A picture perfect Christmas

Jacob, Jaron, Jenna and myself went to Fresno for Christmas to be with Jacob's family. We left Tuesday and spent that night at Jacob's parents house. We left Wednesday morning to head up to Shaver Lake. We arrived at the cabin around noon. Jaron and Jenna were so excited to see the snow. It was their first time seeing a lot of snow. They got out of the car and immediately put on their gloves and wanted their boots. They were throwing snowballs and having the best time. When Jacob's parents and brother's family arrived, we went in and had soup for lunch. Then, Jacob and I played a couple games of pool. Yes, there was a pool table in the cabin. So fun! After Jacob beat me a couple times, we bundled up and went outside to play in the snow. Jaron and I made snow angels and we threw snow at each other. The kids really had the best time.

On Thursday, we went to the snow park and went sledding. It was so fun. We laughed the whole time. Jenna only went down once. It scared her a bit. Jaron loved it. He went down by himself and with Jacob and I. Jacob and I went down together, too. We were covered in snow and laughing so hard we couldn't get up. The best thing was we had the park to ourselves. It was awesome!



That evening, Jacob's mom and dad cooked enchilada's, tamales, rice and beans for dinner. It was delicious! Then, after dinner we opened presents from each other. Jaron got a castle Lego set. Jenna got a dollhouse. Jacob got some miniature old fashioned police cars. I still can't believe what I got. Jacob's mom and dad got me a Kitchen Aid mixer. I am pretty sure I screamed when I realized what it was. That is one of the best presents I have ever gotten. I love it so much!




Christmas morning, Jaron and Jenna opened their presents from Santa. Then, we went back to the snow park. It was packed this time. But, we stayed and played for a little bit. Next, we went back to the cabin and I started cooking dinner. I cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, green bean casserole and stuffing. It was delicious. The turkey was super moist. I wished we could bring the leftovers home, but there wasn't room in our car. We were loaded down. After dinner, Jacob, his mom, brother, sister-in-law, and I played a card game called golf. It is really fun. While we were playing golf, Jacob's dad was playing Uno with Jaron, Jenna, and Gabriel. It was so cute. After cards, we had dessert, then Jacob's brother Matt and his wife, Jennifer told the story of Jesus' birth. The kids loved it. It was a perfect ending to a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish all our friends and family a very Merry Christmas. We are leaving today for Fresno to spend Christmas with Jacob's family. Jacob's parents rented a cabin. We are hoping there will be snow! I will have lots to share when we get back. For now, here is a picture of Jenna from her Christmas dance performance last night!

Ok, so it was more than one, I just couldn't resist. She looked so pretty and did an amazing job! We are so proud of her! Merry Christmas!

Chef's Don't Need Help

On Saturday, Jacob let Jaron and Jenna help him cook their breakfast. Jaron was super excited about it. They made scrambled eggs with hot dogs and cheese. Jaron chowed down. This morning before school, I asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted to cook his scrambled eggs with hot dogs and cheese again. So, I let him cook his breakfast, with my supervision. I asked him at one point if he needed help, he said "Chef's don't need help." It was pretty funny.

Thanksgiving

The Thursday before school was out for Thanksgiving vacation, Jaron's class put on a Thanksgiving play. It was super cute! They all had a couple lines each. After the play, they sang a song and danced. It was so funny. Afterwards, we had pumpkin or apple pie. All the kids had made place mats that said what they were thankful for. Jaron's said, "I am thankful for my mom and dad because I love them". It doesn't get any better than that.

Jacob and I decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on the Sunday before, because he had to work on Thanksgiving. I did all the prep cooking on Saturday and Jacob and I cooked the turkey together on Sunday. It was delicious. We had a very nice relaxing day. Jaron and Jenna both enjoyed eating the turkey legs. After Jenna's first bite, she said, "Oh that's good!" So cute. Jaron ate the whole thing there was not a single piece of meat left on the bone.

Jacob ended up getting sick. He stayed home with a cold all week. So, on Thanksgiving the kids and I went to my parents house and enjoyed a nice afternoon with them.

