Gril Trip 2009

I look forward to it all year long, I grieve it being over for weeks after. The highlight of each year for me is getting to spend five days with my five favorite ladies. Actually all of us with the exception of my mom are anything but ladies, especially on girl trip, but my mom appreciates it when we refer to ourselves as "ladies." Oh how I love staying up late talking with my mom and sisters, going out for delicious dinners each night, taking long walks in the morning, and talking, talking, talking anytime in between. It keeps me sane to have time away with them every year, we all solve each others problems, hear about one anothers lives and enjoy each other in a way we can't over the phone or the other times we get together when all the kids are around. How grateful I am to my mom for giving me four best friends. How grateful I am we do this each year.
Thanks to Wendy we have this beautiful home in the mountains of Arizona to escape away to. The only downer this year will be the absence of my oldest sister, Diana, who had an unexpected conflict and a trip to Hawaii this same week. It won't be the same without her.

These are all pictures from last year, which I never posted because Wendy is TERRIBLE about getting pictures to people, so I just got them. We still love her anyway!

One night we had a chef come in to the house and make us dinner. It was amazing, complete with appetizers and all. They did a cooking demonstration just like on the Cooking Network, I loved it!

On the back patio, a beautiful view!

At our favorite restaurant Lucille's.

I can't wait ladies!

A Year of Disney Comes to an End

I think everyone knows how I feel about Disneyland. The Happiest Place on Earth describes it perfectly. We have loved having our Disney passes this past year, and we have used them well. We love going to Disneyland with cousins, friends, or just our little family. I am sure we will get passes again soon, after the baby, but for now I will miss it!

We call this roller coaster in Toon Town Carter's Coaster because it was the first roller coaster we could get him to go on. Now he loves roller coasters of all kinds, but he still likes to go on this one. The boys went over and over thanks to no lines.

GO CHARGERS!

For the past two years I have thought about buying the boys Chargers jersey's at the beginning of the season when they can be found everywhere. I think about it, but of course don't do it, then they make the playoffs, no jerseys can be found in San Diego, and my kids are out of luck on Chargers day at school. Sunshine and I even headed out to Wal-Mart at 10 pm after the game last Saturday night in search of them, do you know who goes to Wal-Mart at 10 pm? It's an interesting crowd, worth checking out sometime. Plenty of pink jerseys were there, but no blue. Thus began the Great Chargers Attire search, not unlike the Great Pumpkin search of 2007. Thanks to Sunshine t-shirts were finally tracked down and Chargers day at school was saved. Hooray! Next year I am getting jerseys early, of course then they probably won't make the play offs. Oh well, better to be prepared as I have learned. GO CHARGERS! We'll be rooting loud!

Why do we do it?

Year after year we load up the kids, presents and all and head to Utah for Christmas. Some think we are crazy, but our kids wouldn't have Christmas any other way. If you wonder why we do it, here are our reasons; Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all spending time together, making memories, and enjoying every minute of it.

Fuss ball at Nana's is always a hit

The kids loved playing in the snow, even Sam joined in this year. Our biggest snow lover was Carter, he wanted to stay out even when all the others came in for hot chocolate. Sunday was a rough day for Carter, he could not understand why he couldn't go sled.

Kangaroo Zoo with Lee cousins

Nana and her babies, Sam loves his Nana so much, as he tells me often.

Nativity with the Lee cousins. It was an off Christmas year for the Lee's which meant we spent the first few days at my moms before everyone headed to their in-laws for Christmas. My mom didn't want to miss out on the Nativity, so we did it on Sunday night with the cousins who were staying there.

Tackling Uncle Greg

Uncle Kendall showing Sam the Reindeer at Thanksgiving Point

Hot Chocolate and dinner at Thanksgiving Point

Wimmer cousin Nativity

Wimmer cousins in their Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve

Rhett and Tyler took Jacob and Carter up in the mountains to sled behind the four wheeler, this was one of their favorite activities of the trip.

Papa and Grandma reading to the boys

Eric and Laurie got a new dog, Mollie, a few months ago. The poor thing was attacked by Sam the whole time we stayed there. He carried her around by her neck and told us Mollie really liked him. We aren't so sure about her liking him, but she sure was patient with him.

Christmas morning at Eric and Laurie's

Christmas sledding at Greg and Michelle's

Jacob's snowman

Carter's snowman

Hot tubbing in the snow at our good friends Dean and Kathy's

Dean and Kathy had a dog for each of them, so thoughtful!

So there it is, the reasons we do it every year. It makes me so happy to see my kids with their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It makes me feel ok about living away from them if we can strengthen these important relationships a couple times a year. We can't overlook that I love it too. Dinners out with my siblings and Brett's, lunch with friends from high school, talking with my sisters, staying at Eric and Laurie's. It wouldn't be Christmas for me without all these things either!