Christmas 2009

I finally got my computer back and working. I was without my computer for 3 weeks and it was a LONG three weeks. So, I feel like I've got a lot of updating to do. We'll start with Christmas. It was a good year and we were very blessed this year. Santa was a very generous this year to us. Here is the tree after Santa left the presents.

This is Charlottes first Christmas. Here she is in front of the tree on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come. She did very well with never pulling anything off the tree. She actually never went near it. It was the 4 1/2 year old that couldn't leave the tree alone!
David was very excited about finding this hat that actually fit his head. He mentioned months ago that he wanted it, but it slipped my mind until a few days before Christmas. Luckily I was still able to get one. And he was most excited about the Bose ipod docking station Santa brought him.
Carmen was the most excited that morning. Her excitement was overwhelming at times and we had to keep telling her to calm down. It was fun to see how happy she was about each new thing.
We thought it was going to be a long morning when Aliza came down the stairs and immediately started crying when she saw her new bike. It wasn't the one she wanted. It was purple (her favorite color), but she had told Santa she wanted a pink one. (I really had no idea she had a color preference) And to be honest, when I bought the bike, I had no idea what color it was until we opened it to put it together. But she soon forgot about the bike and got excited about the other presents. She insisted I take a picture of every present she opened. However, it's almost a full week after Christmas and she has yet to touch the bike....

Since it is the new millennium and we live in the day of technology, I feel it's safe to post our Christmas letter on my blog instead of addressing countless envelopes and spending money on stamps. For those of you who are faithful blog readers of mine, this is for you. For those who haven't embraced the modern world, they can consider themselves uninformed.

This year, 2009, has brought some really exciting things. The year started with a wonderful girls weekend away with two good friends to Vegas. We slept in, ate a lot of good food, pampered ourselves and watched some good shows. The past two years I've gotten a trip away by myself. The year before I went to the Grand Canyon with my dad. This is a great little tradition that I think should be carried out every year!

Carmen turned 4 this year and started her second year of Joy School. She's not so excited about it this year. All she can think about is going to Kindergarden!!! The other day I asked her why she was so excited about kindergarden. She said "because they have free play!". I explained to her that Joy School has free play as well. But apparently she went with our neighbor one day to pick up her son from kindergarden and she thought that that free play looked way more fun. I hope she's not too disappointed when she really does get to go. Carmen also participated in swimming and soccer this summer. She really found a new love for both of these activities and will most likely do them again. The most exciting thing for her was learning to ride her two wheel bike this summer. And she's fast!

Aliza turned three this year and started her first year of Joy School. She loves going to school! And she is so excited each day to tell me everything they did at school. She also got potty trained and moved to a big girl bed. Her most exciting adventure this year was going to Disneyland for her birthday. Aliza is our funny girl. She says and does the funniest things that always leave us laughing!

And this year we welcomed Charlotte into our family! Charlotte was born in March and is now 9 months old. She is crawling and pulling herself to standing. She is so much fun and her big sisters love her a little too much. Being mommy to three girls has it's challenges and drama, but it's really so great!

David has been very busy this year with his church responsibilities and with work and school. He graduated from University of Phoenix this year and we are all feeling a huge relief that he is done. I know he feels a big sense of accomplishment to be done with school and I am so proud of him for finishing something that was such a challenge for him. He's been serving a lot with the Boy Scouts/Young Men at church. He attended Woodbadge a few months ago. He has 18 months to complete 5 "tickets" to become Woodbadge certified. He also recieved the Spark Plug award from the area BSA council for his dedication to the program. He was also offered a promotion at work that he is excited and nervous about. This promotion will require us moving back to Virginia within the next year. This continues to be a very heartbreaking decision for us to make this move, but we feel it's right. We love it where we are now and really don't want to leave California. We continue to pray that we will find comfort in our decision and that we will be surrounded by new wonderful friends.

Me, well I've been busy helping my family do all of the above. A mother and wife's job is to support her family in their accomplishments. I also managed to have several fun photo sessions this year. And continued to take endless pictures of my children. We traveled a couple of times this year. We went to Disneyland when Charlotte was just 10 days old! And again last month for Aliza's birthday. We also went to Muir Woods to see the giant red wood trees. And we went on our family camping trip to Lake... something or other. I can't remember the name of the place. We also had individual visits from my sister, mom and dad. It was fun to have them each by themselves. Sarah came when I had the baby to help out. She was such a great help. Mom came with Peyton and the girls had so much fun with Oma and their cousin. And Dad came to do projects. The biggest one being painting our entire house!

