Christmas celebrations

Throughout the month of December, we've done so many Christmas celebrations that I'm running out of time to post for each and every event, so I'm combining all into one....

Christmas Tree Shopping
We found our tree at the lot fairly quickly, had an older gentleman help us trim the bottom (and provide me extra timings for decorations) and tied the tree down to the top of the car... or so we thought. About half way home, driving up a hill, the tree falls off the car! Fortunately, a very nice person driving a flat bed truck, stopped and took our tree home for us. Craziness! But the tree is perfect in our family room - just the right height and width.

Christmas Tree Decorating
We had the tree for 3 days before I had time to put lights on it, then 3 more days before we could decorate it. This year, the kids are old enough to put most of the ornaments on the tree themselves. Only one ball ornament broke! There was something special about trimming the tree this year. Maybe with the kids being older, or being in a new house, it just was a very memorable moment.

Present Wrapping
For my company's holiday party, the kids spent the night at the neighbors, which meant I had a free, no-kid morning.... in which, I wrapped the majority of the presents. When the kids came home and saw the bottom of the tree filled with presents, Jack said, "Now it feels like Christmas morning." Best words ever.

Cookie Decorating and Gingerbread House
Friday night with the neighbors and friends meant sharing the Gingerbread House making tradition. We had 4 girls and 2 boys but the gingerbread kit only had 4 homes. Jack decided to just let the girls make the gingerbread house. A sign of giving and thinking of others?

Brooke's School Celebrations
Brooke had her Kindergarten holiday performance at school. She practiced all the songs - all the time - and still continues to sing them all the time. It is a wonderful sound. Her classroom also had a holiday craft party on her last day of school.

Letter from Santa
The kids were jumping for joy when they received their letter from Santa this year. I was amazed in watching Jack read his entire Santa letter. This year, Brooke really understand the nice vs. naughty list, which Santa did touch upon in his letter.

Seeing Santa and Mrs. Clause
Every year since Jack came home, we go to the Irvine Regional Park, ride the train and see Santa. The kids expect it now but the wonder of it all is still amazing. We put on our Santa hats and the kids discuss what they are going to ask Santa for. This year, we had a bonus - reading time with Mrs. Clause.

The Boat Parade

I love this tradition.... walking on the boat docks and watching the decorated boats cruise by. The favorite this year was the fire breathing dragon decorated boat. 

Princess Party

My baby is turning 6 and is super excited. We had a princess birthday party for her at the house with 16 little princesses (plus 2 older cousins and 3 boys). The majority of the girls were friends from Brooke's Kindergarten class, with two from the street, two from soccer and two more from her preschool days. We've entered the phase of some parents dropping off and some staying, so we had a full house for the afternoon.

Fortunately, by living in Southern CA, it was nice enough weather to have part of the party (crafts, cake and ice cream) outside, and then move inside when Princess Belle arrived to entertain the kids with dancing, games and face painting. After Belle and the majority of the guests left, Brooke opened her presents and the pure joy on her face with each and every gift was just amazing. She, more than anyone I know, has just amazement and happiness with each present. And although I'm having a hard time with her turning 6 - more so than any previous age - she is thrilled to be 6.

Gymnastics and Jiu-Jitsu

Brooke had her gymnastics performance - she loves performing and being on stage. She was able to show off her handstands and cartwheels. 

Jack participated in his first ever Jiu-Jitsu tournament. Although he didn't win (ref called it), he enjoyed the experience, learned a lot and earned a huge participation medal that he loves.

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving was different this year… we hosted for a change, in a new house, with less people. Usually Thanksgiving is at a family member’s house but this year, we hosted. But we hosted for only a small handful of family members. Although we missed seeing other family members, there were a few benefits to having it be small.

For one, Scott was able to come out in the morning to meet up with friends and play some football – before he slaved away cooking the turkey and stuffing for the rest of the afternoon. Second, we were able to comfortably fit everyone around our table. Third, the kids got their oldest cousin, Mikaela, all to themselves. Mikaela helped Brooke with her upcoming “star of the week” birthday celebration at school and she made rainbow loom bracelets with Jack (“THE” craze right now for elementary school kids). And of course, more left overs!

Murphy

It was December 1997, Scott told me his car had broken down I needed to drive him to his boss' place to drop off some office work. I'm complied and when we got to "his boss' house", it was actually a cat breeder.... Scott was getting me a Christmas present.... Murphy! 

He was my first kitty but by far, the best kitty one could ever ask for. He was friendly, he was always around us, he would come running to door when we came home, he slept with us, he sat next to us when we ate meals. He was our baby. 

Not only did he embrace us, he embraced the kids when they invaded his life. Even when they were babies, he never ran from them - he always let them pet and play with him. He was even by their side as they slept, watching over them.

He was just part of the family. Always around the action and chaos of the house. Never overly demanding, just present and a part of our lives.

A year and a half ago, he went into kidney failure. Scott gave Murphy IV fluids every other day, as well as 3 pills every day. I'm sure he didn't like it, but he tolerated it. He trusted us and knew it was for his well being. But last week, he had a stroke and his little body was done. We couldn't let him suffer. We knew the time was coming - Murphy was already on borrowed time with kidney failure. But it still didn't make it any easier. We have a heavy heart and a huge void in our home with Murphy now gone.

Murphy will always be in our memory and hearts. 

Baseball and Soccer

Jack's fall baseball and soccer season finished up last week. It was a crazy 2 months of practices and games that took up almost every day of the week, but it was fun. Jack did "kid-pitch" baseball and was able to pitch a few games. Jack got hit by the baseball early in the season and was really shaken by it. It took a bit, but he eventually got over it and no longer jumps out of the box when he is at bat. Jack really seemed to enjoy his first season in AYSO soccer. Next fall may be difficult as he will have to choose between fall baseball and AYSO soccer, but I'm not for doing both again at the same time!  Brooke is still really enjoying soccer... may have to put her in AYSO soccer next fall.

Halloween 2013

Jack and his evil pumpkin. 

Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony, a.k.a. Brooke, with Snake Eyes from GI Joe, a.k.a. Jack.

So excited about her loot.

Pumpkin Patch