Christmas Party(s)

Every year our Ward at church has a Christmas Party and every year we all line up in the hall to see Santa. They did it differently this year and had the kids go in by themselves and then the parents were supposed to come back later with their children if they wanted pictures. Well, that didn't work out so well. 1. I need to hear what Shaun asks for because inevitably it is some off the wall thing that he hasn't mentioned and I never would have thought he would want. 2. For me, visits with Santa won't last forever and I want to be there. This is one of those "parent" moments where you get to enjoy your kids being kids. You know, the ones that make it worth not killing your children. 3. It didn't work and at the end of the night, this, is the picture I ended up with. No, Shaun is not possessed. His dad took him for a hair cut (waaaaaay toooooo short) and he has no eyebrows so if you get him at this angle he looks, shocked? weird? evil?
We have been lucky enough to attend two wards this year. We still go to Los Al ward and then drive quickly over to Atherton so I can attend the mid-singles sunday school class. This picture is at the Atherton ward party. A much better picture.

The missionaries asked Santa for more investigators and warm weather to tract in.

More Thanksgiving

So I realized that these first three are the only pictures I took on the actual Thanksgiving day and as you can see not all that Thanksgivingy, but she sure is cute!

This is Erin's baby.
Look at those amazing eyes, they're actually hazel and not brown.
Brain wash children early so they know the correct teams to root for! We need a Dodgers hat too.


Sat. before Erin and the herd took off we all converged on In-n-out for a family lunch.
Kenz with her beautiful curls! Tri is diligently explaining something. We love our Webkinz.
The whole gag minus Mark who was inside getting ketchup or something.

When the mommy is away the daddy will play...nothing like feeding your daughter vanilla shake.

mmmmm.....she likes it.
Quick clean her up before mommy gets back and sees!

This is my cute stuff nephew that I lovingly refer to as "fatso" or "chubs"-don't worry I'll stop before he's old enough to develop a complex. You have to admit though, he is a BIG boy. He didn't get the memo that he is the third child and mom doesn't have time to sit and entertain him or carry him everywhere. So, when Aunt Shauna comes in and says "hiya, chubs" he smiles because he knows that he is going to get spoiled! This is his "yay, Aunt Shauna face"


This is what he looks like the rest of the time :)

my funny boys

Unfortunately this is also how I often study the scriptures when I try to read early in the morning. Maybe he will gain a testimony by osmosis.

I came back from my morning run to find my bed filled by creatures who were not there when I left it.
I also thought it was funny that they were laying in similar positions just a little apart.

My apple find

Those of you who have been to my house may have noticed the apple theme happening in the kitchen. I search and obtain any and all items that I might need (or might convince myself that they might be somewhat useful at some time) with an apple design.
One Sat. as I drove through the alley there was a garage sale. It spread into the alley and I nearly ran over this cookie jar, but that did make me notice it. I quickly sent the children down the alley armed with 5 dollars I was willing to pay for my apple treasure. Imagine my happiness when they returned with $4.50 and my apple jar. Meet my new snack jar.

Our new tire swing

On our way to Madzie's baptism we got a flat. Luckily we had stopped at a rest stop. Shaun was willing and I figure he's gotta learn sometime so Shaun changed our tire, by himself, with directions from mom.
When we got to Big O Shaun had the good idea to keep our tire. It hadn't torn just wore out, so we took it home, washed it up, and hung it from the tree. Tada, tire swing. Good thinkin' kid!

Goin' to the Temple and the park

The weekend before Thanksgiving my sister Erin, her husband Justin, and her girls came down for a friends wedding at the San Diego Temple.
While they were there, I took the kids to the park.

Here's Shaun being his regular monkey self.
Kenz showed me how she could get inside the dome...she climbed up one triangle and...

...through onto the ground. I love that it never occurred to her to duck under the bar to get in.
Madz first tackled the climbing wall. She was brave and strong until she got to the top.
Shaun is just the opposite. He doubted he could do it but once he decided he tackled it no prob.
Playing with Reegz. She loves the slide.
Oops, she slid a little too much.
Over sized turtle fun.
A seagull kept trying to steal Kenz's lunch so she kept a tight hold.
You can't leave a park without rolling down the hills on the way to the car.
Love them curls!
Nothing says "we had a good time" like grass stains!

Back at the Temple we picked up Erin and Justin. One quick family picture.

2 Our Father's and 4 Hail Mary's

Yes, I realize that I have been the worlds worst blogger. Forgive me family and friends for I have sinned. It has been 3 months, 12 days since my last blog.

In October I went with the Mid-Singles in my stake to Lake Arrowhead for the weekend. It was very nice and a good weekend away. It was kind of weird because I realized that it was the first time i ever left Shaun to go away. He has left me before and I have stayed at home but until then he had never stayed home and I went away. It was just a weird feeling.


A family in our Stake let us stay in their cabin. We got to enjoy the scenery and a few animal heads to keep us company. One large moose, a buffalo, a duck not my decorating sense :)