A Very Disney Christmas

Laura took the whole family to Disneyland the week of Christmas and it was WONDERFUL! Most of us hadn't been in years, so there was so much new to see.

My favorite part, besides watching the kids enjoy themselves, was the Christmas parade. It really put me in the holiday spirit.
Elijah's favorite was the Nemo submarine ride & the Buzz Lightyear ride- he got to shoot the bad guys.
Sierra liked meeting Minnie Mouse the most. They compared red shoes- very cute!
Rich got to take a little break from the kids and run around and do the "big kid" rides. But, I think he had as much fun as the kids on all the rides.

O Snowy Night

Southern California is the BEST! Last week it was over 80 degrees and this week we've got snow just a half hour from home! Rich and I took the kids to Mt. Baldy after work on Tuesday and it was amazing. The snow was fresh and soft-- and surprisingly deep. It was quite the night time adventure. We were so glad that we did it.

Check out the temp!! 31 degrees!

Sonrise Christian Christmas Program

Elijah's school performance for Christmas was so cute! They wore their jammies and sang and danced to the "Glory Bound Express". Mackie made Eli Christmas themed Thomas jammies for the occasion. He was really proud... and a little envious of the kid with the Wall-E Pj's.Proud Mama! Eli has been so lucky to have his favorite teacher Miss Regina with him for all 3 years of preschool. She's so great she even comes to the house to babysit! We love you Miss Gina!

Take a look at the little one behind Eli on stage... Sierra snuck up to be with her brother.

A What?

Eli and I had a funny conversation today and I don't want to forget it, so I must blog...

E: Mommy, what do you think of my E-yuur?

Me: Your what?

E: My E-yuur. It's a spotted monster with lots of legs... it eats everything- even the bones!

Me: Where did you hear of that?

E: In my room.

Me: (I'm thinking he must have had a nightmare) Show me.

At this point he shows me this drawing on his bed.

E: See. My E-yuur. Do you like it ... it'll even eat your bones.

Me: (internal sigh of relief & laughed like crazy) You are so funny and smart.

E: I know.

Can't You Just Stand Still & Smile????

Every mom's favorite time of the year... Christmas photo time. I tried for about 15 minutes. I got some good, some bad, and some that I just love because they are funny. Here's a few of the best... or the worst...

Christmas Wonder

My sister Laura always goes over the top with the Christmas decorations & my kids LOVE it. I took them over Friday night to check it out...

How's Little Tink?

Tinkerbell has made her permanent place in our home... The kids call her "Stink-or-Smell" and she has joined the rest of the pack. Bailey & Gretta (our other dogs) aren't too thrilled, but they do mother her a little... and eat her food.

A Little Christmas Cheer

This past weekend we pulled our -YES, FAKE- tree. The kids began decorating right away. Hallmark sure knows how to excite Eli... Wall-e & Thomas ornaments. He is so excited about them that he can't leave the on the tree. He takes them to play with them and then he hangs them up in his room. Today I found them in his backpack on the way to the babysitter... he is REALLY into Christmas.Sierra & Eli mad these closet door elves at the babysitter. I love that they made them together.

The kids have this mini tree in their room.

My mom, sisters, and I painted this nativity scene when I was young- she has passed it on to us and I've loved sharing it with my own kids. It may not be fancy- but it's got history...

Eli Claus found little stockings (aka his dirty socks) to keep his favorite new treasures warm. I LOVE IT!!!!! Hi-larious!

On the Road Again...

Rich & I usually drive to and from New Mexico through the night so that the kids can sleep- and it is a brutal 12+ hour drive. We didn't make it on the way back and had to stop off in Flagstaff in the middle of the night. Thank goodness for Motel 6. Even if it's 3 in the morning... "they'll leave the light on for ya'".

The kids had their moments the following day as we drove home in all the Thanksgiving traffic.

Sierra washed her own hair mid-drive. She said she was "filfy".Out there on the I-40 for all the world to see.

New Mexico-2

I strangely enjoyed having 3 cute, little faces in my backseat & I got to thinking...-- Snap out of it! It was fun for a few hours. This photo of the fam is compliments of Elijah & his love for taking pictures... Don't tell, but we got him a children's digital camera for Christmas.

Rich and the kids playing "up high" in the clear desert air. It's their favorite game.

Rich's little brother, Neil, got dog sitting duty... and you can see by his face that he loved it.

This Tafoya-Calhoun Family, 2008

Thanksgiving in New Mexico

The Calhoun-Tafoya Cousins

The Tafoya Kids watching Wall-E together. How Cute!

Nicholas told Sierra he would be her best friend- sooo great! He carried her around for hours.

Grandma (Rich's Mom) and Grandpa. This was Grandpa's first time seeing Sierra in person.

Mackie made Sierra this super cute outfit, but I couldn't get Sierra to stand still and show it off.

Elijah told me about his outfit, "I just want to look handsome, mom. Don't take off my tie- it's for mans."

Cutie Cousins in their PJ's.

The whole trip was so fun. I'll post more tonight.