Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!! I can't believe it is this time of year again. It seemed like just yesterday we were getting last years christmas pictures done with our two screaming kids down at the beach. I guess when you are running after two active boys all day long the days pass by quick. We have had a wonderful 2008 and look forward to our adventures in 2009. We love all our family and friends and are so blessed to have you in our lives. We are grateful for this time and year and the opportunity to rejoice in the birth of our Saviour. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mr. Potato Head and Buzz Lightyear

This year for Halloween we decided to dress the boys up like characters from Jake's favorite movie Toy Story. Jake is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear. The day we got his costume he had to put it on in the store. After we got Jake's costume we we trying to decide what character Caden would be. I really wanted him to be Mr. Potato Head but I couldn't find a costume anywhere. So with my mom's help I made my first Halloween costume. I was so happy with how it turned out and I think Caden made one cute Potato Head.

For Halloween Huntington Beach closes main street downtown and sets up a little carnival. The had pony rides, bouncy castles, petting zoo, etc..and all the local business handed out candy. Jake had such a fun time and the best part was it is all free..you just have to get down there early before it gets too busy.

Jake trying on Caden's costume...they are about the same size

Carving Pumpkins

Jake has been so obsessed with pumpkins this year. Whenever we would drive by someone's house with pumpkins or Halloween decorations he would freak out. He loved this night carving pumpkins with our friends.

The beginning of October we went to Beaumont to Riley Farms. It is an apple picking farm. While there you can pick different kinds of apples to take home, also the have an apple press to make fresh apple cider, and a small pumpkin patch. Jake had a lot of fun picking out pumpkins and making cider. It was a great little family outing.

Mika McDonald, Jake, Emily Schuman

Jake sorting apples

Jensen's and McDonalds washing apples

Making apple cider

Caden doing a taste test of the apples

Family Picture

Caden (1yr)

Jake (2 1/2)

Neil Diamond

In October Matt and I and several friends went to the Neil Diamond concert in LA. We had so much fun. My love for Neil started at a young age, since I usually listened to what my mom did I hear a lot of Neil Diamond, Barry Manalow, and Kenny Rogers. I actually performed my 4th grade talent show dance to "Coming to America"..I wish I had a picture of my sequence dance outfit with fringe gloves . Anyways Neil is still rocking it strong and as we were leaving the concert we had a little celeb sighting...for those of you who are not up on your teen drama..she is the mom of the rich bratty girl on the new Beverly Hills 90210

Love my boys

This past week we celebrated Caden's first birthday and it was such a shocker how fast time goes by. I wanted to take just a second to jot down some of my favorite things my boys do so I don't forget them.

Jacob

• His favorite toy is Buzz light year and he will run around the house shouting "to infinity and beyond"
• He love to be outdoors whether that is going to the park, swimming at a friends, or to the beach.
• I think I am officially in the mist of the terrible two's...he has several temper tantrums a week and his favorite word is "MINE"
• Everyday Jake wakes up hungry. He comes in my room wakes me up saying mama eat, eat, eat.
• He is truly a boy. His more little legs are so bruised, scratched and scrapped.

Caden

• Caden has the best army crawl of all time. He is so fast and has little callouses on his toes from pushing him around.
• He is quiet the talker he will say..mama, dada, no no, ba ba, hi, bye bye, night night. Isn't it funny how babys say everything twice.
• Caden love to eat. What every I put down in front of him he shovels in his mouth. I don't think he has ever refused anything.
• He is obsessed with my cell phone and he always manages to unlock the key pad or turn it on.

Happy Birthday Caden

I can't believe my baby is one. It has gone by so fast. We had a pretty low key birthday for him this year. On Saturday we had some friends over for cake and ice cream. I was going to be adventurous and make a cake but got tired and found this cute little one at Albertson..(FYI I guess you pre order a one year old birthday cake from Albertsons its free). Caden was so funny he didn't know what was going on. I love the look on his face below when everyone was singing to him. He loved the cake as you can tell from the picture. I think Jake felt like it was more like his 2 1/2 birthday then Caden's first birthday. All the presents Caden got Jake got so excited would take it away and say "mine". Good think Caden is so mellow he would just find something else.

