Christmas Break Boredom Busters

TRY ON NEW CHURCH OUTFITS FROM GRANDMA

PLAY OUTSIDE

GO TO THE PARK

A lesson in Centrifugal Force

GO TO THE SCIENCE MUSEUM--explOratorium

I was suprised, Isaac out of all the kids, could have stayed the longest. He wasn't ready to leave when we did and I'm pretty sure he tried EVERY single exhibit.

in awe of termites at work

Ryan had a hard time saying goodbye to these guys . . . I wonder where we could get a pet termite?

Curt found a robot--it moved when it sensed people near it

our defacing of our national currency tradition

and last but not least . . . GO TO THE BEACH!

One of our favorite tide pool beaches . . .

Yeah, yeah, we know you aren't supposed to touch the starfish, but some lady was carrying this one around and offered to let the kids hold it so . . . that makes it o.k. right? At least we got a picture!

GO TO THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

This was an accident. On the way home from the beach we saw lots of neat lights from the freeway. Pulled off to see if we could find it. 30 minutes of sitting in a line of cars later we pull up to the ticket booth--where you have to pay money--which we didn't have--no cash or check book. Were ready to turn around and go home, when the nice ticket lady let us in FREE!! Apparently someone had given an extra guest pass earlier and she let us use it. Good thing too. We WERE NOT GOING TO PAY $15, even if we had the money on us!!

Christmas Pictures

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve consisted of a delicious dinner with friends, kids climbing bunk beds, dolls, some wrestling, a short nativity reinactment, a little singing and some candy canes!  (Curt asked for a baby for Christmas--he must have forgotten it takes 9 months--so holding someone elses on Christmas eve, was the next best thing.)

opening new pj's

                                           

  . . . with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads . . . 

                  CHRISTMAS MORNING

lined up on the stairs

Candy Cane Hoarder

Hours of legos

can't get this kid to keep his eyes open for the flash for the life of me!

Isaac's finished lego project

Nicole's finished project

Uncle Eric and a gingerbread house

Uncle Eric (of the Salisbury kind--the kids have two uncle Eric/Arics and now have two uncle Scotts!) was stuck in CA for a day and came to visit us! The kids were pretty excited about it. Curt and Eric went to the driving range, then hung out at home for a while. I asked Eric if he wanted to help the kids decorate our gingerbread house "I'm UNCLE Eric not Aunt Eric!" was his response. :) Maybe next year if he comes we'll have a gingerbread airplane to decorate and see what he says.
Nicole did most of the frosting, Isaac did most of the decorating and Ryan did most of the eating.

Eric hamming it up

More Nutcracker . . .

There, now you can all feel like you were there!!

SF Ballet Nutcracker

Nicole and I attended the Nutcracker last year and it was so phenomenal we had to go again this year!! This year we got Curt and Isaac to come along. Isaac was SO excited to go. He remembered being left behind last year, how much Nicole had raved about it, and the cool Nutcracker she brought home. Isaac promised to take a long nap that day (which he did) and felt like such a big boy since he was getting to go out with Mom and Dad and Nicole for a night on the town--after bedtime!! Nicole was excited to sit by her friend, and was almost dancing herself throughout the program. Isaac's eyes were glued to the stage (I initially wasn't sure how he was going to do) and every few minutes he would say "I'm so glad I got to come to the Nutcracker . . . I've never seen it before!) After the lights came on for intermission he was a little concerned "It's not over yet right?" There is a lot of ballet, but this production has an amazing set, sword fighting, a real canon that gets shot, a dancing bear, and plenty of things to keep a little boys attention too. Not to mention they handed out a stuffed Christmas mouse to all the kids. I'd have to say the night was a success. I'm glad we got to see it again before we move. Next year we'll be in Albuquerque!





All the kids--Sarah, Lorien, Nicole and Isaac



Cassie and Marilyn--looking gorgeous as usual!!



We ran into some more friends, the Isaacson's --I like this picture as you can see a little what the theater looks like.



We had picked Curt up from school on our way to the show . . . and were cutting it a little close, so he didn't get to change into his dressier clothes, but still looked as handsome as ever--as you can see in this picture . . .