A Day with Daddy

*So I am WAY behind on my posts, sorry full time work and children have been keeping me so tied up. Busy Busy! I have been keeping track of EVERYTHING though!*

Sydney loves to hang out with Dad in the Garage. She loves his jalopy! She takes him to Disneyland all the time where they stop for Chicken Donalds (McDonalds) and sing songs the whole way through. One day Sydney will have a Caddie of her own built by her Dad...whether she wants one or not!! LOL!

1st Time Ice Skating

All Kristy wanted for her Birthday was to take the girls ice skating. On Jan. 3rd we took Ashlee, Sydney and Kalin ice skating, it was the first time for all of them. Kristy and I even put on skates for old times sakes. It had been 10 years or better since we had put on ice skates. It is amazing how less graceful you are after not skating for so long. The girls were thrilled as they looked at all the girls skating, jumping and spinning through the glass. They were amazed and so excited to strap on their skates. Kristy got on the ice first with Ashlee, it was hysterical. Ashlee immediately tried to jump and spin, only to land flat on her back. Sydney, Kalin and I were next we stayed upright for the most part. The girls were holding my hand, so they just held on to me a little tighter if they felt like they were going to fall. Kalin was as graceful as you could get for skating for the 1st time, she was spinning and everything. Sydney wanted to be with Auntie so Kristy and I traded. I skated with Ashlee and she skated with Sydney which on lasted a short while. We all skated for about 45 minutes and then the girls decided they were way too cold, not to mention Ashlee getting soaked from falling. We went and got some hot chocolate, once they went inside to the warmth they were over it. We took their skates off and every one of they had purple toes from them being so cold. They were done. We took them to lunch and they all fell asleep in the car on the way home. It was an eventful afternoon.

1st Time Bowling

At the Holiday break Darin and I decided to take the girls out for a "Surprise." Ashlee was spending the night, so we thought we'd take them out somewhere they can burn off some energy. We took Ashlee, Sydney and Hailey Bowling. They enjoyed every aspect of it from renting the "lovely" bowling shoes to learning to roll the ball down the bowling lane instead of throwing it. Darin and I couldn't refrain from laughing, it was so funny! Hailey enjoyed trying to run down the bowling lanes. She'd run back and forth. The girls played 2 full games. It wasn't until after the 1st game that they realized that there was an actual score involved. From that point forward the competitiveness came out in both of them. They kept asking who was winning, so we just told them they tied, to keep from any arguments. Who won? I really don't remember now, it doesn't matter anyways. Once they completed their games we gave each of the girls $1 to play in the arcade. They insisted on playing the "dance" game. It was hilarious, Darin and I were rolling. Hailey got involved too, it was fun! It was a good "surprise!"

Christmas Day

Christmas brings busy times for all. After the thrill of opening presents from Santa, we all showered, got dressed and headed to Pleasanton to spend Christmas with Darin's family. We all look forward to the wonderful traditions we share there. The whole family comes over, Scott, Kelli, Missy, Tyler, Kalin, Danny, Ashlee, Madix and us, of course to Robynne and Dave's house! First Darin and Robynne make ebeilskiever (a danish puff pancake-like pastry), which are absolutely delicious! We usually have mimosas too! We then let the kids open their gifts from Santa, Ms. Clause, Rudolph, Frosty and the rest of the family. It is amazing to see the kids open their gifts, it is like a mountain on wrapping paper, not to mention floor is no where in site. This year Darin wound up with the Ant Farm!! The Ant Farm is an old family joke that has been passed on for years, not sure exactly how long, but at least 15 years or better!! We all got tied up in the spirit of opening gifts and started a wrapping paper fight, which was fun...I think Tyler actually started it! Poor Hailey slept through the festivities, but eventually woke to open her gifts later in the day to join in the fun. The food was plenty as always. Uncle Dennis came over and we enjoyed his company, along with Craig, Danette, Kayla, Jenell, & Brett. We enjoyed watching old family movies, laughing and crying both. It was a good time. It is always nice to just relax and kick back at the Christensen's on Christmas Day. People come and go as they please, we always have so much fun! Good times, good memories, that is for sure.

