Christmas in AZ

This year we stayed home for Christmas. It was a little quite but nice to be home. Camie really enjoyed Christmas this year. She was so excited to see all the presents. We also made some cookies the night before and left a note to thank Santa. She was really excited to see the cookies have been eaten and that Santa had let a note telling Camie and Blake that they have been good. That afternoon we went to my Aunt's house in Mesa and had dinner and opened a few more presents.
Blake was really only interested in eating the wrapping paper. Good thing his sister LOVES to unwrap all the presents!


We finally just let Blake play in all the paper! HE loved it!

Camie's 1st Dance Recital

Camie had her first dance recital last night. She was excited to wear make-up. I told her I was going to put her hair in a bun and she said, "no Mommy, I don't want food in my hair". I'm not sure if she knew what a recital was. I explaned that she would be on stage and the curtains would open and she would see lots of people and to make the people smile she would have to dance for them. I didn't know if she would just freeze up. Camie, Bryn, Addisyn and a few other girls just danced around the stage doing what ever they wanted. It was so cute. Before she went on stage, Angie was telling me that she started crying and saying, "Did I miss the stage?". She was so worried that she missed being on stage. For anyone who knows her, she sure does love and I mean LOVES to be the center of attention!! They danced to "Rudolph the red nose reindeer".
TO SEE THE VIDEO CLICK HERE

Photography practice and Tree decorating!

We've made it a tradition to video tape the kids decorating the tree. Here are a few photos as well.



I guess we wore Blake out!

Gingerbread Nights and Big 12 Championship

Last weekend Steve and his brother Rob flew to Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship game. For those of you like me, that's a college football game. I guess a big deal. Anyway, Dr. Pepper sponsored it so you know Steve and Rob got the hook up. Everything was taken care of for them, flight, hotel, food, entertainment. All they had to do was just show up. I was excited for them to go but not excited for me to be left behind. If Blake wasn't nursing I would have gone.
My friend Kate and I took our kids to Glendale's Gingerbread nights. I guess they change the theme each weekend. It was a lot of fun. It was really crowded though. I was nice to see a community come out and have fun together. They had a lot of vendors for fair type junk food. They had "The Grinch that stole Christmas" playing on a huge screen out doors, many kid dancers on stage, bounce houses and slides, free crafts, and of course Santa Clause. It was a fun night. Thanks Kate for telling us about it and inviting us we had a blast.
This picture was pitch black but with photoshop was able to lighten it.

It was a long wait to see the 'Big Guy' but it was worth it. He was the nicest Santa I have ever met!!

Blake was as happy as could be. Considering he was stuck to his mama the whole night.

Waiting in line to see Santa.


These are their seats, 3rd row from the field.

Dr. Pepper Tailgate Party.

That's a whole lotta Dr. Pepper!

Thanksgiving Weekend catch up

We went to Steve's parents house in southern California for Thanksgiving this year. It was actually the first Thanksgiving we had with them since both kids have been born. It was a lot of fun and we sure kept busy. Steve's mom always has fun stuff to do with the kids. They sure do enjoy their grandparents!!! Camie is like glue to her Grandma from the time we arrive from the time we left. Here is what our weekend looked like. . .
We left Wednesday morning. We had to wait for Steve to arrive home from the airport. He was in Denver Monday and Tuesday to go to the ACDC concert with some clients from work. (I know, poor kid, huh!) We arrived in Cali Wednesday evening. Both kids were excellent in the car ride. That evening Steve's mom and I made the pies and did as much as we could so Thursday wouldn't be to hectic.
Thursday we had a lovely dinner with Steve's parents, his Grandparents, sister Melinda, bro-in-law, Scott, and brother, Rob. Camie enjoyed playing jacks with her Great Grandma Hulterstrom.

Just watching some football. I love Camie's face in this one.

Blake loved all the attention.

Thanksgiving night we all went bowling. I was funny to see Camie's ball slowly go down the alley. She was so excited to hit some pins. This is the pose she did after every throw.

The next day Camie and Grandma made a gingerbread house.


On Saturday we went to see Bolt. Camie loved it and I thought is was such a good movie. It held our interest just as much as it did Camie's.


We left for home on Sunday. It was a fun weekend.

Love these kiddos

The REASON for the SEASON

picturecourtsey of deseretbook.com
At relief society (a church meeting) today we talked about the reason for the season and getting back to the meaning of Christmas. I really enjoyed this lesson and felt the spirit so strongly. After church today and also hearing a few days ago of the death of a man in a Walmart that was trampled to death by shoppers on 'Black Friday', I wished we could all just get back to what the season is really all about, the Savior, Jesus Christ. How sad for that family, when this is supposed be the best time of year. How sad it is that people had to wait all night and then act rudely and violently to get a material gift. What would have Jesus thought about all those shoppers? The season is about service, sharing, giving and caring. I want to post this poem that was read at church.

The Stranger

At Christmas time there was a man who looked so out of place,

as people who rushed about him at a hurried sort of pace.

He stared at all the Christmas lights, the tinsel everywhere,

The shopping centre, Santa Claus, with children gathered near.

The Mall was packed with shoppers who were going to and fro,

Some with smiles and some with frowns and some too tired to go.

They rested on the benches or they hurried on their way,

to fight the crowd for purchases to carry home that day.

