Happy Birthday Jesus!

So I have mixed feelings about Santa Clause......Growing up I was a very realistic/literal child so I did not understand why all the santas looked different....and that Santa's helper thing did not go over real well with me. I asked my mom when I was three "if Santa and the Easter Bunny were not real than what about Jesus?". This was a pretty heavy question for a three year old (which I have held on to as a parent). I want my kids to enjoy the fun stuff but I don't want to go crazy on the commercial Christmas. Santa does visit our house and we talk about him to the boys......I just don't want to over hype. Nate knows we are celebrating Jesus' Birthday and I want the focus to remain on that!

Some little things have helped teach the kids about the REAL meaning of Christmas. One of them has been the fun kids Nativity sets Mimi gave the boys last year to play with. Last Christmas Nate called them "Nate's tivities".....I thought it was just adorable. We also started using an advent calender this year (that was filled with candy so the boys loved it) as a count down to Jesus' Birthday.

We had a wonderful Christmas day! We started the day off with the Santa gifts....It looked like Santa made a stop at the boot barn. Both of the boys got new hats, cowboy shirts, and gun holster belts. Benny was so excited. They both modeled their new shirts all Christmas. Nate also got buzz light year, a remote control toy story car, and some other toy story goodies. Benny got lots of Thomas trains (Santa ordered from china for a steal) and a fun bass pro outdoor set with a truck, trailer, horses, and a jet ski. After presents we made a big breakfast and took a walk to the park. It was a beautiful day and I was so thankful Mimi and Papa Dave we able to spend it with us in California!

My camera was still acting up so I did not get the kind of pictures I wanted to...but enjoy the ones that did come out.

having another fight with the companies that package these toys

nate trying on his stocking

I think benny was most excited about his cowboy stuff

off to the park

benny and papa dave hanging out

Christmas Past

Christmas 2009
Christmas 2008

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2005

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a blast! We started the day out with lunch with Mimi and Papa Dave in Long Beach harbor. We went to the children's Christmas Eve mass. Nate was very excited to wear his suit his friend Cade had given him. He looked really handsome. Benny slept for most of the mass on Mimi and Papa's shoulders, this always makes mass much easier at his age. Nate went up to the front for the children's sermon. He walked all the way from the back corner of the church to the front, he was very brave. We were very proud of him, he looked like such a big boy (until he got up there, then he looked like the littlest one). He is going to be the best little leader for his brothers. After mass we went out for Chinese food...which I love (we used to always order Chinese food on Christmas Eve when we would go to Nebraska growing up). Then we can home and the boys opened presents.

Climbing on the dolphin outside the restaurant

Luckily there was no one in the restaurant so the boys could be as loud and crazy as they wanted. I think Brian drew the line when they were crawling under the tables,but hey they were having fun.

Our mini me tree we brought to California

Getting ready to open presents, my camera was acting up so I didn't get the best shots Nate assigned jobs...he would open the presents then Ben would play with them. Not sure if this will fly next year, but I am sure Mr. Pumpkin will let them open his presents.

We skyped uncle Justin in so he could see them open his presents.

20 Weeks

20 WeeksI can not believe we are over halfway there to having our third little boy! This pregnancy has by far gone by the fastest. I pray everything continues this smooth and I can just enjoy every moment before things get crazy for a little while. We are still working on names....I will keep you posted. This was our third little one I was calling Caroline but I have a feeling he is not too thrilled about that...hehehe. Nate is still calling him Mr. Pumpkin and he always includes him when he draws our family in his pictures.....so cute.

I know my picture is not at Disneyland but it was very crowded this week, so you will have to deal with the beach. Either way this is much more interesting than the pictures I took with Nate and Ben (see third babies get the royal treatment too).

Along the Coast

Wednesday we started the day early with a yummy breakfast at Schooner or Later. Brain saw this place on the food network last year right after we moved here. Last year we took my family there on Christmas eve morning so we decide to continue the tradition (one day early).
There were a bunch of firefighters coming in for breakfast as we were leaving, they offered to let the boys get in their truck and take pictures. Nate and Benny love fire trucks so they were very excited to check it out.

Next we ventured south to San Clemente.

The boys loved playing on the playground with their Mimi and PaPa.

Our next stop was Aliso Beach which is one of our favorites.

Last stop was downtown Huntington for some lunch. What a fabulous day....to top it off Mimi and Papa Dave watched the boys so Brian and I could go on a date that evening. Thank you Mimi and Papa!