SD ZOO!

We took a trip to the World famous San Diego Zoo!  It was kind of strange being somewhere I hadn't been since I was a kid because I kept having strange flashbacks!  Scott had to put up with a smorgasbord of lame memories from my childhood!  We walked most of the zoo on foot, and then realized why they provide a free tour bus ride... it's steep man!  We were pretty tired by the end of the day and saw a lot of stinkin animals!  We came to the conclusion that although it is MUCH prettier and well-kept, our zoo isn't so bad after all and doesn't make you nearly as tired!!!  It was definitely worth it though.

Being a monkey at the San Diego Zoo is the bomb!

 Our favorite animal for sure

many a memory at the petting zoo!

Beach in December

We went to the beach as much as we could while we were in California.  It was dreamy weather.  Warm enough that the kids were dying to go in the water and went in with their clothes on!  I had to get some new swim suits for them. (in December!!)  LOVE it!!

Cami's first time at the beach...  I think she liked it!

Jaclyn and me

Jaclyn, mom, me

Jaclyn's man-crush Taylor

 If you know my husband you know he wears a Glidden shirt pretty much every day!  He was excited that Dad decided to rock one...

I think it's safe to say the beach is our favorite thing to do as a family!

christmas

On Christmas Eve, we did the traditional opening of christmas jammies and ornaments.  

Then the kids acted out the nativity.  Makenna was a cute Mary with her snowman baby Jesus.  :) 

 The adults stayed up talking and doing the "fun stuff"

Excited on Christmas morning!!

Makenna went straight to the cookies and milk!

Jace was really cute opening presents this year.  Such excitement.

Cami got a Bumbo!

Present highlights include

Scott- Holiday Bowl tickets

Kristie- Photoshop Lightroom

Makenna- Makeup, Craft supplies, roller skates

Jace- skateboard, legos

Cami- bumbo, decor for her room

snowflakes and awkward family photos

Jaclyn and I decided to make snowflakes one night.  It all started with some innocent pictures with our snowflakes...

and turned into awkward family photos  (seen awkwardfamilyphotos.com?  hilarious!)

that is some major air

GDO

Makenna and I have been able to have a couple really fun GDO's (girl's day outs!)  When I told her we were going to go out together and we could do whatever she wanted, she made a list...

movie

manicures

shopping

Read magazines together

Coldstones

Do each other's hair

It was so cute and all she could talk about for a few days!  Luckily we did get to do some of those things!  We got manicures, went to Toys R Us and picked a toy, ate Coldstones, and rented a movie to watch at home.  It was so fun!  I love having a daughter to do things like that with!  I'm sure it will just keep getting more and more fun as she gets older!

Today we got to go again!  (Scott feels jipped!)  We went to see the Nutcracker!  Makenna really liked it and I could tell she was so excited about it!  She really wants to start dancing again now too :)  We are going to try to find a new place since I wasn't loving her old studio anymore.

 With some other gals that were there.  Makenna looks under-dressed!  Michelle's kids in those fancy dresses were just too darn cute!  (don't worry, there were plenty of classy New Mexicans to help us feel like we weren't under-dressed in our jeans!)

Afterwards we went to a cute diner across the street for milkshakes... OMG YUMMM!!  It was so good!!!!  Love my little girl.

Cami talking!

Cami found her voice in a big way!  I think she's going to be a talker like her sis!

River of Lights

 We went to River of Lights with the Burns again.  So cold but so fun!  

The girls obliged me with lots of pictures!  I took advantage...

unicorn 

turtle 

 fish

 flowers

 hundreds of poinsettias... so pretty!

dinosaur

kids except Brig and Cami, who slept soundly in her car seat the entire time (go Cami!)

Snow Day!

Makenna had her first snow day from school a couple weeks ago!  Let me just say when I found out it was snow day I was so excited!!  Scott didn't have to go to seminary, no making lunches, no doing hair...  we slept in and lounged around!  It was so nice!!  I am definitely a fan of snow days!

so are the kids...

this is my nativity in the window- so pretty!