My Birthday Trip to Texas

I was truly truly blessed to get to spend my Birthday in Texas with my Aunt and Cousin. Heavenly Father sure knew what I needed this year and this was just a great little trip for me. I didn't even think about or be depressed about getting another year older because I was having too much fun spending time with family that I hardly ever get to see. Plus I was spoiled pretty well this year and that always makes Birthday's blissful.

I didn't take a ton of pictures, but I of course made sure to get shots of some of the yummy food I ate. This amazing bruschetta was unlike any I have ever had and it was A-mazing!

My Aunt got me this beautiful, dainty silver necklace that I absolutely love. 

Dessert is a must when it's your birthday!

More than one even. This was just the first.

I had some Christmas and Birthday money, which made for a really fun and definitely splurging shopping day!

And I had to make sure to get a selfie with two of my favorite people!

I got to see my Grandma and go to breakfast with her.

And when I got back to Brittany's house, a sweet friend of mine had ordered me an edible arrangment and had it delivered to my cousins house. It was SO yummy and I gobbled it up. Don't worry, I shared!

Me and little Holland. I love this girl. Even if she did try to push me away. I grew on her and she loved me soon enough.

Oh man my boys would LOVE their cousin Noble. I've got to get them all together some day. Hopefully soon too!

Ah…Blue Bell ice cream. I love you so. Homemade vanilla with Hershey's syrup is my favorite and the only way I waste that many calories on it.

A movie in Brittany's home theater made that ice cream even better. 

Me and my awesome Uncle on New Year's Eve watching Marcin and the kids shoot off fireworks in the backyard. Definitely not like New Years in California. I've never heard so many fireworks go off on a holiday other than 4th of July. It was really fun! 

Marcin's family is a major fireworks family. They use to host a huge town Fireworks show every year for years and years. So he is definitely not shy about letting his kids get in on the action. 

Just a sampling of what we shot off that night.

Yes, I was shivering and everyone else was fine. I don't know why I get so cold all the time now. Old age maybe??? Yikes!

We had a nice chill night hanging out at Brittany's new beautiful home. We watched a movie and toasted to the new year and I went to sleep with the sound of fireworks shooting off outside. It sounded like a war zone. Thankful for another year of health and happiness with a wonderful husband (who let me go on this amazing trip), great kids, a nice home and many creature comforts I enjoy. I am truly blessed. Not only temporally, but spiritually and emotionally as well. I love my little family and am grateful for them!

Happy New Year. May 2016 bring just as much happiness as the last.

The next day I flew safely home to my sweet family who I had to wake up and give hugs and kisses to. I couldn't wait until morning. I missed them. 

Christmas DAY

So apparently, Paul thought I was taking pictures and I thought Paul was taking pictures and really we were both just taking video, so we have almost NO pictures of Christmas Day. HOW sad. But we had a great morning. The kids all seemed happy with their gifts. My Dad spent the day hanging out with us and I made a traditional ham and potato dinner (that I was probably the most excited about but who cares). It's been another successful Christmas season and I'm always a little sad when it comes to an end. I feel like we did a lot this year and while I was busy, I wasn't too stressed (except for that darn gingerbread house making day ugh) and I'm so glad to have these wonderful memories with my kids. I love them and try my best to make the Holidays special and magical for them. I know I'm not perfect at it, but I hope they know I try.

The boys got a BB8, which they were super excited about. Ashlyn got her night stand and Leah couldn't decide what to ask Santa for, so she wanted him to surprise her. She ended up with a nice big GC to spend how ever she wants. Santa knows her well. I'm sure it'll be gone in no time.

One of the big highlights of the day was Brandon's first pet. A hamster he has been wanting for over a year and a half now. He didn't even ask for one for Christmas because I think he had given up hope that I would ever let him have one. That made it all the more fun to get him one because he was TRULY surprised. I loved it. And really….so far, I don't mind having the little guy. As far as a pet goes, it's a pretty simple one to take care of.

Carter's big gift ended up being a new basketball hoop for the backyard that he couldn't wait for Daddy to set up. So Paul and my Dad set right out to putting it together, in the cold weather and all. Carter loves it and is quite the little ball player. 

Here's Q-bert in his new home. He's a little scared, but I think he'll adjust and realize it's a pretty cool little home to have.

The day after Christmas we drove down to San Diego to spend some time with Steve and Chelsea and to see their new house. Steve got each of the kids their own snap circuit set. At first they were kind of confused as to what it was, but once they figured it out, they all fell in love and have been playing with them non stop ever since. They're pretty cool actually and easy to use. It's a total win-win.

