So far a wonderful Christmastime...

December has been full of lots so far...

Trevor's performance as a mouse in Clara Barton's "Nutcracker" was critically acclaimed..especially since he reluctantly styed in character after the performance. (And hated every second of the costume, which was a relief to his Dad).

Thanks to his biggest fans, his family, Mayra and her daughter, and Gramma for being in the audience...without you he wouldn't be a mouse.

The annual Emerson Family Balboa Christmas/Boat Parade is one of our FAVES!

Snow in the OC was a Christmas miracle!

Kamryn was in awe of all the lights!! Soo cute.

Little Miss Independent insisted on balancing on the wall as we walked the island.

The gang in our usual spot, hot cocoas in hand, for the parade...the weather was perfect!

Garrett is a huge hot chocolate fan...takes after mommy!!

The boat parade is so amazing, and Kamryn even yelled "Merry Christmas" to the boaters.

We loved getting to see JayJay, too!!

Then back to Aunt Lori's and Uncle Andy's for presents and dessert...YUMMY cupcakes for my birthday!

Disneyland on my birthday for a few hours!! The boys LOVED the Matterhorn...I was a little nervous about it, but they had a blast (although Garrett shut his eyes the whole time).

The kids were THRILLED to see Santa at the ward christmas party...??

And the kids gave us quite a performance!! Good singing!

And Baama got to join us!

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/93b475d1d37c0653a9de1f7928bc6cb4

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/3f2d9cc956da1e6d21d033ae57f406b4

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/89e9d8af8dd960bba60968a5660aed7c

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!!

My kids are blessed not only to have awesome grandparents, but they also have some way cool aunts and uncles. A whole other set of people to spoil them! My kids are the only little kids on either side of the family. My brothers, none of whom have kids of their own (yet), love to borrow mine.

Still not sure who has more fun on these uncle-nephew outings...??

Uncle Brent called and asked to take Trevor to his first major league baseball game. So, Uncle Brent and Uncle Rob got to borrow Trev, with a friendly reminder from their sister to be responsible caretakers (which they were) as they headed to a Cubs-Padres game, followed by a sleepover at Uncle Brent's in San Diego.

Although Trev's mommy, and Uncle Brent and Rob's sister, would not have supported the consumption of all the junk at the game. ; ) They defended themselves by saying it is part of the "first baseball game with your uncles initiation", which includes eat whatever your little young, still healthy heart desires!

There were slurpees...

Cotton Candy...



Popcorn...

Hot Dogs and Nachos...

Wait...is there a baseball game going on?? They are lucky he didn't puke! ick.

They also treated him to breakfast the next morning and a video game session.

Thanks again, guys. You are awesome.

May Days!! (Finally blogging again!)

Emerson Havasu Trip

We took a trip with Kevin's parents, his sister, Tammy, and our brother-in-law, Butch. We had a blast!

Kami loves getting in her "swim soup" and riding in the boat! But...unlike the boys who always fall asleep during long boat rides, this girl wants to take in every moment!

Nana, Papa, and the kiddos hanging in the boat.

Love this pic: Kami looking glam, and Garrett shooting water at me. This is so true to life.

We are so lucky that my Dad lives near the lake and gets to spend time with us when we are there! He and Christie came for dinner!! And brought dessert! Yum!

It would not be a trip to the lake without a run on the tube!

Trev and Gare ove to swim out to where the boat is anchored and get a break from us!

Tee Ball Comes to an End

Trev was a super fast runner! And we saw great progress from the beginning of the season to the end! He had a great team and coach, made lots of new friends, and had fun with somefriends that he already knew!

Peanut Gallery

He had a few great hits, without the tee!! Hooray!

Garrett and Mom's Date, I mean, Dinner Night Together

Kevin and Trev went to a Father-Son activity at Trev's school, so Mom took Garrett to Chuck E. Cheese. But...he got mad when I called it a "date night", because I'm "only s'posed to go on dates with Daddy". Everytime I said we were going on a date, he would almost cry. I hope he still feels upset about dating when he is 16.

The kid dominated on Foos Ball, tho.

Where a kid can be a kid!

He has mad basketball skills like mom, too!

Father and Son Outing

This was the boys first father and son outing! Our church has these annually, so my boys were so excited to get to go this year! They also got to do a little rock climbing on Saturday with some of their homies! Kevin made an attempt!! He said it is waaay harder than it looks!

Did Trev get higher than Dad?!

Garrett likes to "hang" out.

The boys had soooo much fun repelling!

They got a chance to swing dangerously close to the rocks. Thank goodness for trips with dads, becuase moms would not have supported this!

These guys love each other!! Good brothers!!

Exploring Big Bear with their buddies!

Trev's Bowling Bday Party

We had friends from Eastvale and Chino Hills come bowling to celebrate Trev's 6th birthday! We had a blast!

April Was Very EGG-citing!!

Happy Birthday Kami!!

Can't believe she is two!! We celebrated with a luau, complete with virgin pina coladas, a flip flop pinata and Kevin's famous pineapple salsa that he learned how to make during our recent Maui trip! Kami could have cared less about all the hoopla, but she did enjoy her cupcake.

And, she loved her presents! Thanks to all of our friends and family for the great gifts...even to those of you who weren't there to watch her open them!

Chillin on the trampoline with some of her best girlfriends.

My Love-Hate Relationship with Easter Egg Dying

I don't love dying eggs, but I feel like a bad mom if we don' do it. Plus, what's Easter without dye spilled all over the table and floor? And...without a 2-year-old crying becuase she wants to throw all of the eggs in the pink dye, and her mean parents won't let her. Good times.

Trevor and Garrett did a great job, though!!

I am trying to keep her from grabbing the egg and throwing it in the dye.

Easter Sunday

All dressed in our Easter best ready for church! I know, gag that we are coordinated.

Say "Easter Bunny!"!

The Easter Bunny brought sand buckets instead of Easter baskets. That Easter Bunny sure is practical. How boring!

After church, the kids got to look for the Easter eggs that the Easter Bunny had hid outside. This was their second Easter egg hunt of this year.

We had a yummy Easter dinner at Nana and Papa this year. For dessert, Kev's cousin and his wife brought a GORGEOUS cake...but the orange frosting dyed everything it came in contact with. Our tongues were orange for hours, even after brushing.

And, the kids had their THIRD Easter egg hunt at Nana and Papas. Thanks to Aunt Tammy for hiding the eggs!

Always fun to get together on holidays!

Date Night

Since I have been working part-time, I have missed my kiddos so much. So, one night when Kevin and Trevor were attending a father-son activity at Trev's school, I decided to get a babysitter for Kami and take Garrett on a "date". When I announced to him we'd be going on a "date", he started to cry and said, "I'm just a little kid, I can't date!!". He really hated it anytime I said that we were going to have a "date", so I changed it to "going out". When we left Chuck E. Cheese, I said, "Was that a fun date?", and he asked, "We were just pretending, right?" And then he continued, "Don't tell Daddy". Don't worry Gare, my lips are sealed.

Garrett took no prisoners during fuzeball. He even desimated a 5-year-old, and exclaimed, "Rock and Roll!"

Where a kid can be a kid!!