Build A Bear

Christmas Eve in California, we spoiled the kids by getting them their own Build a Bear at Downtown Disney. (This is a HUGE splurge for us-we don't go to Build a Bear very often. Once a year is GENEROUS. But heck-its Christmas time!) Sophie was asleep so cousin Ian made her bear.

(with Christmas a month ago-Charlie plays with his Dino the MOST)

Breakfast with a view

The weather finally got nice. Breakfast was eaten with the ocean as the backdrop. Beautiful. oh-this totally spoils my kids!!

Christmas Carolers

The time share hosted a family night with a craft for the kids and carolers. It was a fun night to get us in the holiday mood.

(okay-ashley doesn't look too happy but it was enjoyable)

Swim in California in December

It did get warm enough to swim in California in December.

Yes-it was a nice walk up these stairs to the pool!

Disneyland & California Adventure

Random pictures-in no particular order-see caption under pix

The poncho's got SO wet, we had to hang them to dry at the end of the day.

Lunch w a poncho on. We were lucky to get a covered table for lunch one day.

PB & J was a $$money$$ saver this trip. The kids ate those for lunch at the parks. That saved some money. Then they had a few bites of our lunch. smart move.

Lunch in a poncho strapped in the stroller. poor girl.

Shuttle ride back to the parking lot (above & below)

We saw the Aladdin show in California Adventure to get warm & out of the rain.

Ashley & Ian on the California Screamin'

Connie (MIL)& myself-waiting for Ian & Ashley to come past on the roller coaster.

King Triton's Carousel

Christmas in California

New adventure: Why did we decide to go to California in December? DRIVE there none-the-less!! Those were my thoughts as we traveled south on Interstate 15 between the hours of 6-8am ish. (we left at 4:45 am-ish or close to that-some aweful time) We were driving on snow packed roads in the dark. We already encountered a snow plow baracade in Utah county and construction (btw-i don't like utah county) I am hoping we wouldn't slide off or crash! And I was just the passanger. We didn't crash or slide off and it was a huge relief when the snow stopped. But the drive south to California included rain and FOG. So note to self---->um don't count on mother nature to help you with beautiful weather as you begin vacation. The drive to Newport Beach, California took longer than expected, but we made it!

Fog in San Bernardino

RAIN RAIN RAIN

We encountered rain the first few days of our trip. We survived, but we got wet, and didn't ride as many rides as we used too. The rain made for shorter trips to Disneyland, but hey-we go there a lot, so good thing. We rode our favorite, favorite rides, and still had a memorable time. I don't have a water-resistant camera-or else there would have been more pictures at the park. We were the skittles group with yellow and orange poncho's.

December

We made it to see Santa! We met our nice neighbor, who works at the care center less than 2 blocks from our house, and he invited us over for their Christmas party for the employees, families, and the tenants of the care center. We had some dinner, saw Santa, and the kids got a small present. It was fun for the kids to see the inside of the care center that we walk past a LOT. It was also very nice to meet our neighbor and for him to invite us.

A new place to live brings new challenges. The couches we had downstairs were not really working for the size and design of the TV room. We had no room for the treadmill and it felt real cramped with the sofa, love seat, and recliner. We decided to get a new couches & sell the others to some friends. We got a nice brown leather sectional from RC Willey that fits the room much better. Here are the kids playing on the couch pieces still wrapped up. There is now room for the treadmill.

The second graders at Bountiful Elementary put on a Christmas program about Christmases Around the World. The kids worked hard on the songs, and memorizing their parts. It was a cute program.

Charlie attends preschool and his preschool did a Christmas program too. Here is my cute boy singing! He has a great teacher and LOTS of students. Its a full time job! He loves preschool. He learns so much!

After Charlie's Christmas Program we attending Aunt Nattalie's graduation. Unfortunately I only got pictures of Sophie & I out in the hall. Nattalie graduated as a registered nurse from Salt Lake Community College. We are proud of her & Jake & Cooper-its hard work! It brought back many memories of our journey with Jimmy and his schooling.

After the graduation, we had to finish packing so we could hit the road to California!

Cali Teaser

So I hope to get the blog updated with December events-in the mean time----here are a few pix from our Christmas trip to California.

Christmas Eve in the condo @ Newport Beach, California

Rain Rain & Rain in Disneyland the first few days we were there.
So much rain-I didn't want to take any pictures while we were at the park. These pix of Soph & Char is when we were on the shuttle bus back to the parking lot.

The family picture in California Adventure. *NO PONCHO's* The rain finally stopped on Wednesday.