The music from a stereo was playing loud and clear of Santa Claus,

and snow men, and a funny-nosed reindeer.

He heard the people talk about the good times on the way,

Of parties, fun, and food galore, and gitfs exchanged that day.

"I'd like to know what's going on," the man was heard to say,

"There seems to be some sort of celebration on the way.

"And would you tell me who this is, all dressed in red and white?

And why are children asking him about a special night"?

The answer came in disbelief, "I can't believe my ear!

I can't believe you do not know that Christmas time is here,

The time when Santa comes around with gifts for girls and boys,

When they're asleep on Christmas, he leaves them books and toys".

"The man you see in red and white is Santa Claus, so sly,

The children love his joyful laugh and twinkle in his eye.

"His gift packed sleigh is pulled along by very small reindeer,

As he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there.

"The children learn of Santa while they are still quite small.

When Christmas comes, he is the most important one of all."

The stranger hung his head in shame, he closed a nail-pierced hand.

His body shook in disbelief; he did not understand.

A shadow crossed his stricken face, his voice was low but clear,

"After all these year, they still don't know."

And Jesus shed a tear.

- Author Unknown

Oceanside, CA 2008

(Warning- this is going to be a LONG post)
This year we used one of our timeshare weeks in Oceanside, CA. Mainly to go to Disneyland and Sea world and Oceanside is right in the middle of Anaheim and San Diego. Here is what our week of fun looked like. We left early Saturday morning, Nov. 1st. We drove about 6 hours to our resort. It was nice that is was only a short walk to the beach. We arrived about 4pm and Scott and Melinda (Steve's sister and bro-in law) were able to meet us there. Sherry (Steve's sister) also was able to meet us there and we had pizza while Camie played Melinda and Sherry. It was a relaxing to stay in that night from all the traveling.
On Sunday we went to visit one of Steve's childhood friends that lives in the area. They had a baby around the same time Blake was born. He is such a cutie. It was cute to see the two babies
together.


On Monday we went to Sea World. It was the first time for Camie and Blake. Steve and I haven't been there since we were really young. Steve's parents met us there. Camie liked the rides they had. She liked watching the dolphin and whale shows but it didn't hold her attention long enough and she was dancing in her isles. She really enjoyed when the whales and dolphins jumped up high. I took Camie through an exhibit while Steve and his dad went on a ride and his mom watched Blake. She had fun looking at all the things they had in there. There was a little cave she could crawl in and at the end of it a polar bear (just the sound) would make a loud growl. She got so scared and thought it was real. Poor kid. At the end of of the exhibit you have to walk out into a souvioner shop. We were looking in the shop and I told Camie she could have a Shamu stuffed toy when Daddy got off of his ride because he had the money. Anyway, Camie ended up going back through the exhibit with her Grandma and when they ended up in the store Camie went right over to the Shamu toy, ripped the tag off and said, "this is my Millon". She already named the whale. Grandma ended up buying the toy because she ripped the tag off. I guess it's my fault since I did tell her she could have the whale.


The flamingos were being herded across the park. It was a sight to see.






The power of the whales are amazing. It takes a lot of trust to do this. Don't know if I would be up for the job.


After a long day at Sea World we went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with Steve's parents. It was a fun day.

On Tuesday we just hung out at the beach and took some family photos. The water was really cold, but Camie didn't seem to mind one bit. She jumped right in and didn't want to come out. That evening we went to Steve's uncle's house for dinner. Camie got to play with their 3 boys.
On Wednesday we woke up early and headed off to Disneyland. Camie remembers "It's a small world after all" ride from last year and she just kept singing the song the whole way there. She calls it the boat ride with all the dolls. It was sad to see that the ride was closed for the day. Steve's mom meet us at Disneyland. We were glad she could make it.
Here's Camie waiting to go on the first ride of the day, Nemo.


Blake loved the Buzz Lightyear ride.







Camie LOVED the Disney Playhouse Live Show.
We ate dinner at a Mexican place in disneyland and they had really hot sauce. After taking a few bites of it, Steve's mom said, "my mouth is on fire!". Camie told her to open her mouth so she could see the fire. Too cute.
It's funny because Camie was going strong the whole day without a nap. We got there when it opened and stayed until 8pm when it closed. As soon as we told her it was closed she got in the stroller and passed out. It didn't take long.

That night we went to Sherry's house and stayed the night there. We were all so tired. Camie found Sherry's Halloween costume and tryed it on. She was a Pez machine.

On Thursday we met Steve's Grandparents for breakfast. Then we went over to their house for a visit. Grandpa and Steve wanted to get a picture of all of us but Camie didn't want to so she just hid under the table. It was cute at first because she has never done that before, she usually enjoys being the center of attention.

We then went to Rose Hills cemetery where some of our relatives are buried and put fresh flowers on their plots.
We then went back to Oceanside where Melinda came and hang out for a while. This is the view from our room.

On Friday we went to Lego Land. Camie had a lot of fun. There were soooo many legos.



Camie kept getting passed by all the other drivers. she kept her cool though.




This ride was pretty intense! It threw us around like dolls. I couldn't wait for it to be over. It was fun in the begining.


We packed up and headed for home on Saturday. We are exhaused! We did all three amusement parks for a grand total of . . . . . $50 total for the four of us!