5 years ago...

Buck, we really have missed you these past 5 years. It's strange that we get older but you still stay the same young guy. When we are 50, you'll still be 26, but our memories of your bright and energetic personality and hearty laugh will never change. You were the best big brother and friend.

Mommy Like

31 Reasons You Shouldn't Feel Mom Guilt

Excellent! Finally I feel okay about some of these things! Justified!

Wild Animal Park and Christmas

Christmas Eve night, we had a little nativity with some of the grandkids that were at my parent's house for Christmas. Katie was the angel that appeared to Mary. Paul was a shepherd. Nora was a little lamb. The kids all were so dang cute in their costumes and it was a blast to watch them saying their short lines.

For our kids' birthdays we try to give them an experience because we figure the kids will remember an experience more than a toy (we also give them a present, we're not that harsh :). Besides, then we can enjoy the person's birthday as a family. For Katie's birthday we went to the Wild Animal Park on Christmas Eve. It was really fun to ride in a tram and see the animals fairly close and just walking around in the open. We also rode on the carousel and played on the playground they had there. The kids had a great time even though Katie was not feeling well. Pics of us on the carousel will have to be added later since they are on a different camera.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park was gorgeous that day. It was fun to hear the bell tower playing Christmas songs too! Glad we went before the 4 day monster rainstorm that FINALLY ended this evening.

Kid Fun

Fun in the backyard with Dasi the dog and making pretty headbands with aunt Rachel. We are very excited to have daddy come and be with us for Christmas after being here at Grandma and Grandpa Woodward's house for the last month without him.

Christmas...it's practically here!

Daddy, It's Cold Outside - Free Download

I wish it were tomorrow! I can't wait for the kids to go to bed in anticipation of Santa coming and then wake up Christmas morning to see that he indeed came! Also, I am way happy to be in 75 degree sunny weather every day this year rather than being in the cold. A friend from Provo asked me today on the phone if I didn't miss the snow just a little? I don't at all. I like the first snow and watching it fall and maybe throwing a snowball or two, but for the most part, I prefer great weather that I can enjoy barefoot on the green grass with the warm sun shining on my back and a cool gentle breeze. Can anyone blame me? This is what I grew up with! But at any rate, here is a song that I love and I have to agree with the kid on this one.

So far so fun!

We are here at Grandma and Grandpa Woodward's house in San Diego for the month. The kids are really loving being able to play outdoors as much as they want and there is tons of space for them to play inside too! They are also so happy to have lots of cousins around to play with. Way nicer than being cramped inside a small apartment all day with no friends in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Here are the faces of my grateful children after Sea World last week. After this, I was really motivated to want to take them to Disneyland this spring. :) Think of the happy faces that would follow that excursion! Nora has been pretty happy besides suffering from the nasty cold that we have all had the last week. She has started kind of crawling. She scoots forward by picking up her back half onto her toes and putting her face on the floor and pushing. She also rolls back to tummy and tummy to back. She is pretty good at getting to where the action is or toys are. She scooted about 6 feet to get herself under the Christmas tree to check out this ornament.