Candy Cane Cookies

I love the holidays. I love the service that goes
on in the month of December. I love baking. I love
hanging out with my family. Plain and simply,
I just love the Christmas season.

Tonight we made candy cane cookies that taste
like peppermint. It was so fun! Caleb keep saying
that if Josh made the best cookie he would win ten
thousand dollars. They were pretending we were
in a baking contest on a baking show. I guess
I watch too much of the food network.

I'm hoping Caleb didn't put the cookie dough
in his ear. Honestly, I don't think he did. It just
looks like it:).

Ginger bread houses at the preschool

Ms. Liz is the best. Last Tuesday night, she asked some of
the parents at the preschool and I to get together
to construct ninety graham cracker gingerbread
houses. It's a time consuming project. Thank goodness
we had a pastry chef helping us.

The kids really enjoy putting the houses together.
Caleb and Ella.



I caught you red handed Josh:)!

Caleb with his sprinkles. I felt bad
for Caleb because his fell apart as
soon as we got to the car.

Candy Train

Josh's kindergarten teacher gave all the kids a
candy train for the "winter holidays."

She said she bought them at a craft fair. What a cute
idea! Whoever made these used a glue gun for
adhesion. I think they would make great favors for
a train birthday party.

Lincoln Log Fort

Both my boys enjoy building things. It really
doesn't matter what. This morning, Caleb talked
me into building a Lincoln Log fort with him. I was
a little out of my comfort zone but I think it turned
out all right. We make a good team Caleb!

I was the head architect with the help of the instructions
from the box. Caleb helped making the fort though he
asked me a couple of time if I was sure I knew what
I was doing. He decorated the fort with the army
man and the dog:).

Joy School Christmas Party

Tonight was our Joy School Christmas party.
We had a chicken enchilada dinner. Then, the
kids put on the nativity play. Here's Justin and
Josh waiting patiently.

Before the play, they sang jingle bells.

Caleb had two parts in the play. First, he was the
innkeeper at three inns. He got to tell Joseph and
Mary, "no room." Finally, at the last he got to
tell them they could stay in the manger.

His second part was the wise man. He pretended
to bring gifts to the baby Jesus.

Afterwords, the kids sang Away in a Manager.
I'm very proud of all the kids. They did a good
job.

Gingerbread house

One of our December traditions is to build and
decorate a Gingerbread house. This is what we
came up with this year with the help of Costco's
do-it-yourself kit.

The Christmas Ward Dinner

After a long day, Caleb conked out
in the car on the way to the Ward
dinner. I was really hoping Caleb
would wake up to see Santa.

Fortunately, he did. He was really
excited about that. When Santa
asked what he wanted. Caleb said,
he didn't know. So, the elves are going
to figure something out.

Both my boys with santa:).

The Young Women got a piece of the action too.

Nothing tops off a night better than a nice picture
of our family!

Joy School Field Trip

This morning, we went to the fire station to
drop off gifts for Toys for Tots as a Joy School
field trip. We've been having a unit on service.
So, we did a little service. Then, Christal asked
about the service the firemen provide.

The firemen taught the kids about what to do
if their clothes caught on fire. They should stop,
drop and roll. Of course if there's an emergency, they
should call 911.

The kids checking out the fire truck.


I love the fire hats:).

Fremont Christmas Train

Last Saturday, evening we went on the Christmas
train from Fremont to Sunol. There was Christmas
caroling, hot chocolate and even a visit from santa.

Josh and santa

Caleb was exhausted and konked out on the train.
I was the photographer and didn't get any pictures
of that because he fell asleep on me :).

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!

I found this cute idea in The Family Fun magazine.
So, as a Joy School class we made Rudolph the red
nosed reindeers out of Nutter Butters. We used a
red M&M for the nose, two chocolate chips for the
eyes and pretzels for the antleers. The kids enjoyed making
them as much as they did eating them.

Disney World

Orlando is a once in a life time trip. We had a blast!
No pun intended. I'm so glad my mom had her 60th
birthday so we could celebrate it there:). She was
lucky because we celebrated the whole week.

This is our first day on "It's a small world" at
the Magic Kingdom. My mom the boys and I.

Getting cozy with Tigger and Roo.

Watch out he may bite.

On our off day (off from all amusement
parks) we rented a four person bike and did three
laps on the boardwalk. It was so fun.

We went to the Kennedy Space and Science museum
and got to take this picture with a real astronaut.
Josh was in seventh heaven. Caleb opted out of the picture.

Mickey in the holiday lights parade.

One night Josh and I got lost and ended up on the
monorail. We asked if we could ride on the front and
they said yes.


Caleb, Kyla (the boy's cousin) and Josh

Josh and his grammy rode on the roller coaster
in Tune Town together.













Grammy and Caleb on his favorite ride.













Josh and I on Autopotia.













My mom and I

Josh building his own T-Rex.

Thanksgiving dinner with the characters.

My mom and her birthday cake as well as all
the grandkids, my sister and I.

My mom birthday dinner- at Fulton's Crab House.

My mom with a different piece of dessert.
This chocolate cake has to be pretty close
to the best I've ever had. I wish I had the recipe.

My sister, Jen, mom and I. Happy 60th birthday mom!
I love you!