3 Christmas' in 2 Days!

Happy New Year!

It's 2010 and I am sad to say that Christmas vacation is almost over. Brian and I have really enjoyed having all the kids home over the past couple of weeks. (School resumes on Tuesday.) We have had some GREAT times together, made some wonderful memories and got a little R&R. I neglected to post this month so be sure to scroll down and capture all of our adventures in December.

Christmas Eve-

We've made it our tradition to take goodies plates around to our neighbors on the morning of Christmas Eve. This works well for us. The kids are usually anxiously waiting to go over to Grandpa and Grandma Warta's so it is a good way to keep them busy while we wait.

Bob and his family live across the street from us. They own a pheasant farm. Over the years, he has involved the kids in collecting pheasant eggs and harvesting them. A couple of times he has taken in eggs from abandoned nests which the kids find on our property and placed the eggs in an incubator for hatching. The kids love visiting with Bob and his grown children.

Mr. Reynold's lives catty corner from us. He is always sharing lemons, persimmons, and oranges with us. The kids love going to his house around Christmas and seeing the remnants of his old Christmas decorations. Years ago, he & his wife had a very large and intricate Christmas display that they would put up for community enjoyment. When his wife died of cancer so did the big Christmas display.

Keagan enjoys listening to Mr. Reynolds hunting wisdom.

Hailey has always enjoyed picking fruit since she was a toddler.

These persimmons are awesome!

Tastes like candy!

A very merry Christmas couple.

This traditional family photo in front of the Christmas tree almost didn't happen-it had been a no-nap day for Bethany and she was very uncooperative at this point in the evening.

Only one month to go!

Grandparents and soda pop-they just go together!

Grandpa & Grandma with the California Grand kids.

Cheers to Auntie Kate for the soda pop. You're the Best!

The soda is these bottles...tickle my nose!

Grandpa reads the Christmas story before opening gifts.

Hailey drew Claire's name for Christmas. She went to work on her very first sewing project...a cupcake apron. Great job Hailey!

Still digging. " I just know that they have to be in here somewhere. Grandpa never forgets."

"Oh yes, my favorite pickles."

"Thanks Grandma. It is SO cute. I can't wait to go on our trip for my State report."

All a kid REALLY needs is a couple of boxes.

It's not a Warta get together without a family stroll down Ohleyer Road.

Heading to the Candle light service.

I have the funnest Uncle & Aunt EVER!

Claire held onto this candle with such care. After all the car shuffling its a wonder that we all made it safely back to Grandpa & Grandma's house and that no one was left at church.

Where is Santa, now?

Bethany REALLY enjoyed Uncle Matt & Aunt Ashlie's visit.

It's great to have not one, but two aunts who are always up for kid entertainment.

"...baby shark, do do do..."

Christmas morning-

I don't know what it is with our kids, but they still sleep in on Christmas morning. We have not had one early Christmas morning yet. This year it was 9:30 or 10:00 before everyone was awake to open presents. Brian and I are not complaining.

Yes, finally my straightener. Thanks mom.

Bethany would not stop organizing her gifts. When her turn was over she would spend the next 10 min. stacking and sorting her gifts into a neat pile while she waited for it to be her turn again. Ashlie I think she has a little bit of O.C.D.

The gift of the year- Bethany's swimming dog.

A short game a laser tag before heading out to Grandpa & Grandma Penterman's house.

Christmas Evening-

Grandma Marilyn was successful in finding "mood lipstick".

This was our first year drawing names. Keagan had cousin Cameron's name. Keagan decieded it would be best to buy a few gifts cards that Cameron could use on date nihgts with his girlfriend.

The night was simple but super fun as we shared together times of...

wrestlling on the floor...

modeling our new clothes...

Snuggles from Grandma...

Teasing from dad...

Teasing Grandma...or should I say sneaking up on Grandma...

sharing old keepsakes...

reminiscing on the past...

sharing stories...

and playing pictionary. Our time together this year was simple and sweet.

