Catching Up! September-December!!!

OKAY, so I have been a LITTLE busy completing my thesis and Master's program! It was so crazy to do a thesis in under 4 months! WOOOHOOO, I made it though, and am so glad that I did it! Now that I am finished, I am so much more relaxed, and have time to spend on this blog! SO I will start with the more recent events, and work backwards...

December


Small World looks so pretty at Christmastime

December 13th, Disneyland!

Okay, So on the weekend of my birthday, December 13, we went to Disneyland, to see it all decorated for Christmas. What was funny was that I was one of 3 members of my staff that decided to be there on a Friday with their families. Kris and the girls and I had a great time, and did a few things we hadn't done together before, like go up into the castle and see the new display of the story of Sleeping Beauty. It used to be dioramas, but now they move, and have animations with lights and sounds. The girls rode the zip line in the Brother Bear Forest and loved it, and watched the Muppet Show 3D. Later that night, we met up with my friend Heidi and her family and we went in the Haunted Mansion together. It is so cool at Christmas because they change the whole thing to have a Nightmare Before Christmas theme. The girls love it. However, they will both tell you that their favorite things are the rollercoasters there- the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and California Screamin'. It was a great day, and we were back at my sister's by 10. The next day we went out to Mama Carpino's, a YUMMY Italian place not far from their house. The chicken parmagiana is to die for, and the kids shared a pizza, which they loved! We also exchanged Christmas gifts, and had a great time relaxing at the house!


The castle at night, and during the day!

Of course, we had to eat with the monkeys, fish and elephants at the Rainforest Cafe...

and see the HSM 3 Performance, which I must say, was a pretty good show...

and enjoy the big tree in California Adventure!

and hang with Pluto...

and Stitch!

Flippie Hair Cuts!

Toward the end of my parents' month here in September, my mom and I decided to take Bec and Mal in for a makeover. They looked so cute with this cut that we couldn't believe it! This is after a trim they had when we returned from Disneyland, and it flips much better again! I absolutely love this cut on both of them! (Becca has no bangs because it's easier for dance, when she starts up again someday soon)...

Ahhhh, sisterly love!!!
I took these pictures in the park by our house with my iPhone, and was so impressed with myself that one of them is going to end up on our Christmas card! It's not often I take pictures that I am totally happy with!

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!

We were invited to spend the weekend with Jeb and Amber, and we had a great time. We ate lots of great food with them, Jeb's parents, his aunt, and his Grandma. They are the nicest, and always treat us like part of the family too. Amber and I went stark raving mad with our shopping ALL NIGHT LONG on Thanksgiving night in Barstow and the next day at Target, Kmart, and the Victor Valley Mall, with Brooklynn in tow for much of the journey! She was a very good shopper too. Somehow, we rested some, and still managed to make cookies with the kids

Becca got caught in the act of sneaking frosting!

they had so much fun customizing the cookies, although I didn't take pictures of the cookies, just the kids in the process of decorating.

HALLOWEEN 2008!

It just so happened to work out, since it was on a Friday, that my my sister came to visit. That, and they had an engagement party to go to. So we had a great time going around the neighborhood with the superheroes! After that, they got hungry, and they got to wear their costumes to Me'N'Ed's pizza, where a bunch of other kids and adults had costumes on still too.

using their super powers! and being super cute!

WELCOME BROOKLYNN SIERRA!!! SEPTEMBER 15th, 2008!

Brooklynn arrived, and we got there a couple of days later to meet her. I felt bad, because I didn't get to be a part of the delivery, like with Grant. But once I held her, I think we bonded. I like to think I am one of her favorite people, since a lot of times, I can get her to calm down if she starts to fuss. She is the sweetest little thing, but very wriggly and strong. The girls get a kick out of making her laugh-she is so good-natured. She is our "sister girl" and we love her very, very much!

aren't they the cutest family?
Grant loves being a big brother, and it's so cute to see him come up and give her the random kiss on the cheek :)


Brooklynn's first studio shot- 2 1/2 months!

SOOO, now you are officially CAUGHT UP. I am going to try not to get so far behind anymore!

It's too hard to catch up!