Christmas Morning

We rose early, even though we went to bed late. The girls were excited just to see if Santa came. Once Sydney got out of her bed, she knew. Was is the candy cane path from her room and Hailey's room to the Christmas tree or maybe the bites taken out of the cookie that was left for Santa? Well, maybe the combination. Hailey joined Sydney picking up the candy canes, one by one, and then then their eyes just lit up, they were the size of golf balls when they saw the gifts by the tree. Hailey said "ooohhh!" and Sydney said "wow, I mush have been good!" Such an amazing feeling as a parent. We did good. Sydney saw her stocking filled to the brim and all the presents wrapped in Princess paper, which Santa left for her, including the Santa sack with her name on it and one for Hailey too, of course. Hailey liked her stocking stuffers, especially the slinky. She loved the Mickey Mouse wrapping paper on the gifts Santa left her, but really could care less about opening them. Sydney ripped into her gifts one by one, but it was the "Sleeping Beauty brush your hair" that topped it off for her! That was the ONLY gift she asked Santa for. Hailey enjoyed playing with the Mickey & Friends ladder by the Christmas Tree, again, she was perfectly happy with looking at her gifts with the Mickey Mouse wrapping paper. Sydney helped her open her gifts and she immediately started playing with the Mickey Mouse Lego set she got. The girls were really excited and thankful for all the gifts Santa gave them. Good Ol' Santa came through!

Christmas Eve

Our first Christmas in our new home, not to mention hosting Christmas Eve in our new home just really topped off the Holiday Season! We had my side of the family over for Unkie's birthday and Christmas Eve. The kids were all dressed up in their fancy Holiday clothes, it just reminds me of when I was a little girl getting all dressed up, even though everyone always came to our house, we still were dressed to the nines! Such fond memories and many more to create in our new home. Dad made a delicious prime rib, cooked to perfection ;Caesar Salad (made his own dressing and all!); cheesy garlic bread (just for Seanie) and had a ton of Crab (literally a ton!!). It was wonderful. We enjoyed the 15 different deserts Mom brought along with Grammies homemade Pecan Pie (my personal favorite), lemon pie, and banana pudding...even though we were totally stuffed from dinner. Laura's brownies...ummm, kind of found their way to the pantry (I DON'T SHARE!!) The kids, Sydney, Dillon, and Hailey (no O'Dell family this year as we have them every other year), were anxious all evening to open gifts. Finally the time came and they took turns opening 1 present at a time, which was torture for Sydney and Dillon. Hailey could care less, she got a glow worm from Annie & Unkie and she loved it. She didn't care if she got anything else. We had a wonderful time with the family and enjoying everyone's company. I can't even describe how amazing it was to sit back behind the kitchen counter and look out at all our family talking to one another and enjoying the holiday spirit IN MY HOUSE!! What an awesome feeling! Merry Christmas to me!!

Gingerbread Houses/Cookies

Every year, for as long as I can remember, our family (the women...Mom, Kim, Kristy, and I) make cookies while the children decorate gingerbread houses. This year we didn't do without, except we did them at our house! We had so much fun! We had Ashlee, Sydney, Tyler, Kalin, Dillon, Brenden, Hailey and some family friends over. The girls, Sydney & Ashlee had princess castles for their gingerbread house to decorate. Although the castles were cute including the pink frosting, they didn't stay together very well. Auntie Kim decided to use a hot glue gun to help they stay put, although that didn't work either. Between the hot glue and frosting, we finally managed to get them stay together. Tyler and Kalin had a a cool gingerbread house which included a gingerbread Christmas tree to decorate! Hailey and Brenden enjoyed popping by the table to snap a piece of candy from the "big" kids while sipping their bottles and playing with the Christmas tree and decorations. The kids ate more candy than they put on their houses, but it was all in good fun. We baked until we dropped, busy bees in the kitchen, although it is ALWAYS a good time. Lots of laughs and memories shared.