Christmas EVE…it's finally here

My yearly Red Velvet Cake. It's my mom's recipe and it's my favorite. I didn't appreciate it when I was a kid. A red cake seemed weird to me. Now it's my most favorite thing and I love making one each Christmas Eve.

We went To Tyler and Heather's house for dinner and cookie decorating. Heather ordered dinner from "Stone Fire" and I brought dessert and drinks. It was all delicious and the kids had fun decorating cookies. They still all get into it…even the older boys (not pictured). Santa does need his sugar cookies after all. We wouldn't want to leave him with nothing to snack on during his stop to our house.

We always try to get a picture of all the cousins together. Paul happened to just be sitting in the area and was about to smile with the kids. Then he realized he was not suppose to be in the picture. We all got a good laugh about it. 

Here they are. Getting all old and everything. Can't believe our first Christmas with Ty as a married man yielded a tiny 2 month old Carter and still cooking twins. 

I love that Heather is always good to remember to get all the right pictures. Love this one of me with my Dad and Brother. 

 Back at home the kids each opened their traditional Christmas Jammies, of which Brandon refused to wear. I don't know why I even wasted the money getting him any. He just wears his regular clothes to bed and then, voila…he's ready to go each morning. 

Carter on the other hand, like his love for his new church suit, not only wanted jammies, but a robe and slippers too. He's gonna be my GQ for sure. He'll probably cost me a lot more too. lol

We read the Christmas story, said prayers and then the kids all snuggled together in Ashlyn's room, as they always do on Christmas Eve. This year, Leah wanted to make sure everyone was super comfy so she made "nests" for her and the boys. They were actually quite adorable, even if they did use every pillow and blanket we had in the house. 

I love that they do this each year and hope it lasts a long time. 

Some good and some bad

Last year the kids shared gingerbread houses and it went great. Couldn't have been better. They all got along, the houses turned out cute and everyone was happy. This year….not so much. Constant fighting and arguing and what piece of candy was going where and who was doing what part. And what was even worse was that I had my friend and her daughter over to make houses with us. Next year I will remember…make everyone their OWN house…even if it takes me all day to bake and cut out those suckers. It will be worth it for my sanity the day of.

Thankfully that night we met up with Paul at the Temple to see the lights and tour around the visitor's center. It was a VERY perfect ending to a tumultuous day and was exactly what I needed to put me back in the Christmas Spirit. I just LOVE the Temple. Even just to walk the grounds and feel the spirit there. It is a remarkable place and we had a lovely time together as a family. We were enjoying the Visitor's Center so much that we got kicked out at closing time. The kids didn't want to leave. That made my heart happy and left me in a much better mood that I had been earlier that morning.

Not a great picture, but you take what you can get when someone is nice enough to stop and take a picture for you.

Holiday in the Park at Magic Mountain

Some days at this park are just NOT fun. Others are super great. This was a super great one. The weather was perfect, the kids were happy, the lines weren't too long and everyone was nice and full from a quick stop at Wendy's on the way in. It was just a great day and I'm so glad I took them even though we had no friends to go with us this day. Sometimes it works out to just be our little family and that's okay. Well….minus Paul cuz it was daytime and he was at work. But you know what I mean.

I couldn't believe the kids wanted to get on this kiddie ride. It was hilarious. I had to snap a picture of them. 

Leah quickly realized it was NOT fun to be locked in a cage that was far too small for her. Luckily it was a short ride. I doubt she'll be a willing participant again. 

Out takes

This picture was very hard to get. Brandon DID NOT want to wear this outfit. There was some serious wailing and gnashing of teeth…from both of us. I finally gave up and told him he could wear his same dumb khaki's and ugly plaid shirt. I was tired of fighting. And then a Christmas miracle happened, and he got dressed…in the outfit I wanted him to wear. Maybe I should concede more often. Actually I learned long ago to not fight him about his clothes. I NEVER win. But it was Christmas Sunday and I wanted him to look nice. Picture nice! I'm quite sure he'll never wear these suit pants and this nice church shirt again. I'm glad I got a picture of it because I think he looks so handsome.

Don't they all look adorable. Almost makes me forget the struggle I had to get them to this point. Almost.

I couldn't decide which one I liked the most, but in the end, Brandon's big smile won and this one ended up on Instagram.

But really…if I want a big happy, WILLING, smile from Brandon, THIS is what he would chose to wear. A plastic bag!

Happy Sunday before Christmas. It's the best one of the year!