Daily December Album

It's Daily December Album time!! For those of you who have never done an album like this, I highly recommend it. Check out Ali Edwards blog for all the details. Basically, it's a mini album created to document each day leading up to Christmas. I had so much fun creating it last year and it has been great to look back at this year.

Yes, I'm extremely late in creating this album and I JUST started it. Originally I was going to do it all digital but the other day I pulled out the album from last year and I just loved all the texture to it and that I could attach paper and goodies. I love digital but I'm an old fashioned scrapper at heart. So, I started pulling all my supplies together today and my goal is to have it put together by this weekend. Yes, I know I'll already be a week into it but at least I'm getting it done, right??

So, this year I'm using papers and embellishments from Making Memories Mistletoe collection, an 8x8 red cloth album from American Crafts and cute numbers and cards by Shabby Chic Crafts. (I put links to everything in case you'd like to make your own or need ideas.)

It's so hard to believe it's almost December 1!!

Giving Thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving! Just a quick note to say how thankful I am to have a wonderful family and dear friends in my life. I have been blessed beyond belief and am so grateful for the life I am living. I found a great quote that I think is fitting for today plus a photo of the two biggest treasures in my life...

School Feast

Andrew had his Thanksgiving day feast at school today. All of the children had one thing to bring for the feast just like the pilgrims! We brought one banana for the fruit salad. I felt kinda cheap for only bringing a banana but the teacher reassured me it was okay and that she wanted everyone to bring something.

The kids said the cutest prayer before they ate. I'll have to have Andrew tell me it again. Here are the rest of the pics...

Here comes Santa Claus...

We headed out last night to the annual tree lighting ceremony and parade at Southlands. This year was a week early but so much more organized and fun. There was a marching band, ballerinas, costumed characters (the Grinch included), a float and of course Santa Claus.

Just being out in all of the festivities and listening to the music definitely got me in the mood. I want to start bringing out all of our decorations now. I think we just might do that today.

Me and my best girl, Jenny. :)

He's here!!!

More 5 year pictures

I'm finally getting around to editing the rest of Andrew's 5 year pictures. There are so many to choose from. I have no idea how I'm going to choose which ones to print or to use for our Christmas card.

The photo below is one of my favorites. I love the perspective and all of the fall colors.

but then again, I love it in black and white...

He is such a goof ball!

We have a fun weekend ahead of us. Birthday party today and maybe a show or something tomorrow. We have to start getting ready for Christmas too - Andrew has been asking for the tree to be put up. I'm all for it! Have a great weekend everyone!

Let's go sledding.

This past Sunday we got about 8 inches of snow! Andrew has been waiting for this day for over a month. Daddy got him this cool new sled that says you have to be 5 to ride it so he was waiting for his birthday and then waiting for the snow. This new sled did not disappoint. It is FAST!!

Andrew and Lily heading out for some fun in the snow...

Lily in action....

We came back home and made snow angels in the front yard. Then headed indoors for some hot cocoa and snacks!

Disneyland Day 4

Happy Halloween! We had breakfast in the park with the characters. Andrew is just in love with all of them and is so giddy when he gets to meet them. I loved watching his face when he met each one (some for the second or third time.)

After we rode a few rides in Disneyland we headed over to California Adventure and spent the rest of the day there.

Andrew got dressed up in his muscle man costume and we headed back into Disneyland for him to pick out some candy in the old fashioned candy store. No trick or treating this year but he didn't seem to mind.

As a special treat he got to stay the night at Nana and Papa's hotel. When I spoke to Papa the next morning he said "Does he always talk this much?" LOL Yes, he does. He's my son and so he's a talker. :-)

Here are the pictures from our last day...

Happy Birthday honey!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Blake/Daddy

Happy Birthday to you!

Andrew and I love you very much and look forward to you coming home tonight. We have presents for you! :-)

Disneyland Day 3 - Andrew's birthday!

Today was Andrew's birthday and what better place to celebrate your birthday than Disneyland?!!

We started the day off in Disneyland riding some of Andrew's favorite rides and then grabbed an ice cream at the best ice cream parlor in the world. Seriously, what do they put in this stuff?? Nana spotted a barber shop quartet and flagged them down. They snuck up behind Andrew and sang him Happy Birthday. It was awesome!!

Then we headed over to California Adventure and had a blast in the Bug's land area and boardwalk. We rode some adult rides that were unbelievably fast and soooooo much fun. Blake talked me into this crazy ride that shoots you straight up about 100 feet and pushes you back down and then up, etc, etc. OH MY GOSH! After we took off for what felt like was outerspace, I was breathing in and out so quickly he had to yell at me to breath so I wouldn't hyperventilate.

We ended the day at Rainforest Cafe for a nice birthday dinner. It really was the perfect day.

Heading into California Adventure.

Just being goofy and dancing around to the music.

I love how Gaga is trying to get Andrew to look at the camera, probably in hopes he will stop driving so crazy. Look at his face! He's taking her for a ride. LOL

Gaga still going for a ride... :-)

what we are hearing right now is the countdown 5, 3, 3,2, 1.....

this is about 1/2 second later... I love how everyone has different degrees of readiness. I'm obviously scared out of my mind, Aunt Connie is starting to get scared, Blake is just getting prepared and Papa doesn't have a care in the world. About 1/2 second later we were launched on to one of the fastest roller coasters I've ever been on. It was so much fun!

Again, totally different looks. Blake looks happy and I can see just by the look on his face he's thinking "Tami has no idea what she is in for." I'm thinking "why did I agree to this?"

This is out of sequence but this is the end of the ride and we are definitely on an adrenaline rush!