DECEMBER 2008: Is it January yet?
I'll try to keep the commenting to a minimum this month - the pictures speak louder than words, and between Kevin and I both celebrating birthdays, taking a Vegas vacation, and seeing EVERYONE in our families from Christmas Eve and Christmas, we are breathing a sigh of relief.

Christmas isn't Christmas until you've licked cookie dough from a beater, and Kami got her very first lick of a beater ever (I usually bake when she's napping, for obviuos reasons) - she was addicted at first lick.

Good job Trevor!! We were happy to stop the hustle and bustle to go to Trevor's award ceremony at school!! Good job getting your award, Trev!!

I think the metal chairs and gym floor are a dead give away about where we are.

Quick trip to Vegas with the Startups...we've taken a vacation with them in December for the last 4 years...the guys went off to watch the BYU Cougars lose. My heart was not broken. Go PAC 10!!

Since before I was born, it is Ewers Family tradition to go out for Mexican food on Christmas Eve...

Then we headed back to my house for the traditional White Elephant. It NEVER disappoints.

This years top white elephants were a toss up between Brent's mug-mug, and the Native American vase...I have a feeling we'll see those next year.

Though some Ewers' may argue that this vase is totally appropriate given our Cherokee heritage. Eek.

Great granny with the kids.

Santa Claus came - and our kids must have been good!!! The cutest thing was when Trevor and Garrett went to bed they saw Santa in the sky...remember those days??


Christmas morning:

Christmas midmorning:

Christmas afternoon at Nana and Papa's:

Christmas night back at our house with my dad:

Brent killed on vocals and Jared rocked the guitar...where's your pic, Brent?


And to all a good night.

November 2008: A is for...

Annual passes...taking a year off from the Magic Kingdom was necessary for my sanity, but we are now ready for another year. After forgetting about why we began to really dislike the 'Happiest Place on Earth', we plan on falling in love with it all over again.

Aging gracefully...we celebrated Kevin's grandma, Loretta's, 90th birthday with a big bash in Palm Springs!! She has definitely aged beautifully, and is still full of spunk! (I need some pictures of her instead of my kids post-party!! ) At the pool...while in Palm Springs, we got to stay at a great hotel with Kevin's sister, our niece, and her kids (who are the same ages as our kids). The pools at this hotel were unbelievable, with a beach entrance complete with sand...the kids loved it!Axel Rose, eat your heart out. This becomes consistent entertainment in our house, and we like to torture our company, too. Eastvale, let me hear you make some noise!! Rock on!! Another soccer season over!! It was fun and exhausting for everyone involved. Thanks to all of our family who came and cheered! Grandpa even came all the way from Arizona to watch a game!! Am I violating some kind of child labor law now?? I have to say that donuts and OJ at the garage sale were a hit. Action hero costume...Again. I am not exaggerating when I say that Garrett has worn this Spiderman costume everyday this month. Several of my friends are nodding "yes" as they read this. I am asking forgiveness for ever doubting the parenting skills of any parent who let their child wear a funky costume in public. I am choosing my battles.

Applying make-up for the first time...in secret...mascara...on her lips. She is Goth. Kami, I promise I will teach you how to wear make-up someday...when you are 18, and Dad and I are chaperoning your dates.

I'm Thankful for Swords

This year as we went around the Thanksgiving dinner table telling what we were thankful for, Trevor said he was "thankful for missionaries" and Garrett said he was "thankful for swords". They painted their personalities perfectly with those statements. I couldn't have described their personalities better with pages of text.

After dinner they got into the costumes they had made at school and Trevor told the story of the first Thanksgiving...forget the public school system...Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving was VERY educational.

We had Thanksgiving for the second year in a row at my house...thanks to everyone for battling freeways.

Everyone helped out and brought a dish or two, so it was very stress-free...for me. Seriously guys, I'm sorry about all the traffic you had to endure. I promise we'll travel next year!

I didn't cven have to do the turkey!! Lori and Andy deep fried it in the back yard...cooked PERFECTLY!

Kami napped during dinner (all that tryptophan) and apparently was upset that we ate without her...next year Kam, I promise we'll wake you up so you don't have to eat leftovers!

LET'S DO BUSINESS

Trevor Discovers Capitalism

October was the month of us learning that - like his father - Trevor loves to spend his down time dreaming up business schemes. I had no idea our children would inherit the "Emerson Entrepreneur Gene", but it manifested during his month off track. If it wasn't business plans sketched out on the Magna Doodle, it was begging pleas to go outside and sell items from the house to the neighbors, specifically to the Coles...thanks for contributing to Trevor's mission fund. The CEO and Executive VP ready for business. I had to talk Trevor down to 25 cents - he wanted to charge "55 cash" for a cup.

I thought I would appease his hunger for the almighty buck after I let him have the koolaid stand, but he was persistent in wanting to organize a fair. He had a plan, including what games and activities there would be, and who would work - Garrett refused to work the bounce house...Trevor got a taste of disgruntled employees.

Dad helped set up the bounce house and games before he went to work.

Party-goers arrived in costume, and Trevor was officially "in-charge". Trevor wanted to charge an entrance fee, and I didn't want to squash his entrepreneurial spirit, so each attendee was given a bag of money to spend...they earned tickets at the games for fabulous prizes.

He even hired Aunt Lori to work the snack bar.

He also had the idea to do a cookie decorating contest, in which he would vote for the best cookie. When I asked him if he thought that might hurt someone's feelings if their's wasn't the best, he said that he would tell everyone that their cookies look great, but that one was really great...so p.c.

...the cookies did not last long enough to be judged, however.

And, no Trevor party is complete without a dance party.

The fair went off without a hitch! Thanks to all of our friends who are able to help make it such a success!!

Balboa Island - End of OctoberI have to say that I have no complaints about it still being warm at the end of October...I love So Cal! The boys got to go to the Harvest Carnival with Aunt Lori and Cousin Jay, then spend the night on Balboa Island with Uncle Andy and Aunt Lori. We joined them for lunch and a bocce ball tourney, along with some of Lo's friends from the island. Garrett and Andy won, thanks to the 'creative refereeing' by Lori .
The Bocce Teams - we are a very competitive family.

Mommy, It's Halloweentime...

The 31st came quick - let's hurry and carve the pumpkins before it gets dark! Thanks grandma for helping!

We like to carve topless around here...I don't know why my boys ended up with no shirts.

Later that night...

Everyone got into character, including the naked Dora on the left.

Grandma stuck around for the Halloween festivities.

So glad the Startups joined the Emersons and Coles for what has become tradition...thanks for leaving the hills for the night! So fun!!

When the bag is draggin, it's time to call it a night.

Congrats on Beating Chaffey!

We feel at home on the bleachers at Citrus.

And now for some Christmas browsing...