Christmas 2009

This year we decided that we would have Christmas at our house. Ok, I guess it was me that decided it. For the last few years we have not been home during Christmas, either we have gone to my sister's house in Utah or her house down here.  I thought it would be nice to have a big Christmas at our house with a real tree and all the family over for dinner.  Next time I think like that someone just shoot me ok.  Way too much work and money for something that is over so quickly!  Maybe next year we will just go on vacation for Christmas.

Eli Lost a Tooth!

Well, Eli's tooth has been loose for a couple weeks now and tonight it finally fell out, or actually I should say that I pulled it out.  Once it came out I told him that if he put it under his pillow, the tooth fairy would exchange it for money.  Eventually he said "my other teeth are frustrated." "Why?", I asked.  "Because they miss Bucky." (he had apparently named his recently detached tooth). So ultimately he decided that he would not be 'selling' his tooth to the tooth fairy, instead he is now collecting them in a zip lock baggie that hangs out in my bathroom. He is the first kid I have ever known that willingly refused tooth fairy money.  I guess Bucky must be pretty special to him.

My sweet little conversation with Eli

So this evening I was sitting on the couch getting caught up on some grading and Eli came down after his shower holding his chest.  This was our conversation...

Eli- Mommy I feel like I have an empty hole right here, under my heart.

Me- Are you ok, what do you think it is?

Eli- Well it is either that I am really thirsty or I just need a hug and a kiss from you.

Me- Oh well, let me fix that then. (Huge hug, lots of kisses)

Eli- Mom, I don't think that it will go away unless I have a hug and a kiss tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and the day after that.

Me- Maybe you will need a hug and a kiss everyday forever?

Eli- I think I might.

Me- Sounds good to me!


He makes my heart melt!

Gingerbread House Party

Yesterday the boys and I went to my Aunt Lorie's house for a gingerbread house party.  I have never been to one of these, in fact I have not made a gingerbread house since I was 11, but it was tons of fun.  This is the 11th year she has carried on this tradition, but since she just married my uncle in July, this was my first year attending.  There was tons of candy and food and apple cider and....gingerbread houses.  Donald had so much fun that he ended up making two.  Eli and I made one together, I did the icing and he put on the candy.

 

 

 

 

 

Lakers vs. Heat

So Don has this customer that is a huge sports guy, just like he is.  He has season tickets to just about every type of sport and, lucky for Don, he likes almost all the same teams.  He was the one who invited us to the box seats at the Ducks game and yesterday he took us to the Lakers game.  Don and I have gone to one other Lakers game, when we took Brent and Maia for Brent's birthday a couple years ago, but we were in the nose bleeds.  This time we were in seats that have a waitress.  The view was amazing, we didn't even need to look up at the screen because we were close enough to see their facial expressions.
The game was great, Lakers in the lead for most of it.  But, then the last minute of the game the Heat pull ahead.  Heat score, Lakers score, foul for this side, foul for that side, tons of free throws.  Score ends up 107 Heat, 105 Lakers with 3.2 seconds left.  All we need is someone to make a basket.  Lakers ball...(I have to admit I didn't want to watch at this point)...3...2...1...Three point basket at the buzzer by Kobe.  The arena exploded!!!  Streamers came down.  It was the craziest ending to a ball game I have ever seen.

Eleven Years Ago

Eleven years ago today... I was 20 years old in a hospital giving birth to a 8lb. 5oz. adorable baby boy.  That baby boy is now sharing my tennis shoes and doing algebra homework.  He has grown so much it is hard to believe that I could have possibly brought him into this world.  Eleven years ago today was one of the best days of my life.  It was the day I spent 12 hours in labor to bring about this amazing individual that would become one of my best friends.  I am so grateful for my kids and all that they have taught me about how to love.  Happy Birthday Donald, my big eleven year old boy!

It's been 12 years!