On Friday, Jacob was starting to feel better, so he went outside to do some yard work. Jaron and Jenna were big helpers. While Jacob did the yard work, I hung the lights on the house.

Saturday, Turtle Bay was having a members only Christmas event called Winter in the Woods. They had decorated for Christmas had activities for the kids and cookies and hot chocolate. Santa was even there!

Sunday, we picked up our Christmas tree and decorated it. Jaron was a big help. He did a great job putting ornaments and bows on. Jenna enjoyed posing for the camera every time we set the timer.

So we are ready for Christmas we are going to do some fun things this month, ice skating, looking at Christmas lights, watching lots of Christmas movies and enjoying each other.

Our Holiday Values

This is my list for a Holiday project I am doing online. We are supposed to list our Holiday family values.

1. spending time together as a family
2. teaching Jaron and Jenna that there is more to Christmas than presents
3. continuing old traditions and starting new ones
4. baking goodies together
5. decorating together
6. showing appreciate
7. make lasting memories
8. taking lots of pictures

A New Baby Girl

Last night my sister gave birth to her second child. Cassidy Lynn was born at 8:06 pm and weighed 2lbs. 4oz. and 13" long. She was about 12 weeks premature but came out crying and is already breathing on her own. She is definitely a fighter! We are not allowed to visit the baby, but as soon as I get some pictures, I will share.

Some pictures

So sorry it's been awhile since I've posted what we've been up to. Jacob got hurt at work a couple weeks ago so it has been crazy around here. He hurt his knee. I'm not really sure about all the things that are wrong, but he might have to have surgery. So not fun. He is on light duty at work. He is having to sit at a desk and answer the phone and take reports. He is not having a good time.

Jaron is doing great, he is doing really well in school. His class is doing a Thanksgiving play that we will get to see next week. I can't wait, I'm sure it will be super cute.

Jenna is also doing great, she is enjoying playing with her Barbie's and babies. She is such a good lil' momma. She is doing really well in her dance class and getting ready for the Christmas performance. I can't wait for that, it is going to be so sweet. They are wearing long white dresses with angel wings and silver bows in their hair. She is going to look beautiful!

I am also doing well. I'm helping out in Jaron's class every Monday and now every other Tuesday. I'm starting to get ready for the holiday's. I am doing the Ali Edward's December Daily scrapbook again this year. I just received the scrapbook that I am going to use in the mail today. It is really cute. Anyway, here are some pictures of the kids.

Halloween Fun!

Jacob and I have been volunteering for MADD (mother's against drunk driving). Friday night at the aquatic center in Redding was the Spooky Lagoon. It is a haunted house set up around the pool and you go through it in boats. Pretty creepy. Anyway, MADD needed help handing out candy and pamphlets. So, I volunteered to help. While I was helping, Jacob took the kids around to the different games, and they were able to go trick-or-treating. It was a lot of fun. The kids wore their costumes, and I dressed up, too. I haven't dressed up in years. Jaron wore his snake eyes costume. (A character from the GIJoe movie). He looked super cute. Jenna wore her Snow White costume. She was beautiful. She is the perfect Snow White. I was a pirate. It was really fun to dress up.




Yesterday, we carved our pumpkins. Jaron and Jenna did a great job helping to clean out the pumpkin guts. Jaron wanted an Iron Man pumpkin and Jenna wanted a princess Jasmine pumpkin. They turned out really well.

Since Jaron is missing his two front teeth, we thought it would be fun to paint his face like a pumpkin. It is pretty funny. Of course, since Jaron had his face painted, Jenna had to have her face painted, too. Here are pictures of Jack-o-Jaron and Jack-o-Jenna.



On Wednesday, I'm taking Jenna to Barnes & Noble for storytime dressed in her costume. They do a parade throught the store after reading some books to the kids. It is really cute to see all the young kids in their costumes. On Friday, I am going to Jaron's classroom all day to help out in the morning and be there for their Halloween party in the afternoon. I'm sure it will be lots of fun. I will post more pictures later in the week.

