Thanks Mom!

I'm not passionate about a lot of things, but two things I absolutely love are scrapbooking and sewing. For Christmas this year, I made a few handmade gifts...not as many as I would have liked, but I have a 3 month old and a crazy almost 3 year old. As I was sewing my many gifts, I paused to think what I would do if I did not know how to sew. It is something I love to do and I am always so excited to pick out fabrics and try new patterns. I only learned to sew 2 years ago when my parents came down to visit us in Simi Valley. I wanted to make a diaper bag for Amy, so my mom brought down her old machine and she spent a few hours teaching me the basics. I was hooked! Ever since then I have slowly started to learn more and create fun things for friends and family. I have now selfishly taken over the spare room and turned it into my craft room. My parents bought me a craft table from Ikea and a craft organization center. I love it!! I am an organization freak so it has been so nice to have a place for everything and not have to clean up the dining room table after each day of scrapbooking...I can just leave everything out. So, all this to say I owe all my fun creations to my mom . Thanks mom!

Lifelong dream fulfilled

I fulfilled a lifelong dream during our trip to Disneyland. Well, that might be overstating it a little bit but whenever I visited Disneyland as a kid I always wanted to eat at the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. So this time I planned ahead and made reservations a couple weeks in advance so that Jenni and I could dine at the Blue Bayou Restaurant. It was a nice time, and we made it halfway through our desert before the cellphone rang...which could only mean one thing, Riley was crying.

Princess Coronation Ceremony

One of the funniest parts of Disneyland was watching Avery at the Princess Coronation Ceremony. The Princesses made there grand entrance, and then danced around on stage. There was some instruction on how to be a good princess and then a lesson that consisted of instruction on the proper way to twirl, curtsy, wave, and prance around. Avery was pretty enthralled with the whole thing. I will try to attach the video clip it's classic, it shows other kids just standing around while Avery sways back and forth, spins, waves...hilarious.

The Merriest place on Earth

The day after Christmas we headed down south with Jenni's parents for Avery and Riley's first trip to Disneyland. Avery loves everything Disney, especially the Little Mermaid and all the princesses, so she was amped up for this trip to "Mickey's house".
The six of us piled in our Expedition with some luggage strapped on the roof. The drive went well, with only one major meltdown from the 3 month old. We were guided by my new GPS navigation system, thanks Mom and Dad.

Sleeping Beauty's castle, with snow.

"First Visit" button.

Dumbo

Christmas

We spent Christmas in Pittsburg (CA). Thanks to Grams and Papa for hosting us, we had a great time and enjoyed great food.

The obligatory "baby's first Christmas" outfit.

So serious. (hats by Aunt Amy)

That looks like enough to go around.

All I want for Christmas is...

Sorry, Dad, this is the best one I got.

Santa Claus...What a Joke!

Okay, so I told Jenni after Avery was born I didn't want to do the whole "Santa Claus Thing" with our kids. Not because I'm a grinch like my sister in law says, but I just don't think we need to go out of our way to deceive them when there is plenty of fun to be had at Christmas time without needing to get Ol' St. Nick involved. I guess I'd just rather focus on the "real meaning" of Christmas. However, Avery watches her share of TV and movies and started telling me all about how Santa comes down the chimney on Christmas and brings us presents...she left out the part about the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Since Jenni is far less spiritual than I am, she gave into the whole deal and assisted in leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. :)
Probably the real reason I'm not into Santa is that if I'm gonna spend money to buy gifts for my kids then I want to get to credit for them! LOL

All jokes aside, Avery knows Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. She loves opening presents. She loves seeing her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. She loves the candy. I think that is plenty. I'm okay with her being scared when we walk by the Santa Claus at the Mall. I don't feel the need to share time with a fat guy and flying reindeer.

Luke Chapter 2 verse 10-11 (click)
...I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Bi-annual Dollar Tree and Dessert Festivities

So it's quickly becoming tradition. Leave the kids with grams and papa, and go out with Derek and Amy to shop for stocking stuffers at the dollar tree and then have dessert. Let me tell you, the dollar tree in Pittsburg has some high quality and highly affordable treasures to be found. Since we are shopping for each other simultaneously, the key is to be discreet, keeping your purchases on the DL...the second key is to lather up with hand sanitizer after leaving the store. For some reason we did not take pictures at the Dollar Tree, but I will let you use your imagination.

For dessert we headed to Mimi's Cafe. The waitress said they were out of bread pudding, but after Amy gave her the death glare she rustled up a fresh batch.
That's Jenni's breastfeeding privacy device, not a fashion acessory.

Derek and I had an appetizer platter for "dessert". I'm not sure what's happening here.

Here's some of the Dollar Tree booty from my stocking...I haven't tried the Gas Relief pills yet.

Joy to the World!

Gingerbread House

Jaron and Avery put together a fantastic gingerbread house this year. Jaron was a good sport as I picked up the kit and made him put it together with Avery even though he was sick. Good job Daddy!! Avery had a great time and that's all that matters. Riley had fun just hanging out in her bouncy seat while I videotaped and ate chocolate.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Gilroy with the whole Hansen clan. We had a great time visiting with everyone and eating tons of yummy grub!!

Off-roading at Hollister Hills

I went off-roading with a couple friends before thanksgiving, just a day trip down to Hollister Hills. It was fun. Not a place that is exactly suited to my truck, more of a 4wd park. My friend had his Rhino (kind of an off-road golf cart) and it was a blast. I was impressed, it could go anywhere.