I have felt so blessed all year long for my many blessings. Heavenly Father has truly been generous to us this year. I'm grateful for my knowledge of the plan He has for us. I know the purpose of my life and strive each day to fulfill it. And most of all, we are grateful for each of you who have touched our lives in some way. Our family sends Holiday Greetings your way and wish you all a Happy New Year!

A Birthday in Disneyland

This year Disneyland had a promotion that you could get in free on your birthday. So, we took Aliza for her 3rd birthday and I can't think of a more fun place to be on your special day. You get a button that says it's your birthday and every where you go, the cast members say "Happy Birthday Princess". It was so cute and so fun! Aliza also wore a birthday girl shirt, which was good since she didn't care for the button all that much.

This was our visit to Pixie Hollow to meet TinkerBell. They both insisted on waiting in the 40 min. line to get to meet her. It was worth it. She was so nice and even taught Aliza how to use her magic wand the proper way.
This is where we waited for the bus each morning to take us from the hotel to the park.
Our first day there was also the first day the park was open with all the Christmas decorations up. This was our attempt at a nice picture in front of the tree on Main St.
The first ride we had to go on was "It's a Small World". That's Aliza's favorite ride and since it was her birthday, we had to do what she wanted.

Then she wanted to ride the Tea Cups. David won't go on this ride, it makes him too dizzy.
The girls trying to get the sword out of the stone.
The Christmas parade. I have NEVER seen Aliza so excited as she was during this parade. Although the picture doesn't really show it, she was beside herself with excitement at each new character that passed. That small moment was my most favorite part of the whole trip, to see her so happy and so excited.
Getting ready to go on the Finding Nemo ride.
For the first time, Aliza got money for her birthday, so she brought it to spend at the park. She bought a new TinkerBell doll.
Sleeping Beauties castle all lit up with lights and snow.
And of course we had to go visit Santa at his house in the North Pole.
It was a great trip and very memorable. I'm so grateful that we can do things like this as a family.

The Spark Plug Award

This past week David received a special award from his Scouting Roundtable Council. (I think that's what it's called) He received the "Spark Plug" Award for being energetic, enthusiastic and for jump starting scouting in his area. He has been instrumental in "jump starting" the Varsity program in his troop. This is a great program for older boys to continue in scouting and various adventures. (ok so I don't really know all the details of the program) I am so proud of the hard work he has put in to this program. Although I have given him a very hard time and often been less than supportive in the number of hours he has spent with Boy Scouts, I am very proud of his efforts. I know he is making a great impact on very impressionable boys who look up to him as an excellent example of service, integrity and spirituality.

The girls were excited for their Dad, they wanted to be with him as he got his award.

"Varsity Scouting is part of the Boy Scouting program of the BSA. It is an alternative available to boys ages fourteen through seventeen that takes the basic Boy Scouting program and adds high adventure, sporting, and other elements that are more appealing to older youth to accomplish the aims of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Varsity Scouts are organized into teams, which are separate chartered units from a Boy Scout troop."

Aliza's pre-birthday party

Aliza's birthday isn't for another 6 days, but we had to celebrate a little early this year. David was leaving today to go out of town and we are meeting him later this week to go to Disneyland for her birthday. So we did family presents today and will celebrate her actual special day surrounded by the magic of Disney. And she will have a friends party after we get back.

She kept saying over and over how the presents were for her, but that she was going to share them with Carmen. This was not prompted from me or David. We were proud that she was so willing to share everything. She got some fun pencils and clothes and a mermaid costume from Oma.
This present was new Ariel panties, which she also wanted to share with Carmen!

Carmen and I went birthday shopping together for a present for Aliza. I gave her $5 to pick something out herself that would be from her. After much deliberating she finally decided on a princess white board and some bubble gum lip gloss. (which she had to get one for herself as well) She wrapped them herself and was so excited for Aliza to open them. And of course, Aliza loved them!

Her present from us was a set of all the Disney Princess Barbies, even the newest one, Tiana. She was excited to have them all and was mostly worried about Charlotte getting them. She was willing to share with Carmen, but not with Charlotte. The first thing she did when she opened the box was put all their shoes in a plastic baggie so Charlotte would not put them in her mouth!

Our little party was VERY rushed. David got home from meetings after church at 2:00 and had to leave at 3:00 to catch his airplane. So in an hours time, I baked a cake, made mashed potatoes and gravy to go with our roast. Then we sat down and had a nice sunday dinner, opened presents and had FHE. Then I decorated the cake (don't mind the Christmas sprinkles and plate) and we sang happy birthday, ate a slice and David was out the door in a hour. (Oh he also packed his bag for his trip during this hour as well) It was a fun time, but left my kitchen looking like a tornado hit it! And I don't plan on touching anything until tomorrow! I will post more birthday celebrations as they come in the next two weeks!

