gig by the tree and then we were off to look at Christmas lights. When we got home, the kids put cookies and milk out for Santa and were off to bed.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Morning we woke up to stockings and a delish Christmas breakfast. Mom made a breakfast casserole, fresh fruit salad, and Emily made Mom's maple twist!
Stocking Fun! Always one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Being around Parker and Hannah made Christmas feel more magical. They were so cute and excited about everything.

After stockings we all opened gifts. Parker and Hannah were so excited to see what Santa got them. Parker got a bike and Clifford and Hannah got a doll house and a doll. The adults then took turns so we could see what everyone got. It was a relaxing Christmas morning. Thanks everyone for my gifts, I loved everything!

Look at all the presents!! It was so great being with so much family on Christmas!

Hannah is so pretty! I chose the one without her smiling, I think it is so cute! She has naturally red lips...man that would be a dream :)

Emily and Russ

Ashli playing with Christmas Toys! Showing the boys how it is done! GO ASHLI!

Mom relaxing after all the festivities of the day including making a delicious Christmas dinner! She is wearing the cute apron that Ashli and Michael gave her! It was a very Merry Christmas! Thanks Mom and Dad for a great Christmas weekend!
P.S. Of course while in Ridgecrest we took a few trips to the drive through dairy and also had breadsticks and peanut butter pizza. Crest was closed the majority of the time...whats up with that? Not that I needed a donut after all the great Christmas food :) Oh, we also play FARKLE almost every night....we miss you Steve and Jaime. Next fam event we need to convert everyone!

Ashli took this cute picture of the kids with her fancy new camera lense. Soooo cute!
Happy New Year! I hope 2010 is a fabulous year for everyone!

Birthdays

Happy Birthday Parker, Ashli, and Ethan!!!I love you all!!!!

Christmas Celebration

We decided to get together to have a holiday celebration since Michael, Ashli and I will be going home for Christmas so won't be spending time with Steve, Jaime and family. We decided to do the tradition of appetizers. They were all yummy.

After appetizers, the kids each opened a Christmas Present. I sure do love spending time with the kids and will miss Steve and Jaime on Christmas Eve!

Michael, Ashli, and Steve straightening the Christmas Tree. I love how Jaime decorated the house. It was nice and festive!

It was a fun night. I'm so glad that I live so close to family! We also celebrated Ashli and Ethan's Birthdays!