catch-up time

It has been quite a while since I last posted so I will just start with the first, last big thing that happened with us. This is a post that will take a while to read...sorry in advance.

In the middle of November we had the good fortune to have the Donovans (my old boss and her family) come down to the Southern California area for their annual Disneyland trip. Lynda has been so good to Ross and I over the years, doing so many things for us and just being a great friend in the process of life. Anyway, she was kind enough to invite us to Disneyland for a day of fun with them. Jake and I left early Saturday morning and made it there about 10:15 and met them at their hotel and then off to Disneyland for the first ride of the day, the Matterhorn.

After the Matterhorn we decided to hop right over to the Tea Cups (one of my favorite rides) since they are right next to the it. Tom and Lynda sat this one out and as the four of us waited in line Jake and I told the kids if we go too fast just let us know and we will stop spinning. So we get on and Jake and I start spinning it pretty fast and we look at Joe and he is not lookin' good so we stop spinning. All the while Rachel is laughing her head off, Jake and I are laughing but poor Joe just has a blank look on his face. We get off the ride and need to let Joe settle down. About 20 minutes later he threw up. We felt soo bad. Here it is the second ride of the day and we already made a Donovan sick...great!! He is a trooper and shortly after that he was back and ready to ride some rides.

Of course we hit up all of the major big rides like, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates which is Rachel and Jake's favorite ride.

The kids really wanted to do the water rides with Jake and I and Lynda, Jake and myself were hoping to get those done as early as possible but that didn't happen which was ok. Luckily Jake took one for the team on Splash Mountain and sat in the front. However by the time we made it to California Adventure and on to the Grizzly River Run (a water rafting type ride, guaranteed to get you wet) it was 5:30 and the sun was down. I was soo not looking forward to getting wet and of course Lynda and I were the two who got absolutely soaked. I had denim jeans on that day and they were literally stuck to my legs, my underwear was soaked, my tank-top was soaked, everything was soaked. Well, there were no lines and the kids wanted to hop right back on so, why not since we were already drenched. I have to say it was a blast. Luckily it was 86-88 degrees that day and I dried completely by 10 or 10:30. All in all it was a totally fun day at Disneyland with some great friends. Plus the decor of Disneyland at that time of year is so fun and beautiful, how can you not have fun at Disneyland at Thanksgiving/Christmas time...in general how can you not have fun at Disneyland!?

Self-portrait in a ornament on the big Christmas tree.






This is one of the big trees in California Adventure park...I should have taken a picture of the tree on Main Street when it was lit because it was soo tall and beautiful- oh well!

Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving was the next major thing that happened and we were able to go back home to Reno/Dayton. I was so looking forward to going home not only because it is home but because I really, honestly was looking forward to the cold. I will admit that it is nice living in an area where the weather is always comfortable, rarely below 62 and rarely above 72, but I grew up in a place with seasons and we were both looking forward to wearing our coats and bundling up. And boy oh boy did I get to wear my coat - I forgot what a 35 degree night feels like and I did not complain once about it! Anyway, we spent Thanksgiving morning with Mom, Pop and the Reillys and had a great breakfast. Hilary made homemade cinnamon rolls which were delicious (maybe Hil you should post the recipe, hint, hint) the boys talked boy talk, and Hilary, Finn and I played Candyland until the boys barged in and wanted to join! It was a good morning full of laughs and fun. I can never get enough of my family. Sorry I don't have any pictures on my camera of Thanksgiving day- Mom you need to post some!

Jake and I left around 2 and headed to his house for dinner with his parents and brother. I felt bad because I wasn't able to help with anything ahead of time except make homemade whipped cream because Jake was on call for jury duty in Los Angeles from November 18th-December 1st and I had no idea when were were going to be able to come. Jake got called on a jury the Tuesday before Thanksgiving but luckily for some reason after questioning the jurors the prosecution and defense did not feel like he would be right for the case and he was called off and his duty was served and over. Sorry for the digression but that is why I could not help because Marna had already gotten everything for dinner. Marna did a wonderful job with everything. The table was set up very beautifully and the food was delicious (I ate everything but the turkey). Then we just had a relaxing, fun evening watching Cars and playing Disney's Scene It and chit-chatting.

The next day I got up about 7:30 to go home and meet mom for a day of Black Friday shopping. We weren't in any hurry anywhere, we didn't need to be the 4 and 5 am-ers and neither of us were really planning on buying much but it was still a fun day. I got Sleeping Beauty for $12 at Target. I just realized that we look like Disney freaks; we like Disney but I don't think as much as this post leads on. Anyway, I also got one of the really nice cozy throws from Potterybarn. It was such a good deal, originally $80 on sale for $60 with another 20% off and I still had part of a gift card left from the wedding. I love this blanket, in fact I have used it every day since. So after a fun day of shopping with Mom, Jake came up from his parents and we had the Reillys over for some fun that night. Finn brought her easy bake oven and Hilary and I helped her make some sugar cookies. Aidain brought his guitar so Jake could help put a new string on and teach him some songs. I think Aidan really enjoyed that...he kept playing the songs all night. Chex mix was made, Pop's popcorn was made and then a game of spoons was played. It was just an old fashioned family fun night.

The next day I went and saw pregnant Paige and the new baby's room (she has her own blog now for those who don't know- it is 1+1=4). I wouldn't expect anything less of Paige than to have the baby's room perfectly done and organized down to each specified blanket laid out for each specified object i.e. the stroller, crib, etc., to the diapers out of their package in the specified spot in the dresser. I love you Paige!!! I have a feeling Josh and Karly will be awesomely organized as well and I can't wait to see pictures. Then we were off for a nice ending to a fun week, dinner with both sets of parents. It was a good week.

December:

After the trip it was back to normal life. Jake and I joked that it was bitter-sweet, but mostly bitter. I had fun getting out what little Christmas decorations we have, my snow globes, snowflake stocking hangers, a little village that lights up, and some candles and berries. Jake's mom, Marna, was so sweet to send us a very pretty and festive Christmas wreath. Later that weekend we went and got our first Christmas tree. We picked up one of the 5 footer Noble Firs at Lowe's for 20 bucks and it is a little cute, full, tiny tree. Jake put up the lights on the house that day too. Nothing extraordinary just the little lights but I love it still. The next night we put on some Christmas music and had a tree decorating party, talking and laughing about our ornaments that we have gotten over the years. It makes me smile that he likes to do that stuff with me and that we will have fun memories to look back on.
And of course Clara Belle couldn't miss out on the Christmas fun too- she was such a help!! Jake has been miserably busy with work trying to get a big project done before we head back to Reno/Dayton for Christmas. He has been all over Southern California the last two months, especially the last two weeks but none-the-less we are having a fun first Christmas season as our little family.