Fall Fun

We have been able to do a lot of fun things with the kids the past month. One of my favorite is going to the Santa Ana zoo. It is a really small zoo but perfect for a 2 yr old with a very short attention span. It is only $2 also so if he throw a little temper tantrum you are not out much money. Jakes favorite things to do there are feed the goats and ride the train.
Jake with his friends on the train
Our other favorite fall activity is to go to Disneyland. The temperature has cooled down plus all the it is usually not busy because everyone has done there summer vacations and school kids are back in school. Jake is obsessed with Buzz lightyear. His favorite ride is the new toystory ride and he love to watch the Pixar Parade.

Visitors

This fall we have had some fun visitors. In September our good friends the Larkins came down to go to Disneyland and the Beach. Sunday they came over to our house we had a BBQ then drove down the the beach and walked around. On Monday we met up with them at Disneyland and had a good time. Jake loves it when he has older kids to play with.

We also had my good friend from scotland, Joan come a visit us for a few weeks. She was in Las Vegas doing a bike ride for charity. She rode 300 miles in 5 days...she is a superstar. While she was here we just relaxed, got pedicures, went to the movie...and she was such a great help with my kids. They really loved having her around.

Dinner Party

A few girls from work thought it would be fun to get together and have dinner parties every few months. We see each other at work a lot but thought we need to to something outside of work. In August we had our first dinner party at my house and it was so much fun. I included some pictures of our night and a recipe of a yummy strawberry cake.



I got this recipe from my friend Rachel...it is so yummy, looks pretty and totally easy
You can make it this way or like a sheet cake topped with the strawberries

1 white cake mix
1 cup strawberry glaze
2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups pwd sugar
8 oz cool whip

Make cake according to directions. In bowl cream together cream cheese and powder sugar; fold in cool whip. Frost cake with frosting; in separate bowl combine desired amount of glaze and strawberries and top frosted cake...Enjoy

We did it!!

Getting ready for the triathlon to start

View of Lake Arrowhead

Starting the bike
Matt at the finish line

Last year Matt and a bunch of guys from our ward did the Lake Arrowhead triathlon. After watching them I really wanted to do it but I thought I would never be able to do it. I am not a swimmer...I don't think I had swam since middle school....I am not a biker...again last time I did a lot of biking was middle school with the banana seat...and I really don't enjoy running, it feels like a chore for me. So I am sure you are wondering like I was...why in the world would I want to do a triathlon when I don't really do any of the three events. Well I guess I just wanted a challenge. Anyways so the beginning of this year I thought I am going to do this. So I started training with a few friends. I started swimming and now I actually enjoy it...I can't say that about running yet. And I bought a used road bike and would ride along PCH which has been an awesome way to get a little alone time out of the house. I was still a little nervous for the race since I had been training at sea level on totally flat ground and swimming in a pool and the course is extremely hilly and the swimming is in a lake....but I did it. I am so glad I did it and it was actually really fun. The best part is I didn't finish last and I beat the time I thought it would take me to do it. Matt did it and was a total rock star. Any ways it was fun to do together and hopefully we can do it next year too.

4th of July

We had a really fun 4th this year. My sister Kathy was still staying with us after our cruise along with her daughter Burgundi. In the morning me and Kathy got up and ran the HB 5k then we went home got ready and headed down to the parade (I hear the HB parade is the biggest this side of the Mississippi). Jake loved it and he definitely has his beauty queen wave down. After the parade we went swimming in a friends pool then that night we had a BBQ at another friends. After the BBQ we all headed down to the beach to watch the fireworks. As you can tell from the pictures below Caden really liked the fireworks but Jake didn't. Jake just sat between Matt's legs and covered his eyes....he did start to warm up at the end and started peeking through his fingers.

Parents 50th Anniversary

This year is my parents 50th wedding anniversary so to celebrate the whole family went on a cruise. We had such a fun time. It was a little crazy getting everyones schedule to match up but all 6 kids and there families were able to go. We spent most of our time relaxing on the boat, but had a few fun days in Mexico. The highlights of the trip was our nightly fancy dinner (I think we all love the chocolate melting cake), my brother-in-law Cameron getting 3rd place in the hairy chest contest, half my family getting hypnotized, and my parents participating in the newlywed game (a little too much info shared). I am so happy we were able to do this with everyone...I think it is something we will always cherish and remember. Here are a few pictures of the trip I need to get some more from my sister.

Me with my parents

Ashley (niece), me, and Susie (sister)

My sister Kathy and me

Dad and my brother Eric
Marylynn (sister-in-law), Lindsey(niece) & Randy (brother)