Three Christmases

So this year we were able to have a week long Christmas with our three families. We started with Tyson's Mom and Charles when they came down to spend the weekend with us from Arizona. We had a great weekend eating at our favorite restaurants out here in the desert, going to a street called "candy cane lane" in palm springs where all the homes on the street are decked out with lights, which of course Sawyer loved, and we played a few rounds of rummikub. It was a very fun weekend with everyone except Trent and Audry's family which we really missed.

Our next Christmas was with my family. Sawyer woke up on Monday morning and randomly threw up, but he still wanted to go to my parents house so we did. Tuesday we had Aunt Carolyn's annual Christmas party that I look forward to every year. We had probably only been there for about an hour when Sawyer threw up again, but this time all over me. We decided that it just wasn't going to work this year and so we got back in the car and drove home. I was so sad to miss all our traditions of reading the scriptures, the polar express, and seeing the drama of the tie exchange. I can't wait for next year.

Last and final Christmas was the real thing here at our home with Tyson's Dad and family. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Gary's, then came home and opened our pajamas. The next morning we woke up and opened presents at our house. Sawyer was more than thrilled to get the Laker's jersey that he has been asking for from Santa, and was most obsessed with the mini skateboards that my mom got him. Its funny how the littlest things can please him. After presents we went back to Gary's for their traditional juevos rancheros breakfast and then back again for a very nice dinner. We had a great holiday and loved being able to see almost all of our family.

Tyson's Mom and Family

Sawyer and my parents and Carolyn's

Sawyer opening his Christmas Eve pirate pajamas

The LAKER jersey

All the kids went for a fun ride in Grandpa's truck on Christmas morning

Playing around and relaxing Christmas night

A Light Night

All the Homec's (minus Trent, Audry and kids) went to the Living Desert to see all the lights. We started the night at Gary and Raquel's for some chili, then off to Starbucks for my favorite drink of the year(other than diet coke)...caramel apple cider, and then to see the lights. They have all these trains sets set up which the kids were obsessed with. We walked around and saw animal lights, santa, and a little ice skating rink. It was a great night that will definetly be a yearly tradition for us.

The wives of the boy family

Sawyer kept side sliding all around and telling us that he was playing hockey. I'm not sure where he learned that.

Sawyer and Jacob with Santa... the other kids were too nervous

Most of the kids

Merry Christmas

My Mom would be so proud

My Mom has always been known for her cinnamon rolls. She even has to make a few dozen a day in December because she has so many people that want her to bring them for Christmas. I have been trying to learn how to make them as perfect as my Mom's, and Tyson always tells me that I am almost there (but that means no). I made a some the other day and they came out looking just like Mom's. Yeah! I am excited to be able to follow in my Mom's footsteps, there could be no better homemaker.

I love my boy

So after running around town all morning, basically trying to avoid working out, I turned Finding Nemo on for Sawyer so that I could do some stuff around the house. It was so loud with my bread machine spinning away, dishwasher running and christmas music playing,all on top of the movie. Somehow Sawyer found a way to fall asleep though. Probably since the age of one he has never fallen asleep anywhere but his crib, not even the car, but apparently my errands wore him out this morning. Now the question is...do I move him and risk him not wanting to go back down, or leave him and risk it being a short nap with no tv time for me? The dilemma's of being a Mom.

Have a little Fun today!

So after checking my computer hourly everyday for three weeks straight for Ellen's 12 Days of Giveaways tickets, we got standby for Tuesday. I was a little disappointed and didn't even think it was worth going. But last weekend Sarah and I decided that it was worth a try. We drove to my Mom's house on Monday night so that she could watch Sawyer while we went. Tuesday morning we woke up at 4:15am, got somewhat ready and drove to LA. I was hoping that no one else would want to wake up that early and that we could be the first in line. I was definitely wrong. There was already a massive line on the street, people in sleeping bags with big puffy coats and some major bed head. The first couple people in line had been there since 8pm the night before. After waiting a couple of hours in the freezing cold we got numbers 29 and 30 in the standby line. Ashly Lark and her sister were right behind us so that made it a little more fun. The Lark's aunt works at the WB studios so while we were waiting for the show we got to take a behind the scenes tour of everything, which was almost the highlight of my day. Then after an 11 o'clock lunch, which anyone who knows me knows I am weird about eating anything that could be considered lunch before noon, we went back to the studio and nervously waited to see if we would get in. I seriously felt sick to my stomach and was cold, but sweating. And, after all that anticipation...we didn't get in. It was so sad to hear the start of the show and be sitting in the back watching it on a tv, not dancing with ellen herself. We did get all of the prizes though which consisted of $100 amex giftcard, a pair of Karl Lagerfeld sunglasses, a $400 pearl necklace which will now be on sale at Homec Jewelers, a nice watch, and a wave board. All in all it was a very fun, but long day. 6 hours in the car and a lot of waiting. I brought my camera to document it all, but the battery died when we tried to take our first picture. Wish me luck for next year. I'm 2 for 2!

Thankful

We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year, and it couldn't have been better. We ate a ton of good food, saw Twilight finally, did a few craft projects, shopped, and had fun just talking and spending time together. Sawyer had so much fun with all of my family. When we are with everyone he prefers that everyone else help him with things instead of me...such a nice break.

My mom and Sawyer played and raked the leaves one afternoon

Our attempt for a family picture did not go very well. Tyson taught Sawyer how you throw rocks in the water and from then on we could not get his attention. I am thinking that until all our kids are older we are never going to get a good picture. At least I got on of Tyson and I, and one of Sawyer alone.

We had to take a picture on the theater after seeing Twilight. Maybe because it was because I had low expectations, but I was obsessed with the movie. I almost couldn't fall asleep that night and I started reading the book again. It was fun seeing it with my mom and sisters, and my Dad came along too. Too bad he was asking my Mom questions through the whole movie.

Here we are decorating the Christmas tree

Dinner at BJ's. Its definitely a family favorite, and the cheeseburger pizza was actually pretty tasty if I do say so myself.
Kim and I thought that we would make a homemade advent calendar. We get very excited over the smallest project that we can get creative with. She was also a huge help with my Christmas card that ended up being a major pain and taking way longer than it should. Thanks Kim!