Gingerbread House

We had fun this weekend decorating our Gingerbread House!! (Okay, ya, sure, well, I did most of the "decorating" and they did most of the sampling of the frosting, and all the candies.) And when we were all finished and I took the final picture, they said "So now can we eat it?"

Time again for Santa's Babies!

Went went to visit Santa at the mall yesterday. For this year, it took a bit more work than years past. Keegan warmed up to Santa instantly and started asking him for the things he wanted for Christmas. The first time we tried, Tustin start screaming so hard, he wouldn't even go in to Santa's house. (You know it's bad when TUSTIN can't be bribed with candy canes and cookies!) At one point, I got on my knee just inside the open doorway, and Tustin was covering his eyes with his fists, crying, "Mommy, come OUT of there!"

We went to the end of the line, talked it up a bit. Keegan was a big help with telling Tustin how nice Santa was, and that it was his chance to ask him for Christmas presents. The second time, he gave Santa "knuckles" and a high five or two, but wanted nothing else to do with him. I figured, we are going for it anyway--- so Keegan hopped up there, and I plopped Tustin on Santa's lap, and this was the first photo they snapped off as quickly as possible. (The rest of them, Tustin had both of his fists covering his eyes and you couldn't even see his face.)

Poll: am I torturing my child??

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Chris is now officially hired on by the Department of Navy, Engineering Dept., as a civilian crane operator!! He received the official phone call and letter today, indicating that he passed all the requirements (physical exam, drug test, etc...), and his start date is 12/22/08. He was very excited to give Hanson his two-week notice, although there are a lot of years, and people, over the last 16 with Hanson that he will miss.

He's moving on to bigger and better things, and couldn't be happier!! Unfortunately, this new opportunity has cost him his Christmas vacation. His last day of work at his current job is the 19th, and then he jumps right in to his new job the following Monday. He's probably working Monday to Wednesday during Christmas week, and the rest of us are driving up to No-Cal on the 21st. :-( We'll miss him over the holidays, but it's well worth it for him!

Christmas Nights at Sea World!

We had... well, it was a... hmmmm.... interesting night at Sea World. A lot of it was fun, but quite a bit of it was Nonny and me, experiencing twins for the first time. And these twins of mine were at the height of the TERRIBLE TWOS!!! But, we did end up having sum fun, through the tears, and whining, and pushing, and poking, and hitting, and... oh, ya..back to the fun!!!

We got to walk through a maze of Christmas trees-- and it was snowing!! That was pretty fun; we spent a lot of time in and out of the snowy maze. We saw Clyde and Seymour (sea lions) in their fun Christmas show. We saw the sharks, and enjoyed the beautiful decorations. But, once we found out there were no fireworks (Keegan has been begging to see fireworks for quite some time now), we decided to pack it up and call it a night.

More fun at Sea World

We even got to meet Jack Hanna! He brought a bunch of animals with him. (We made it through the lemur and the Harris hawk before we had to excuse ourselves due to having rowdy kids!) We also got to pet a reindeer that was walking in a pasture near a stage of carolers.

Politically Correct!

We were working on the tracks for the cars tonight... and something didn't fit right. I said "Uh Oh, we have a problem!" Tustin got a little bit upset with me and said very firmly: "NO! IssNOT a problem! Iss an idea emergency!"

It was SO funny! The boys watch a Disney show called Imagination Movers. They specialize in solving problems. They talk about brainstorming, and coming up with ideas, all while dancing and singing and entertaining the kids. So, when ever they say they have a problem, they talk about having an "idea emergency"... and lead in to the brainstorming song.

Get a Pen and Paper Ready Mom....

That's what Keegan said to me out of the blue yesterday, "Get a pen and paper ready mom, I have more things to ask Santa for!" It was bed time, so I said "Right now? Or in the morning...?" "OH, right now, so I don't forget!"
So, Santa, if you haven't done your shopping yet:
1. A shirt with a pirate ship on it, but no pirates.
2. A large, silver bell, like the one you gave the boy in Polar Express, because I believe too, and I can hear bells.
3. A new T-Rex book.
4. A new dinosaur-- a brachiosaurus.
5. Santa Claus pillow.
6. A bigger pillow for my bed, because mine is too small.
7. A new Christmas tree for when ours gets old.
8. A new hat with a motorcycle on it-- and Daddy riding the motorcycle.
9. A map of South America for my wall.

So, at least the kid is practical, right??
Mom adds the P.S. to his list after he's finished. No. 4 has been taken care of. No. 7: I assured him that every year Mommy and Daddy would make sure he gets a brand new Christmas tree to decorate. No. 9, I believe is really a world map to put on his wall. He's got one of the states, but I think he wants it all on there. And as for No. 2, let's hope it's not tinnitus!!

Never Too Early!

