What Cricket Problem?

As most of you know, while in Santa Barbara over Thanksgiving, Lance and Becky located a gecko to give to Gavin for his birthday. Immediately, Gavin named him Happy Gails. We weren't too sure what type of entertainment this little lizard would provide us, but as soon as we saw him with crickets, we know we wouldn't be disappointed, and neither was Happy, watch how he licks his lips afterwards.

Resurrection Lutheran Pre-School Christmas 2008!

My favorite Christmas Party of the year is the Resurrection Lutheran Pre-School Christmas Pageant. I can't tell you how sweet and perfect it is. We first experienced it last year with Gavin's 4 year old class.

He was the cutest shepherd I have ever seen.

This year Colby was a Wiseman and he was so excited.

He spoke his little lines perfect, "We followed the Star", and later, "My Gift is MYRRRRRRRR!" It made my Christmas and you can tell by his beaming little face that he thought he was pretty special.

Santa @ Broadway Plaza.

Seeing Santa is always a shot in the dark. Some kids are cool with it while some hate it. My kids are 50/50. I did get a shot of the boys trying to explain to Santa their wish list. Mazzy figured I was abandoning her with the crazy Santa who donned a yellow tinged beard and smelled of cigarettes. Not a pleasant combination. She was having none of it.

I did get a cute shot of the kids after seeing Santa. I do love the Holidays even with all the stress I never noticed before becoming a mom.

I have a 6 year old!

I feel way to young to have a 6 year old. Gavin turned 6 on December 4. I am not sure how I feel about that. He is everything a mother could want in an oldest child, clean, polite, basically responsible, a know it all, and maybe a little too sensitive, pretty much perfect for me. So why is it frustrating on more than one level when they get older? A.) I don't feel older so why should he be getting older. B.) I don't want him to grow up. Ever! C.) He already started Kindergarten this year isn't that painful enough?
D.) I fear teenage years more than anything else I can think of and he is half way there. The list could go on and on!

Anyhow Gavin's favorite movie is Eragon. It has been Eragon since he was 3. So naturally he wanted an Eragon Birthday Party. There is a lot of Dinosaur stuff out there but not much Dragon affiliated. At least not that I found. I did find some great ideas on the internet from a Birthday party that a mom threw in Texas in 2005. Sometimes I love the Web. So we had an Eragon party at a local park with a bunch of buddies and I am so glad that ship has sailed. I think it was pretty fun at least for Gavin. Here are some highlights.

He was pretty proud!

Colby did not like the idea of a party that did not focus on him but we did catch one happy moment!

Gavin told me the morning of that his cake was BEAUTIFUL. I couldn't ask for more than that seriously!

Let the games begin!

Hailey is just not that ferocious.

Laney on the other hand, she could take that dragon!

By the looks of it...Mazzy did!

Wait...No Amy took the Dragon Foot on! This was one of the highlights of the day!



HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY GAVIN!!! WE LOVE YOU!

A Little Christmas Cheer

So a girl at my work thought it would be funny to cramp our family's faces into the elf dance, so here it is.

Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks since Colby had his tonsils and adenoids removed so I am just going to start fresh. We drove over to Lance and Becky MacDonald's for Thanksgiving weekend. It was a perk that they live in Summerland which is next to Santa Barbara. It was awesome weather and great company. We went to the Santa Barbara Zoo,
This is a back end shot of the Male Lion. I tried to get him walking around but I was too slow. Troy, Gavin, Colby, Becky and Maz are in the foreground.

I don't know why Silver back Gorillas are so stinking cool and mean looking but this guy was posing all over the place.

Becky, Troy and the boys feed the Giraffe.

Lance was just trying to get a picture. Whoops!!!

THE BEACH!

Yes my boys stripped down to their underwear. I thought it would be cold and didn't pack swimsuits. Troy told me to and I didn't, what can I say?

This is a shot of the Lance, Becky and Chino family. In April they will have a new addition! A baby boy they are planning to name Wyatt! So FUN!
We hung out in downtown Santa Barbara (so cool), local parks and just hung out. It really was a perfect get a way. The kids did not want to leave which is always a good sign. We picked up a new addition to our family as well.

His name is Happy Face and he is Gavin's 6th Birthday present. It was either a Leopard Gecko or a Boa Constrictor and I am not ready for the snake commitment just yet.