Driving Home from New Years

Driving home after a fun weekend of sledding and spending time with the Rasners was a NIGHTMARE!!!! It usually takes us 5 hours to get home but this time, it took us 11 hrs. That's right, 11 HOURS! The usual fwy was closed due to weather conditions so we had to take an alternative route. Snow, and holiday weekend traffic and road closures made it a perfect storm for 11 hrs of bumper to bumper HELL!

The kids had never seen snow fall before so they were thrilled when we let them stick their heads out the window and try to eat the snow (Ahh, memories of my own childhood bliss)!

All I have to say is, Thank goodness for DVD players in the car. How did our parents ever survive long road trips without them?

Putty also enjoyed sticking his head out the window!

Sledding for New Years 2010

We spent New Years with our good friends the Rasners. It was a lot of fun to drive up to the Sequoia National park and go sledding. We are true Californians. We spent more time driving than we did being in the snow.Look how tiny that man looks next to the giant sequoia tree!

Pure untouched powder! Literally had to be pulled out of the snow.

Happy 9th Birthday, Emerson!

Emerson had a joint birthday party with her best friend Gabby. It was a hippie themed party. It poured rain that day so what do we do with all the kids? We played it old school! The kids had fun playing Twister and musical chairs (with 60's music) and board games.

Peace, Love and Happiness!!!

Christmas 2010

I love watching the kids get so excited to see what Santa left them by their stockings.

Every year on Christmas Eve we have our friends over for our traditional Christmas Eve breakfast "dinner". We load up on waffles, bacon, sausage, orange juice and milk. After we are stuffed, we have all the kids do the Nativity story with their puppets. This year Graham got more festive and had everyone sing Christmas hymns during the Nativity.

Putty is ready for Santa to visit. He's been pretty good this year.

Dear Santa

This is a letter Emerson has written to Santa this year:

Dear Santa Claus,

This year for Christmas I want more clothes for my American Girl dolls. Also, I want clothes for myself and I would love some new books to read because I get bored of my books and I really would love a DS for the whole family. For a long time I have been waiting for new movies and a radio clock in my room. Also, I really want a digital camera because I passed my test from getting a real camera. I need more shoes for school, church and for whenever. Also I would love to have a guitar to play with. I would like teacup piggies and zhu-zhu pets. You don't have to give me all these things but this is what I really want.

I've been an angel this year,

Emerson Mitchell

happy thanksgiving 2010

Our Thanksgiving this year was pretty quiet. We had the Black family over for our dinner and then we took the kids to see Tangled. Then we came home and had desserts with a couple of other families. It was a good day. So thankful for our friends!!!!!

The boys with their USC t-shirts. Graham is so proud. He's already teaching Atticus the Trojan fight song.

Atticus couldn't keep his hands off the turkey. He likes the dark meat, just like me!