San Diego for Fall Break

 We didn't know if we would make it to California over Fall Break, but thankfully Megan's soccer team didn't make it into the playoffs.  A little bitter sweet, but Tyler and Emily were so glad we could actually go on vacation.  Our first our course was the beach.

 Nothing better than a dinner and sunset by the ocean--even if that dinner is Subway.

 I love this picture of Emily and Wendell, but couldn't figure out how to turn it.

 We spent a lot of time trying to perfect this picture of Meg doing handstands on the beach.  It is harder than it looks to take a picture at just the right moment.

 SeaWorld was a must for Emily while in San Diego.

 The bat rays pool was very cool.

 Megan overcame her fear of sharks for a small instant to go in the shark exhibit.  She honestly was a little afraid to even go in the tunnel.

 The starfish were also a favorite.  The water was freezing cold, but the girls loved picking them up and holding them until the starfish wrapped around their hands.

 The sky ride was open across the bay.  This is one thing we had never done at SeaWorld in the past.

 Emily had tried and tried all day to pet the dolphins.  We stopped one last time before leaving.  We all touched the dolphin except her.  Wendell got her really close one time and the dolphin flicked its tail and splashed us all instead.  Emily's persistence paid off and she finally touched the dolphin just before they put them away for the night.

 We couldn't go to San Diego without stopping in Old Town for some Mexican food and shopping.  After we left for the night, Emily said, "I think I've had enough Mexicans for a while."  I hope she meant the food.

 The zoo was next on the agenda.  Can I just tell you how excited Megan was to spend the day there?

 Another sky ride across the zoo.  A great way to get across a huge area.

 The pandas are always fun to look at.  It is always surprising to us how big they really are.

 Back to the beach.  Megan wanted to go so bad and then never even got in the water.  The rest of us enjoyed the warm weather.

 We wore Emily right out.  Too many animals and water for her for one day.

 And finally, the favorite of Megan's--the Wild Animal Park.  I think the few hours we spent there were pure torture for her.  I'm pretty sure we will never see Megan at this park again.

 Emily loved it at least.

 The lemur cage was pretty cool there.  You could go right in and watch them really closely.

 The picture pretty much sums up Megan's idea of a vacation.  Good thing she has a friend who actually texted her for hours on end.

 A rare picture of all three kids actually smiling.

 We stopped at the San Diego temple one night.  This picture was unbelievably hard to get.  Luckily a nice family from Utah stopped and finally helped Mammy use the iPhone.

 Another rare picture of all three kids.  (Especially rare since Megan looks like a bat).

 On the way home we stopped in St. George and then a portion of Kolob Canyon and Cedar Breaks.

 A great break from everything and a fun time to spend as a family.

Pumpkin Patch

 We haven't missed a year in going to the pumpkin patch and picking out our pumpkins to carve.

 Megan found hers right away and then went back to the wagon to wait (I mean text).

Emily had to have the biggest pumpkin in the patch and then couldn't carry it.

 This is the pumpkins that were chosen to come to our home.  They are some of the biggest we have ever gotten.

 After, we went to the courtyard to enjoy hay slides, animals and a corn maze.

We really did get lost in the maze and ended up in a different phase than we even started.  It was a fun night.  This was a rare Friday night where we were all together.  

This is the Place

 For the past 18 years, my roommates from college have met up around Christmas for a reunion of sorts.  We all have kids and have included them in the tradition for the last couple of years.  This year we all met at This is the Place for the candlelight Christmas.  The kids started off making a craft.

 Each building has a different activity.  Emily really enjoyed the reindeer outside of Santa's house.

 Emily was more than happy to sit on Santa's lap.  The other two at least stood by him for a picture.

 We didn't have as much complaining because everyone dressed for the weather and there were other kids around.

 Everyone was able to sign the naughty or nice list.  Tyler, Megan, and Emily all decided it would be fun to sign the naughty list.  They really just wanted the candy.

 We also participated in the pioneer dancing.  My friend Alee has kids the same age as all of ours.  That made for perfect dance partners.  Megan and McKade were more willing than Tyler and Emily.

 We were impressed that Tyler joined in the fun.  All the way down to Salt Lake he told us he wasn't going to dance.  Well they are always in need of more boys and he was forced into it, but actually had a smile on his face while doing it.

It was a fun night with fun people.  Next year we may try something different, but the plans are made to still get together.  I love that Christmas is about traditions.

Christmas Village

 Christmas Village is a tradition I remember from a very young age.  I love going and looking at the little houses and all of the lights.  Tyler and Megan, however, complained the entire time we were there.  They said the houses always look the same and that they didn't understand why it had to be so cold.

 Because of their complaining we made them look at every house.  Luckily, Emily was a little more enthused about the entire night and actually wanted to look in the windows.

 We must be getting teenagers.  We told them they would have to come every year and one day they would appreciate the tradition.

This little house has been around forever, but it is our favorite.  We were almost done at this point and there are actual smiles on the kids' faces.  A major feat.  Next year Megan will dress a little warmer and she may actually not complain as much is she wears socks and not just little shoes.

Family Night

Another tradition we love is going to a nativity program in a barn with our friends on the Monday before Christmas.  

 The barn is huge and this year there were tons of people there.  A family does this every year as their gift to the community.  They present a musical program, read a story, sing carols, and then present the nativity.

Emily was able to dress up as one of the shepherds.  After the program is over the family gives everyone doughnuts and hot cider.  It is a fun way to be reminded of the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Bowling Party!

 Renting the bowling alley has been a tradition for a family party since before we even had kids.  We get to bowl and eat all kinds of yummy food.

 After the bowling alley we always head to a church and exchange white elephants.  The little kids have their own circle so they get new stuff.

 The adults aren't so lucky.  The white elephants ranged from a broken ceiling fan to extra large men's underwear.  A little of everything.  After the white elephants Santa always makes an appearance.

 Tyler and Megan may be a little big for Santa, but they know if they don't sit on his lap they won't get the goods.  A fun tradition that always marks the last week before Christmas.

Cookie Day!

 Last year we decided we needed a cookie day.  Emily just couldn't understand why her friends had days where they baked and we did not.  We enlisted the help of Mammy and Taycina.  This year we even made Camille join in the fun.  We came up with the 2nd Saturday of December for our new tradition.

 We each came up with a recipe and then we baked and decorated.  It was so much fun spending the day in the kitchen.  The mess wasn't quite as fun to clean up, but the finished products were worth it.

We hope our neighbors that received the plates of food thought they were yummy.