The Holidays were so relaxing for our family. Whether is was because we were well prepared or we had down-sized Christmas there was a welcoming calmness in the air. We have concluded...Smaller, Simpler Christmas' are sometimes the best ones ever!

The Nutcracker...

Hailey, Bethany, and I joined the Warta's girls for an afternoon at the Nutcracker in Sacramento. This was Bethany's first time to see the Nutcracker. She was in awe during the whole show.

Bethany was so excited to have Ashlie home that she never let her out of her sight. Sorry Auntie Kate, you'll have her back when Ashlie leaves.

Hailey and Aunt Casey enjoyed the show together. Thank you so much Casey for organizing this event and purchasing all the tickets. We sure do appreciate you!

A great way to end our mother-daughter weekend !

The Warta girls at a glance.

It wouldn't be a true out-of-town adventure with the Warta girls without eating at Chevy's.

Girl time-just mom & me!

I surprised Hailey with a night away at Elam Biggs Bed & Breakfast in Grass Valley one week before Christmas. We had a fabulous time connecting with one another. It was a beautiful way to start our journey into the teen years.

The house was gorgeous and the fenced in yard was magical. The owners have built a miniature western town in their garden. Hailey had fun exploring the buildings.

The laundryroom was located right off the kitchen.

We could help ourselves to sodas in the fridge while we were staying in the home.

The coffee and tea buffet was stocked with the Mrs. award winning sugar cookies and a variety of teas and cocoa. Hailey was in awe at the hospitality of the home owners/inn keepers.

The collectibles and antiques made this kitchen very inviting.

Breakfast was served "family style" at 9:00 a.m. in the dining room.

Our room was located on the third floor in the home's attic. It was decorated in patriotic colors and adorned with lighted Christmas garland. Hailey's bed was a twin poster bed, but she decided it would be more fun to sleep with mom.

This is the cozy double bed which Hailey and I slept in under the lighted Christmas garland. The room was every young girls dream, but the one disadvantage of being in the attic is that it can be very stuffy.

The bathroom was just as quaint as the room with its clawfoot tub.

The rubber ducky added a child-like feel to the bathroom.
Hailey had so much fun figuring out the old typewriter displayed on the desk in our room.
It didn't take Hailey long to nestled into the rocking chair for a little reading.
We had SO much fun together! I look forward to our future mother-daughter retreats!
Shortly after arriving in Grass Valley and settling into our Bed & Breakfast, we walked downtown to the Cornish Christmas.
Hailey was not up for much shopping ,but she enjoyed "window shopping" as we walked up and down the streets.
This young alpacha was sure to draw the attention of many as it was all decked out for Christmas with it's reindeer antlers.
Even the dogs enjoyed the alpacha's company.
The young violinists stole our attention for a few minutes. Their talent was amazing! Hailey and I decieded to try a funnel cake. Maybe at another time it would have been satisfying ,but after a few bites we both agreed that it was too sweet and too heavy for our stomachs. Some things you don't know until you try. One of life's many lessons.
After meeting the other guests and enjoying a family-style breakfast together the owner showed us a few magic tricks. Let's just say, he had us all either in stitches or on the edge of our seats as we tried to figure out just how he had performed his magic.
The homeowners enjoyed hosting a house full of kids who weren't their grandkids. There was Hailey, a 2 year old girl and 2 babies under the age of 1.
Hailey was treated like a princess for a day and she loved every minute of it. Our time together was followed by an afternoon showing of the Nutcracker with the Warta girls.

Cookie exchanges with friends

Hailey and I both had the opportunity to participate in a cookie exchange with our friends. Hailey and I attended a mother-daughter cookie exchange with friends from school where we played "spoons", exchanged cookies and made dough ornaments. I was able to host a cookie exchange in our home with a few ladies from church. We traded cookies and assembled plates for our neighbors. We had a great time visiting with one another before the holiday rush.