Christmas at our house

Caution: Long post Reminder: Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Our family was very blessed this Christmas. Several of our grandparents have gone in together to buy us passes to Disneyland this year. We are all very excited! Also, Santa was truly inspired this year. Even though a Zhu Zhu hamster city could not be found in any store...he brought it to us. I believe we have 7 of these little battery operated hamsters now. Santa also brought the Wii (video game system) to a house that is not heavy into electronics...but will try to be Modern.

Still love opening our stockings to see what Santa put inside. Santa brought everybody a new Hallmark ornament. We wrote on them so we can remember what year we received them. Some of them play music and some even move!

Grandma and Grandpa Ludloff came over for a short visit. They appreciated their gifts that the kids thoughtfully purchased. If you know me, you know I couldn't do what I do without the love and daily support of my parents. They are truly a daily gift.

Libby opened up a cool scientific gift from her cousin Ben. Brooke likes her Japanese building set from cousin Gavin and Sage loves her challenging game from cousin Nathan. She is taking it on our car trip tomorrow. We played Monopoly City for the first time yesterday...it is much more involved than the original (thanks to Lucindos). Staci's biological father also came over for breakfast. He not only opened presents but he helped blow and sweep and rake all the leaves in our yard. We were sweating and very satisfied in the end.

Brooke is showing what she received from Perry. The kids each spent their own money to buy presents for each family member. The school holiday shop really helps their funds go a long way.

Perry is showing off his gift from the Sacramento cousins.

Some years there just seems to be those toys that everybody wants. Chixos...little tiny balls of #?!$^%&^&. You really need some great fine motor strength to keep those things in place. Nana was getting some for Sage, so Brooke and Libby needed some as well. You spray them with water and hope they stay together or you spray them again. Don't even get me started about them rolling away on the ground or the table getting bumped. You do it because they LOVE them :)

Libby and Perry were able to spend Christmas Eve with their biological grandparents and mother. They have a family tradition of going to In-N-Out for dinner. I know most of us are jealous, but you could always adopt the tradition. They spent the night with their mom, so Santa visited them in 2 places...what a swell guy! Libby and Perry were showered with gifts that are very practical. Perry received a digital camera among other things. Libby received many new outfits and a cute pink robe.

Brooke's 6th birthday

Brooke has been celebrating her 6th birthday for about a week now. We started with Grandma and Grandpa Ludloff taking our family on the harbor of lights cruise in Huntington Beach. That was fun and adventurous for us.

Then we went out with all girls to eat at El Torito (kids eat free on Saturdays!) Libby loves the chips so much, I think she may have eaten an entire bowl herself. Brooke loved her chicken dipped in ranch, ketchup or whatever else they had to dip in.

Then we headed to see the Nutcracker at Golden West college in Huntington Beach. It was a full length 2 hour version, but the girls enjoyed it. The sugar plum fairy was fabulous!

Brooke wanted a chocolate chip cookie for her cake.
She helped pick out all the decorating tools and she went at it. She wanted to draw a "Fairytopia fairy" on it with pink frosting.
She is all dressed up because we attended a musical Christmas program that night (Lee, Perry and Libby all performed).
Our nights are filled just as much as our days. Today Brooke went shopping with Grandma Suzette, Sage and Mommy. She found a few things that she liked, but mostly a chipmunk that she named "Flower". The chipmunk sat inside the "Frog princess purse" she got to watch the movie. We went to go see that after the shopping. Sage and Brooke ate big circular lollipops during the show. Yesterday, she enjoyed playing a new Leapster game she received from Uncle Scott. Isn't it great to be six! She still has birthday money to spend from her Nana, but I thought she did great at shopping.

Cabrillo Aquarium Field Trip

Sage and Libby were able to go on a field trip to this hands-on museum because parents drove them out to San Pedro where it is located.

Excellent learning opportunities for the children. They broke them up into 6 children per group.

I would recommend this aquarium to all ages.

Good friends, good times

Summer's birthday was a good excuse to get some ladies together for breakfast.
We sadly left Holly and Laura out of this photo, but we enjoyed their company.

Colin

The girls enjoy holding cousin Colin. It is hard to be patient and take turns. Why didn't Jenny have 4 at a time?

Libby's Baptism on her actual Birthday!

Libby was baptized! She was very excited to be making a step forward in her life.

Her biological mom was able to make it as well, along with her parents from Placentia and even grammy's parents from the south. Yes, we had great grandparents present. Libby also had many family members that traveled down from northern california. Thank you to all those that made the effort to come and to those that wanted to, but just couldn't.

Grandma Suzette and Sage played the prelude.

Brooke and school activities

Thanksgiving is a fun time during Kindergarten. Brooke dressed up as a pilgrim for her feast and her friend Jaden dressed up as a native American.

Brooke works really well at her table.

They had relay races for the turkey trot. At this age, they fall and cry and get a hug from the nicest principal. Brooke loved it!

Brooke took this photo of Mr. Anderson, her favorite playground supervisor (shhhhh...don't tell the others). He plays organized games with the kindergartners after they eat lunch.

This is Allie and Brooke after school. We wait for about 50 minutes until the other kids get out of school to go home. Sometimes we go home or even make a quick run to the post office, but mostly wait. There have been times that we play card games and complete HW, but mostly wait!!!!!