Seems a bit early, I'll admit. But, when you're gone for a week or more over the holidays, you have to decorate early to "get in to the spirit," and to be able to thoroughly enjoy your holiday season! So, we woke up this morning and headed to the Christmas Tree Farm. We picked out a perfect tree (Chris and I), while the boys spent the entire time running in and out of the rows of trees! We had a great time.

More Fun at the Tree Farm!

Park Fun

After we picked out the perfect tree, we went to a fun park near our house to play (and exert excess energy) before nap time.

What Every Man Enjoys...

Left-overs; a tall, cold drink, and the remote control!

Fuji Apple anyone??

Keegan called me in to the living room and said, "Wanna buy me? I'm a new-born puppy!" Too cute, couldn't pass up the photo-op. (He's telling me right now to come look at the rest of his puppies. He says he has 7 of them, and they are sleeping so I'm supposed to be quiet and whisper around them. I better go see what else he's stuffed in to that box!)

Tustin's "Dear Santa" Letter

I had to do a little prompting for Tusin, so I will insert my questions as well.

Dear Santa,
[What do you want to say to Santa, Tustin?] YO HO HO-- like THAT! [What would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?] I want a new car that's orange. The wheel fell of my other one. I want pirates, bad pirates and nice pirates. I want a pirate ship [you already have one], OH, okay.
[Is there anything else you'd like to say to Santa?] How's he gonna get here? How does his reindeers fly? [explanation] [What list are you on?] I on nice list. That means be careful; no pushin'; no shovin'. Tell him to go around the whole world Mommy. [Anything else?] Bring a present for Mommy too, and Daddy, and Keegan too.

Rose's Birthday!

My little niece turned TWO yesterday! She had a fun party on Sunday-- I really wish I could have been there. She looks pretty happy with her baby doll haul! And brother Jack seems pretty pleased about something as well!

Keegan's "Dear Santa" Letter

Dear Santa,
I really love you. I would like a new Quest for Camelot movie, and I would really like it if you would give one to me. And I really like Quest for Camelot. But I want a different movie, like Quest for Camelot.
Do you know what else I would like for Christmas? I would like a new toy-- do you know what it would be? It would be a new sword, that's long. Like Nonny's one at her house.
I would also like a new dinosaur movie with a T-Rex in it. And what do you want for Christmas Santa? I'm going to be in Rocklin this year.
I have been very good and I don't do things on purpose. I only do them on accident. And that's it.

Animal Grossology- at Reuben H

We had a fun morning yesterday at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. They have a great exhibit hall for kids called Animal Grossology. How a cow digests it's food; dung beetle computer game; why flies throw up on everything; how some frog daddy's keep eggs in their mouth; how an ostrich is the only bird that has two separate orifices for pee and poop- rather than one for both, like all other birds; all about different kinds of animal poop, etc... You get the idea. It's a hands-on, interactive exhibit. The kids loved it. And, of course, with admission, you get the roam of the whole children's center. (They had a really cool exhibit outside too; tons of spheres, representing different things pertaining to the environment, and environmental issues the world is facing.)

Keegan's Photography

These pictures were taken entirely by Keegan. He chose the subject matter, composition, got the automatic focus to work perfectly (with which even some adults have trouble), and had a great time using Mommy's camera.

Milestone for Keegan

Yesterday, Keegan wrote his name for the very first time, all by himself! We were all signing a birthday card for his cousin, and I asked him if he wanted to try to write his name. He said "Yes! K-E-E-G-A-N!" So, I wrote it on another piece of paper, and he wrote it on the birthday card! (The "G" was backwards, but other than that, it was awesome!)

Tut Talk!

Chris was having fun with Tustin at the dinner table, acting like a waiter. He said, "Anything else I can get you sir? How about a Latte?"

Tustin said, "NO! That-that-that-that's a COFFEE Daddy!"

Too Sweet!

Keegan received a Target gift card for his birthday. Last weekend, Keegan, Tustin, and I set out to spend his loot! On the way to Target, I explained the situation to him... "Keegan, with your gift card, you can buy yourself one big gift, or if you want, you can get a few smaller gifts."

Keegan said "I want to buy Tustin a life saver (light saber) like mine." I said, "Keegan, this is YOUR money, you can buy yourself anything you want." He said, "All I want is for Tustin to have his own life saver so we can play together." (Keegan got a light saber for his birthday.) We shopped around Target, and looked up and down the isles, I offered numerous suggestions, but all he wanted, all he insisted on getting, was a "life saver for my brother!"

Playing at the Park

I decided to take the boys to the park yesterday. We brought their bicycles, and really had a great time. NO injuries-- Tustin actually faked most of his falls and fell over on purpose. Keegan loved climbing on the equipment, and wanted a picture with the moon.

Caught on Film!

A bit blurry, but that's because he was going a little fast!

And We All Fall Down!

There's just something exciting about crashing! Must be a boy-thing.