Sea World, Shamu, and Soaking Wet!!

We decided to surprise the kids with a trip to Sea World the day after Christmas. We have annual passes from our trip last January, and we wanted to get in one last trip. The kids were thrilled. We were up and out the door by 445 AM Saturday morning. Way to early if you ask me. We normally would have driven out the night before, but didnt want to have to leave Christmas Day early, oh well, nothing wrong with being tired!

We got there and headed right to the Pets Rule show, was cool as always.

This is the ice wall in the polar bear area.

After we all got wet and cold on Atlantis, the kids and Chris wanted to do the river raft ride. I passed, haha!

 We had brought ponchos, but somehow Delaney and Daddys jacket managed to get really wet.

The look on Chris' face is priceless!

 $100 in new clothes later, Delaney had a whole new outfit and Chris had a new pullover sweatshirt, oi vey! We made a point of seeing the Christmas Sea Lion and Shamu shows!

Great as usual. After the park we headed out to a nice dinner, and then back to the hotel to pass out! Oh, less we forget that I won a huge neon green monkey with purple eyes!!

Sunday morning we had planned to do a harbour cruise, but they werent operating, so we headed out over the brigde to Coronado Island and drove around. We went by the no longer there naval base and Chris got all melancholy about how things had changed. We hopped in the car and headed home!! After a stop in Gila Bend for some imported mexican ceramic piggy banks!!! Was a great weekend!!

 

 

Such a blessed Christmas was had!!

Being so busy with work this Christmas season I couldnt wait for Christmas to get here! And now of course it has come and pass too quickly. We spent Christmas Eve at my parentals house with family. Was a great time, we get to see family we usually only see once per year. Grandma and Grandpa hit it right on the nose with their gifts, huge hits!!

As tradition the kids open one gift each on Christmas Eve, always pjs, but the kids look forward to it.

Christmas day was wonderful. We started off with breakfast burritoes prepared by chef daddy! The kids got all they wanted and more. The big gifts this year were Ripsticks for Cody and Delaney and Nicholas got a fully set up guinea pig cage, just need to replace the stuffed one with a real one! The big surprise for the kids was a box with a few of their Sea World things in it, took them a bit to figure that one out. The day after Christmas we were heading off to a day at Sea World.

After our Christmas at home, we head over to Casa Smith for a twist on the Christmas tradition, we had a mexican Christmas! The kids had a great time, we ate some awesome food, and it was a great day! The kids all received sombreros and pinatas filled with candy! The best gift of the day was that our dear friend Bruce was able to spend it with all of us, just a couple days after major surgery!! Was a very blessed day!

Thought I would end with a pic of 2 of the loves of my life, my monkey and my jack!

Pre-Christmas in Vegas!

The weekend before Christmas Chris and I were able to steal away for the weekend, just us. I got a smoking $20 a night deal at the Imperial Palace so off we went. The trip was a surprise for Chris for Christmas.

I also got us tickets to see The Blue Man Group on Sat night. What a disappointment that was. It was an hour and 45 minute show that could have been great if condensed to an hour. The drums/music/paint parts were great there was just a ton of filler that wasnt needed. Oh well, you live and learn.

Other than that we had a great time. We went by the new casino, Aria at Citycenter, its really nice. They had these cool ice things and funnel tubes.

I found a new favorite game of mine, Craps. Played it for about 6 hours Sat nite/Sun morn. We did well enough gambling that on the way out of town, I got to do my other favorite thing, shopping!! We had fun at the M&M and Coke Stores!!

Its exciting to see the bridge almost finished!

Val Vista Lakes Mtn Lights

Tonight after dinner we rounded up the kids and headed out to look at lights. Our community, Val Vista Lakes, has a mountain of sorts by the clubhouse that every year they decorate with a gazillion lights and you can walk through it. Was a nice walk thru, we enjoyed it!! Forgive the Fedex clothing, I hadnt planned on being photographed.

Delaney and the sidewalk chalk contest!!

Saturday the 5th the Dads Club at the kids' school held their annual sidewalk chalk contest. Every kid gets a square surrounding the parking lot. Last year we had to miss it for some reason I cant remember, but this year they were all excited to do it. That is until it was time to get up on a Saturday to go, Delaney is the only one who went. She drew an awesome snowman with snow. She didnt win but got a cool participation certificate. And I also got a hand drawn replication to hang on my wall courtesy of the artist.

Codys first band concert!

Last week Cody had his very first band concert. He is/was playing the trombone. In this video he is in the blue shirt/tan pants, on the end. Below are 4 other songs they did, they are all short, 30 seconds or so. They did a great job, thanks to all those who came. His music teacher has asked him to switch to baritone, as they need one and she believes he can do a great job! Great job Cody!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVUWpCZ2QkU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6St84Vjd6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY0jriyTDd4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht_h2TNtSKM

Chris' work Christmas Party

Friday the 11th, Chris and I got to dress up and pretend to be sophisticated for one evening.  The kids were otherwise entertained and we had a nice evening out at Chris' work party.  The food was good and the time out alone was great.  We called the party quits around 9, and did what most people without kids for the entire night would do, we came home and went to bed!!  After all it had been a work day that started around 430 AM. 

Here is us in all our fanciness!

Decorating the Tree!!

Tonight was the night we, should say, they, decorated the tree.  We have had, as long as I can remember, let the kids decorate the tree.  When they were smaller we would filter out some ornaments to the top.  This year I think I am going to leave the top foot empty.  I kinda like it that way. They did a great job this year!! 

Annual Gingerbread Decorating Day!!

This past weekend was the annual day to decorate Gingerbread Houses!! After the kids spent the night at the Smiths, Chris and I headed over to decorate houses.  A couple neighbor kids joined in, Brandi and Logan.  The kids had a good time, and we all came away with 2 awesome looking houses!!!