Today is our 12 year anniversary!  I can not believe it has been that long.  Time has flown by, yet at the same time I feel like I have known him my whole life.  Just wait until you hear how romantic our day was.... It started out by us waking up on separate couches in my sister's living room (we went up to Utah for Thanksgiving).  Then we piled in the truck at about 10am to drive home in holiday weekend traffic and not get home until almost 11pm.  Then we did laundry for the kids school tomorrow.  This was definitely a wild one...I really don't think we will be able to top it next year.  All sarcasm aside I am grateful for my sweetie and the love he has brought to my life.  And I guess it doesn't matter if we spent our anniversary in our truck on the 15 freeway, because we will have the rest of eternity to celebrate being together.  Love you baby!

Our date with Brent

On Thursday Brent took us all on a beautiful date.  He is so romantic!  Just kidding, but he did take us all out to an amazing property with a river and a waterfall and huge trees.  We walked along trails for a mile or so and climbed the trees, had an adventure that involved a lot of stickers in our shoes and Don had a small run in with some fire ants.  It was nice to just relax and explore with our good friends.  Then we went to where the wild things are and saw some wildebeests, zebras and gazelles.  We drove around looking at the beautiful countryside, then walked around the massive outlet mall in San Marcos.  Then we rested for a while to prepare for the midnight showing of New Moon.  So fun!  Thanks for the date Brent.  It was awesome.

Cascade Caverns

Today, Brent and Maia got Hannah, Kirstine and Seth out of school early and we all headed up to the Cascade Caverns.

Just look at these crazy, cute kids!

The caverns were amazing.  I love seeing all the interesting things that nature can create.

This was the view from above as we descended into the underground tunnels that lead us 190 ft. below the earth's surface.

This large hole used to be the way that visitors would enter the caverns, by way of a large lowered bucket.  Before entering the stairway we looked down through the hole (called the peep to the deep).

There were a few animals seen along the way.  This is a Mexican Brown Bat.  They are actually very small, fury and cute, not to mention difficult to see if you do not look carefully for them.  We also saw a salamander and a perch fish that had apparently been washed down an internal waterfall during a large flood in 2002.

These are stalactites.  This cavern is still 90% active, meaning that it is "living" or at least growing.  When a cavern is active you can not touch anything because the oils in your skin will cause it to "die".

This is an incredible view of the ceiling inside the cathedral room.  The circles are called solution holes.  They were created when there was such an immense flood that water rose all the way to the top of the cavern and then carbon dioxide trapped inside caused areas of the water to swirl around and erode these spots away.

Me and Maia!  Aren't we cute?  I am so glad that we got to experience this with the Borings , it made something that was already amazing into something even more fun.  You guys Rock!

 

This was a man made tunnel that was placed in the small lake at the base of a waterfall inside the cathedral room.  It was put there a long time ago and leads to another cavern even deeper down.  However, our guide (Logan) said that no one has been down it after the flood in 2002 because it was completely filled with water.  If you look carefully you can see the perch fish to the right of the tube.  It has been in there alone since the flood, making it over 7 years old.  I am very curious as to how long he will last.  I think we should come back in 5 years to see if he is still there.

Our whole group!  The waterfall is up on the left, but it is not really visible in the picture.

I love these Boring kids and really have missed them.  Hugs and kisses always!  We got some great shots of all the kids together, but those are on Maia's camera, so check out her blog for more on that.

Don and I (and little Larissa's head poking up from below).

Pictures really do not do justice to just how truly amazing the features of the caverns are.  I guess in order to really experience the beauty you will all just have to go visit a cavern and see what mother nature can do with limestone and some water.

In Texas with the Borings

Here we are in Texas with the Borings.  We have had a great time so far, I am actually getting sad about leaving already and we will be here for another three days.  On Sunday we went to church and had a wonderful time at their ward.  Then we went to MacArthur Park.  The kids played tag for awhile until I thought they were all going to have heart attacks and then we all went for a lovely walk through the woods.

We saw some deer

And found a great climbing tree

It really looks a lot darker than it was at this point.  Oh, how fun to watch boys play in trees.

But eventually they have to get out and that sometimes is even more fun to watch.