Another Lost Tooth

Jaron lost another tooth on Saturday. Jaron and Jenna were playing and they ran into each other and it knocked the tooth right out. He looks so stinking cute missing his two front teeth. I hoped it would last until Christmas, you know, "All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth". But the other one is already starting to come in. Oh well. I will enjoy it while I can. Just looking at him cracks me up. Here are before and after pictures.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. It was a good day for it. It was a bit cold and cloudy. When we got there we read the sign that said how much it would cost to play and ride the train and do some other fun things. It was going to be $10 each. We thought that was a bit over priced, but we wanted the kids to have fun. So, we went in. The lady told us that the only part that is open during the week was the pumpkin patch. We were so ok with that. The kids had a great time! Jaron saw one of his classmates, Ashlei. She is a cute girl. She was chasing Jaron and Jaron kept wanting to catch up to her when we were ready to leave. It was pretty cute. Another thing I love about the pumpkin patch is taking pictures. It is such a perfect setting for pictures. I love the colors and of course being outside. Here are some of my favorites.

Things are finally starting to settle down around here. We have been super busy this month. Last weekend, we took a trip to Roseville to go shopping. We had so much fun. Jaron and Jenna got some really cute new clothes for fall and winter. We found them cute outfits at Pumpkin Patch Kids and another store called Peek...aren't you curious. They are both pretty pricey for kids clothes but we found some good deals. Jacob and I found our new obsession. It is called Teavana . They sell all things tea related. We bought some delicious red tea and a chai tea. We can't wait to try more flavors. Sunday, we went to Ikea. We found some pretty good deals there, too.

Jenna has been back in dance class for the last few weeks. Parents are not allowed to sit in the dance studio. So it will be hard for me to get pictures and videos. Luckily, last Thursday, I was able to get some ok video. She is doing a great job and really getting serious about her dancing. She like to come home and practice.

Jaron's Birthday

Jaron's 6th birthday was on Monday. I worked in his classroom all day. We took cookies in and the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Jacob came in at the end of the school day, to be there, too. We came home and started his special birthday dinner. He chose to have bbq'd hamburgers. We also made baked beans and summer salad. While the beans were cooking, my parents came over to babysit Jaron and Jenna while we went to Jaron's parent-teacher conference. It went really well. Jaron is doing an amazing job in school. He started reading chapter books this week and is totally enjoying them! Jacob and I got home and we had dinner. It was delicious!
After dinner, he opened his presents. Jacob and I got him some GIJoe toys. My parents, Nana and Papa, got him a lot of different Lego sets. They are the Space Police sets and a couple of the Bionicle ones. We are going to be putting Lego's together for months!


After presents, Nana and Papa had to go home. We did ice cream sundaes for dessert. We were all pretty wiped out after that and we had an early bed time. Jaron had a great day. I still can't believe he is 6 years old. Oh my goodness!

Jaron's 6th Birthday Party

Last night we had Jaron's 6th Birthday party at G-Force Gymnastics. It was a lot of fun. The kids got to jump on trampoline's, play in a big foam pit, and play on all the other gymnastic equipment. We ordered a gigantic pizza from Luigi's. It was pretty good. We also had a delicious cake.

On our way to the party, Jaron's top tooth finally came out. He was working really hard to get it out. He looks so cute missing that top tooth.

When we got home, Jacob and Jaron started playing with the new toys and putting them together. That is how we are spending today, too.

Tomorrow is Jaron's actual Birthday. I am going to work in his class all day and take in cookies. Then, Nana and Papa are going to come down and watch the kids while Jacob and I go to Jaron's parent teacher conference. When we get back home, I am going to bbq hamburgers, at Jaron's request. For dessert, we are going to have ice cream sundaes.

Back to School

Jaron had his first day of 1st grade today. He was a little nervous. We had him make a card to give to his new teacher. We put a Visa gift card inside so she could get whatever she needed for the classroom.

We walked him to his classroom and he was very quiet. He sat down at his desk, we took some more pictures and hugged him goodbye. I had to pull Jacob out by his ear. He wanted to stay and hang out with Jaron.

Jaron wanted to ride the bus home. Jacob, Jenna, and I walked down to the bus stop to pick him up. Jenna wanted to push her baby in its stroller.

He had a lot of fun at school, they got to have watermelon and make a watermelon project. That is about all Jaron talked about. He isn't one for sharing too much information.