Charlotte - almost 8 months

Charlotte is growing so fast, it almost makes me want to have another baby, just to have a newborn again....ok, maybe not so much! She is starting to get into the stage that I love! She is exploring so much and becoming more independent each day.

One day David was holding her while eating an apple and she grabbed it right out of his hands and started eating away at it. I set her in her chair and let her continue to eat, which she did for almost an hour!! Today I really needed her to just be entertained and not need me while I got a few things done. I remembered the apple and how much she liked it. This time I peeled it for her and handed it right over. She ate the entire thing!!!

Here she is crawling around with Carmen. Carmen is almost always by her side, despite Charlotte's protests. She has even gone up the first stair a couple of times. She is starting to pull herself up and go from laying down to sitting by herself.

She is always on the go, just like her Dad. She has a hard time sitting still for even a minute and although she is constantly wanting to be held, she is impossible to hold. As soon as you pick her up, she squirms right out of your arms. She's got places to go and things to put in her mouth!

Halloween - 2009

I've decided Halloween is such a silly holiday. What is the point of it? Really, it's one I could do without. However, here are pictures of my adorable children ready for Trick or Treating.

Charlotte as a Flower

Aliza as TinkerBell

Carmen as Minnie Mouse

It was next to impossible to get a picture of all three of them looking decent. Carmen even only has half her costume on in the last picture. After going to a few houses, we came home and all sat on the porch to hand out candy with David. We even had a sing off with our neighbors who were sitting on their porch passing out candy as well. It felt good to be together like that. Maybe that's what Halloween is meant to be about. Being with your family and enjoying each other's company.

Carmen

Each of my girls are so unique and wonderful in their own ways. Carmen Ruth is very affectionate and motherly. She is also a good leader, sometimes a little bossy, but what big sister isn't. I saw a picture just like this one in a book on secrets to motherhood and took inspiration from it. We had the same princesses and Carmen LOVES to take in the bathtub. So, of course I had to recreate the same picture I saw in the book.

She begs to take a bath every day, sometime two or three times day. Just so she can play in the water with her princesses. These are the one toys we could not live without!

Aliza

My Aliza Kate is our funniest child. She says the funniest things all the time. And yet she is so sweet. Here she is showing a spider that we made one day for a Halloween craft.

And I took this picture because I have so many friends who do amazing things with their little girl's hair. I have to admit to being a little jealous that 1.) I don't have girls who will let me even brush their hair, much less put a bow or anything else in it and 2.) I severely lack the talent to make hair look cute. However, Aliza has turned a new leaf and will now let me do her hair (this week anyway). So this hairdo was completely impromptu and also my very first attempt ever at making her hair into a cute hairdo. I have to say it turned out cute for my first time. Next time I will do the parts better.

Charlotte

Lastly, my Charlotte Grace. She is so beautiful and funny and loving. I love her curls in this first picture.

She has started sticking her tongue out and she knows it's so funny because we laugh at her so much, she keeps doing it!
And this last picture was just a great capture! I couldn't have planned it. I was taking pictures of her sticking out her tongue and this fly landed right on her nose! Her eyes are crossed trying to look at it.

Camping in the Backyard

Last week we were all a little sick, so David stayed home from a scouting camp out. I guess he was feeling a bit deprived, so he wanted to camp out in the backyard. We made s'mores (on the grill) and played Old Maid in the tent. Then Charlotte, Aliza and I promptly went inside to each sleep peacefully in our own beds. David and Carmen roughed it out all night long in the tent.

Somehow the s'mores just weren't the same as over a camp fire.... :o)

Pumpkin Carving

Let the ghosts and goblins come out, our pumpkin has been carved, so Halloween can officially come. Carmen designed it herself, David cleaned the guts out and I cut out the face. Aliza just wanted to draw on some paper with the marker.

Aliza thought the inside was pretty gross!

All lit up outside on the front porch.
I told Carmen she had to hold really still so I could get my ISO low enough to get the light of the pumpkin and still be able to see her, and not have her turn out blurry. She held very still and she turned out perfect, but the pumpkin looks a little scary.
After we were done, we did our family's new favorite thing to do - lay on a blanket and look at the stars. We've done it many times the last few months and the girls really seem to love it. I even saw a shooting star tonight!