Playdates

It's a new year and we are all finally healthy and back "on the scene" with our friends. Thank goodness! The weather has been beautiful and we are so glad that we have such great friends to play with.
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Ana came over yesterday and the girls played and played. Of course there was dressing up, dancing, a fort, and building castles in the sand. But by far the most entertaining part-playing
baseball in the backyard. Their team was "The Ballerinas" and Sammie's new nickname is "The Arm". The girl can hit a ball like nobody's business..hello Spring little league baseball!!!
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Then today we met Mary and Tyer at Desert Breeze Park. We did it all...fed the ducks, rode the train, had some popcorn, chased birds, played on the playground, went on the swings and played hide and seek...sort of. As best you can play with 2 two-year-olds who don't quite understand what it means to hide:) SO entertaining for Mary and I to watch but poor Sammie:) Another great park day on the books.
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Cole and Tyler "making ice cream"!

Tough choices in life...which shovel?

Sammie digging to the very bottom.

Tyler loves the carousel and waved to us EVERY
time he went around. Such a character:)

Cole pinky waving at Tyler and enjoying some
popcorn.

Happy New Year!

This year we started our new tradition of a New Year's Day open house. Peter made his yummy tortilla soup, the game was on and there was a fire out back. Although, it was so cold no one really even wanted to go outside. And when we did finally go out it was so smokey from our firepit that I think we may have induced ahzthma in a couple of children!
The kids had fun playing....as seen in Sammie's room!
It was a wonderful way to spend a day-with some of our favorite people:) The food was great, the people were great and we can't wait to see you all again for next year's shabang. And I promise to take WAY more pictures. I guess I was having too much fun and forgot!
Happy New Year everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Tyler, Karis & Samuel, Camille & Cole.

Nothing says happy new year like tequila.

Aaron and Christina.

Christmas

Christmas 2010 came and went in a flash. Here are some highlights....


Making cookies.

The pro.

Getting Santa's plate ready.

Christmas Eve.

Sammie got a recliner.

Dumping out the loot!

Dumping out Cole's loot.

This was the year of nerf in our house.
Nerf gun fights are pretty entertaining:)

Santa

A couple Saturdays ago Sammie's preschool did a 'Breakfast with Santa'. It was great, they had a huge breakfast, crafts, games and Santa himself showed up to spread some Christmas cheer.
I wasn't sure how Cole would handle this. Last year he did good, but you never know. To my total surprise he was ecstatic when Santa walked in waving. Cole started waving back saying, "Hi Santa"-adorabe. Then, it was our turn. We discussed the strategy and it was decided that they'd sit together. On the way up Samantha leaned over and whispered to me, "Mommy, I don't think I want to go up there." I told her it'd be fine and to be brave for her brother!:) Cole willingly walked right up and sat with Santa like they were long time pals. Sammie, too, did sit with him but she was a little leary of the whole thing. Can't blame her. It is kind of bizarre. But hey-anything for a cute photo op!
We have their previous years pictures on the mantle and this one is going up too:) On Cole's list: Mickey toys and on Sammie's list: A Barbie house and a pull-string Jessie doll. And knowing that they were VERY good this year:)--I'm pretty sure Santa's got it taken care of:)

Laguna Beach

After a full day at Disney we were ready for a change of pace. Grandpa suggested Laguna Beach. And it was great. Although it was freezing cold, we had a nice time walking around the shops, playing in the sand and in the little park on the beach and breathing in the fresh sea air.
The nice thing about the weather that day was that we hardly saw anybody on the beach. I could get used to having my own, private beach!


It was a gray, cold, windy day. But still beautiful.

We ate lunch at this wonderfu little restaurant. The food
was great but the view was even better. Every window
had ocean views.

Gma and Gpa with the kiddos.

Writing her name in the sand.

Our silly, little Cole.