CHristmas Lights

So we went to the Old mission Inn, over in Riverside, Last weekend (or was it the weekend before? yikes! I'm getting old...). We went so we could see the lights and the kids could sit on Santa's lap, we heard it was worth the horrible traffic, parking, and crowds... and what we heard, was correct! The lights were BEAUTIFUL! altho i'm getting ahead of myself...

First off we told Rocco where we were going and he got super excited about it, and his excitement must have been contagious, because I was bouncing in my seat, and even Zeegan was happy and for once not complaining about being in her car-seat. We got there and just walking up the block toward the light displays we could tell it would all be worth it. As I said before, the lights were BEAUTIFUL!

BUT, the line for Santa was about half a million kids long, so we told our kiddos a little lie and said Santa was taking a nap and we'd have to come back another time... Don't Judge! It's not the first lie we've told about the fat jolly old man, and it probably wont be the last... but I did feel a little bit guilty about not waiting in line... awww shucks! Oh Well! --- Like I said; Don't Judge! Tis the season!

So we walked around the block and enjoyed the lights. Rocco just about died of excitement when he saw the life size train with lights and decorations and all the works. The only thing that could top that, was when he saw a real live Reindeer (speaking of Santa and reindeer; just wait til you hear the story of when we actually did take Rocco to sit on Santa's lap this year... let's just say there was a real dead reindeer!). Rocco made us stand in the cold by the reindeer cage for probably 15 minutes til we finally dragged him away, because it was too cold to be standing still! He loved it! We loved it! Christmas is such a fun time of year...

Last Beach Day 2010

So a couple weeks back it was unseasonally warm and sunny one day, and luckily it just happened to be Seth's day off school that week. So we decided to hit the beach! It was SUCH a beautiful day! The sky and the water were gorgeous. The beach was warm and, surprisingly, not very windy (which is usually my chief complaint when it comes to beach days). The water was just as freezing as ever, but I suppose that's to be expected in November...

Zeegan once again proved she belongs in our family! Like her brother before her, she loves the beach! She LOVED the feel of the sand between her toes, but HATED the water (which is actually the opposite of how Rocco felt at that age; we could hardly keep him out of the water, but he was scared of the sand...).

It was such a fun day and i'm just so grateful and happy we were able to enjoy it together as a family! If this year has taught me anything, it is that family time is soooo important and that we should take advantage of the opportunities we have to spend time together, because when those times are few and far between, you suddenly realize just how special happy-memory-making-together-time is!!!

Thanksgiving 2010

Okay, so this is a month+ late, but what's that saying? better late than never?!

So we spent Thanksgiving this year at Seth's Aunt Geneil's home, and it was a blast! TONS of food! All kinds of fun new things, not to mention all the traditional Thanksgiving yummys! Seth's cousin, Steffani, make this pecan brownie pie thing that was absolutely HEAVENLY! I still need to get that recipe... I made my usual pumpkin roll (Thank-you Mother for that fabulous recipe! It's always a hit...). All the kids had so much fun playing with the bucket loads of toys at the Vines home and all the guys (and Zeegan) enjoyed watching the football game on the big screen... And me? Well I got out our games and had a GREAT time playing the train game, Settlers, and a couple others... So much Fun!

After the dinner and games with the family, we went home and gave Zeegan her first taste of rice cereal! She thought she'd died and gone to heaven! She was smiling and giggling and just couldn't get enough of it...

The next day we got our Christmas tree and Seth and Rocco decorated it. Rocco is such a great little decorator! Zeegan had so much fun watching Rocco, you would've thought she was the one doing all the decorating, with all the smiles she was sharing...

I am so thankful for this time of year when we are reminded of all we have to be grateful for! I'm thankful for my wonderful husband and children! I'm so glad Seth was able to have the holiday off and able to spend time with us, making fun memories! I'm thankful to be so loved in my family, and in Seth's family (who all make me feel as if I've always been a part of the family). I'm thankful we've made it about halfway through our third year of medical school, without too many casualties. I'm thankful for so much I could just keep going on listing things i'm grateful for, forever and ever! But what I am most thankful for is the gospel and the blessing it brings in my life! I'm so grateful for a temple sealing that will keep me and those I love most in this world, together forever!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone!!!