Short Visit in Cedar City

We spent a couple of days in Cedar City visiting Tripp's parents earlier in the week. Paul and his family were there as well so Abbie & Daisy got to play with their cousins. They loved every second of it. Isabelle, Seth and even Cooper (with his pneumonia) were so much fun and so good to our girls. It's a shame we don't see them more often.

Daisy was in love with baby Preston. She would constantly give me updates on what he was doing...sleeping, eating, crying. She loved to hold him and watch MamaThom hold him. Again, sad they live so far way because Daisy would love to see a lot more of him. Good thing Aunt Lindsay's baby comes soon.

Thanks MamaThom and PapaThom for your hospitality.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was much anticipated in our house this year. Abbie has been waiting for Santa for a long time and hoping Clyde, our Elf on the Shelf, wasn't tattling on her to the big guy. The kids posed for one photo while waiting for mom to quickly go to the bathroom so we could all come downstairs together.

Santa must be a pretty forgiving and gracious guy because everyone got what they wanted. Kyle received a membership to GameFly and a stocking full of goodies, including the Batman game he wanted. Abbie got two Barbies and a Barbie horse plus a stocking full of other fun things. Even Daisy received something fun (although Santa had a tough time deciding what to get her - she didn't really know how or what to ask for)...a carriage for her baby dolls and a packed full stocking.

After checking out the Santa gifts we moved on to the tree to open gifts from Mom & Dad (one fun thing and two books a piece), Grandma Sandy, Aunt Susie, The Patrick Thompson Family and the Legarzas.

After opening presents we cleaned up and made the short drive to Grandma & Grandpa Marz's for breakfast and more presents. All of us were spoiled by Grandma & Grandpa, Aunts & Uncle. We opened all our gifts then headed to breakfast. After a morning of pure excitement Daisy was a wreck and the other two were dying to get home to try out all their new stuff so sadly, we couldn't hang with my family all day (guess that is what happens with older kids) and had to say goodbye.

We came home, put together Abbie & Daisy's new dollhouse while Kyle played his new video game and Abbie played with everything she could get her hands on. Then we took a cue from Daisy and rested a bit while the kids continued to play downstairs. The rest of the evening was peaceful but all the kids went to bed early that night, totally pooped.

Christmas Eve

Thanks to Lindsay's blog I have a few photos to share from Christmas Eve (we forgot our camera in a mad rush to get out of the house).

Christmas Eve was spent finishing up a 12 Days of Christmas we did this year, dropping off presents to Paul & Laura and getting our first glimpse of baby Preston, then heading over to Grandma & Grandpa Marz's house for dinner. Sam orchastrated a Mexican Feast. Of particular delicious note (although it was all really, really good) were Weston & Lindsay's nachos and Tripp's Carne Asada. Sam burned herself on the oven (note the towel wrapped around her hand - that's not a warm winter muff) for all her organizing effort. Poor Sam. We appreciated all her work even if the oven didn't.

After dinner we headed around the block to the Earl's home. They must be special friends with Santa because as we were visiting, someone knocked on the door and Gary asked Abbie to answer it. I thought she was going to pee her pants she was so started that Santa was on the other side. Santa was very sweet and kind and gave everyone a present on Christmas Eve. All the Marz grandchilden received pjs and the children received movie tickets.
After Santa left we acted out a small navitity with the Earl grandchildren. Thanks Marilyn for sharing your fun costumes (always a hit with my girls...even Kyle got in the spirit).

That night we were all pooped and slept well waiting for Santa to visit us again.

A few more photos...

of Disneyland care of Lindsay's blog. I hope to get to Christmas sometime soon....

A Disneyland Christmas

Monday afternoon we hit the road for the Marz Family day at Disneyland. We left Las Vegas at 12:30 p.m. and didn't arrive in Anaheim until 8:30 that night...yuck. A huge accident on the 15 left us in stand-still traffic for hours. Once we all arrived safely, the cousins ran around in our hotel room for 20 minutes or so to get their wiggles out before bed. 8 hours in a car is way too long (when you are only planning for 4)!

We woke up bright and early the next morning for our magical day. The kids ate the hotel buffet breakfast then we loaded up the car and hit the road for the Happiest Place on Earth.

Tripp made a run for beignets while I stood in line for tickets. Everyone enjoyed Tripp's favorite treat!

After our little jump-start it was go go go all day long. The lines were a little long, didn't count on that, but we missed the rain and had a wonderful time together. We tried to hit rides that everyone would enjoy from the old to the young. Sam was on it as usual and took care of all our fast passes. Kyle was her helper.

We had so much fun hanging out with the entire family. It was Grandma's birthday and she received lots of well wishing from the Disneyland crew and guests alike. Abbie and Daisy loved riding rides with their Aunties and oftentimes argued over which one each would ride with. Abbie and Nate held hands all through the park.

We left Disneyland around 7:30 that evening and made the slow trip back to the car then back home. It felt good to be in our own beds but Tripp and I both were exhausted yesterday.

Lots of wonderful memories. I'll probably have more photos to share once Lindsay posts hers. Thanks again Grandma & Grandpa for treating us all! It was such a fun trip.

Abbie snuggling with Aunt Sam...

Winter Lights Festival

Last night was our annual trip to the Winter Lights Festival at the Springs Preserve. Grandma Sandy came with us last year (yay!) but Kyle was with his mom (boo) so we tried really hard to find a night that our entire family could go together in 2009. It was tough but we finally settled on Saturday (it was really our only option...when did things get so hairy?).

Abbie and Daisy wanted nothing to do with Santa but we were able to at least get this quick photo. Everyone enjoyed the crafts, cookie decorating, train ride and balloon candy canes/swords. It was a little too cold to watch the show but maybe next year. Such a fun event. Lots to do and see and the gardens are decorated so beautifully with holiday twinkle lights. Magical.

Speaking of magical, we are going to decorate our own cookies tonight, hopefully watch a little Muppet Christmas Movie then get ready to head out tomorrow for Anaheim. The Marz family will be spending one magical day at the happiest place on earth Tuesday (Thanks Grandpa & Grandma!!!!!). My kids started counting down this morning. Can't wait!

Sometimes these two really do like each other!!!!

Daisy enjoyed her cookie from Mrs. Claus and both girls were in love with the craft area.

Boarding the Choo Choo Train

A Dance Show, A Band Concert and A Visit With Grandma

We've had a crazy few days and a number of set-backs but also a couple of items to report.

Abbie's winter dance recital was held Monday night. She was ready to roll then burst into tears while waiting for her class to take the stage. It seems she tripped and fell into a few dance friends who then said a few things to her that broke her heart. My big, strong, beautiful girl has a heart of marshmallow fluff and it gets broken rather easily. She didn't recover. I thought she was going to rebound and participate in the tap dance but sadly, she was done for the night. We did, however, get a photo of Ruby shaken her holiday buns. A first. Thanks to everyone that came to watch (our family plus, Grandma Sandy, Lindsay/Wes/Nate, Papa and Paul T.)...sorry you didn't see much this time around.

Tuesday night was Kyle's first band concert. I think all the parents of beginning band were a little worried about what we might find (or hear). Luckily, he has a great teacher and they sounded incredible. Really. It was way too loud for Abbie so she enjoyed the concert with Tripp's hands over her ears but otherwise, very impressive for a group of kids that just picked up their instruments in August. Tripp tried to get a photo of Kyle but the trumpets are in the back and he is rather short so we couldn't make it work. These were taken after the performance.

Grandma Sandy came to visit us over the weekend. She arrived Saturday and left Tuesday morning. Sadly, she ended up visiting on a weekend where: Abbie and I attended the longest birthday party on record, Abbie refused to dance in her recital and cried instead, my plans for our annual gingerbread house failed miserably (breaking two, yes two glue guns - next time I'll just stick to my normal candy glue) and Tripp and I both had terrible stomach aches. However, we did drive through the light display at Sunset Park and it was beautiful. Hopefully next time Grandma visits things will be more in order. Abbie cried all the way to school after we dropped her off at the airport. She loves her Grandma Sandy.

No Longer a Baby Anymore....

Daisy turned two yesterday. It's official, we know longer have a baby in our house. She is getting to be a big, big girl.

Tripp left town well before the sun came up to catch a plane for Chicago so it was up to the rest of us to give Daisy a special day. I tried to take the girls to their favorite place in Vegas, The Leid Discovery Museum, but alas, the nice security guard informed us upon arrival that it remains closed on Mondays. Lots of tears ensued (Abbie was a wreck..."Daisy's birthday has gone to the alligators!") but luckily we are annual pass holders at a couple of Las Vegas museums so we hit the road for the Springs Preserve. The weather was way too cold to enjoy the outside activities but we all had fun inside.
Abbie even talked me into lunch at the Cafe....

That evening, we watched Daisy open the rest of her presents then I gave her a choice between noodles for dinner or Cafe Rio. She was undecided so Kyle decided for her. Off to Cafe Rio we went in the pouring Green Valley rain.

Kyle was an enormous helper at the restaurant and after dinner he and Abbie talked me into cones next door. Each kid enjoyed their vanilla custard cone. Daisy seemed to have a nice day, even if it did "Go to the alligators" as Abbie likes to continue to tell me.

A few things about Daisy at 2 years old:

She finally is above average in both height and weight. She was so tiny for so long both her pediatrician and I breathed a huge sigh of relief today at her annual check-up when she was finally out of the woods. She sleeps well in her big girl bed but can't wait to be big enough to sleep on the top bunk. She is either an enormous ham as shown in the photo at top or a complete and total crying grouch that insists on being held...there is no middle ground for her (it's more grouchy than anything which tires me out!)

She loves: watching TV in her mommy's bed, playing baby dolls, eating, her blankies and stuffed animals, her passie, her daddy and brother, Ruby & Lulu, Nate (for every bit he annoys Abbie, Daisy absolutely adores him), her pillow, Mickey Mouse.

She dislikes: being put down, nursery, being bullied by her sister, being little.

A Birthday Party & St. Nikolaus Visit

We had a small family get together Saturday night for Abbie & Daisy's birthdays. Ruby is both Abbie and I think Daisy's BFF too (she likes to share everything with her big sister) so of course we couldn't celebrate without the Butlers. It was small and simple...Metro for dinner, cupcakes (Abbie wanted princess and Daisy Sesame Street) then presents.

We started the evening off by playing a new game the kids made up that I call "Pile on Kyle". It kept everyone busy while we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Dinner at the little guy table....
Opening presents....

Eating the party favors....

Just being Nate....

Thanks to everyone for coming. It was a crazy busy weekend and a busy night for a few of us (several of us still had Christmas parties and weddings to attend later in the evening) but with Tripp's travel schedule it was the only night we could make it happen.

December 5th St. Nikolaus visits so Kyle put his shoes out and I helped the girls (they fell into bed after the party). The kids decided this year they wanted to make treats and door-bell-ditch them as our act of service (big surprise). We comprised by keeping the treat idea but giving them to some of our less friendly neighbors (that's right, we don't get along very well with a couple of them) and wishing them a happy holiday. This is what their shoes looked like Sunday morning after his visit and before the kids tore into them. Kyle got a book that he had finished by that evening. He totally devoured it on Sunday. Crazy, crazy reader.