Christmas Morning

Since most of our presents were opened on Christmas Eve, we had all of our toys already that we were playing with when we woke up.... Dannys top gift from Ryan and Amber was a remote control heli. Which is actually quite fun and Josie just sits and watches it forever! Kelli got her robe from Gma and Gpa Bull and she wears it everywhere along with her slippers. Josie loved this little Duck my parents got her, that sings the ABC's and someother songs...

Growing up my parents always made us line up on the stairs (or hallway) and the Youngest (aka ME) would come out first, and then so on.... so we did that with Kelli and Josie.. Kelli thought it was just the worst idea ever, but oh well.. I told her when she's a mom, she can make up her own rules. They loved it, and they more loved all the candy in the stocking.. That Santa..

Josie CLEARLY just woke up when I took this picture of her.. poor girl. We had to wake both of our kids up. This happened last year.. The one time of the year they can't sleep in cause family is coming over..





Scott, Larissa, Greg, and my parents came over for breakfast burritos and we opened some gifts, and then they were off to hit the slopes and we played at home.

T'was the Night Before Christmas.....

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring..... not even a mouse.

Oh wait..Nevermind.

There were 2 Grandparents, 11 Children (adults)... and 11 grandchildren.. all screaming, crying, pulling hair, he said/she said, emotional girls, captain hook and sword fighting boys, and that wasn't even the grandchildren. (jk... kind of...)

Christmas Eve we went to my parents house and we, THE BULL FAMILY, had our big Christmas party. Scott, Larissa, and Greg were all up from California, and since everyone has their different traditions and family parties, we did ours on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun, the kids did a Nativity Skit (I was up doing last minute wraping for Greg, so I caught the end and it was..... Oscar winning!) My dad read, "twas the night before Christmas" to everyone, and then we had the kids open presents, and then the adults opened presents, and the kids went and played. It was so much fun to all be together, and we had the 3 California visiters for about a week so we fit a lot into that time.




Another year has come and gone, and we've missed having Christmas with the Farnworth Family in N. California... one of these times we're going to make it there, and its going to be fantastic. We missed seeing them and being with them... and until we see them, I'm holding all their presents!! Mu-ha-ha-ha! It will be like Christmas when we see them... literally.

Temple Square

Sunday before Christmas, my cousin Karli was singing down at Temple Square, so my family went down there to watch her and see the lights. We went last year as well, and its just so much fun and its a good way to start off the holiday week of festivites for our family. It was FREEZING but it was well worth it. I had all of my brothers and sisters there and it was just so awesome cause its a rare occasion to have everyone there, and not be missing atleast one.. We decided to get a family picture.... my dad was still at church so he wasn't there, but its every one else. There is a spot for him though.... (moral of the story--we're still missing one)

When we were taking these pictures.. someone came up from behind us and started throwing up......just as a little side note for my family to remember when they are reading this.. it was fantastic.

(Side note: Josie and Sami switched spots.. there were so many strollers...)

Christmas Dance Recital

Kelli had her Christmas Dance Recital on December 8th at Northridge High School. I can't believe she's been doing this for a year and a half. She was so brave, and did everything right. She had a dance with her pink tutu outfit, and then a "show" dance with the rest of the beginning classes and they danced to Polar Express. Her song was the Josh Groban song, "If you just Believe"

We were so proud of her, and at one point when a little girl on accident went to Kelli's spot, and not her own... Kelli looked like she was going to have a minor melt-down, but quickly pulled herself back together and went to the next spot over and carried on. She can't wait til Spring when she has her next recital!

Hot Chocolate

After playing in the snow for what seemed like forever, Kelli and Danny came in and enjoyed some hot chocolate. Which is Kelli's new favorite drink. We have it daily, which I'm fine with cause its freezing outside!




Josie walked around the kitching say.."HAAAA" Which is how we say "HOT!"

Snow Day

When we woke up and there was loads of snow on the ground.. what better way to spend your day then playing in it when your dad?!?! I can't think of anything better. Kelli and Josie got all bundled up in their snow gear and made a trek to the backyard to play in the snow. Josie didn't last long, but loved to watch Danny and Kelli running and rolling in the snow..




Josie looked a little bit like the brother in 'A Christmas Story' and at one point got so frustrated that she just laid on the ground until someone picked her up... she had such a hard time doing it herself... it was so funny.. all you could see were these huge eyes moving around.

As for Kelli, this is the product of waiting til December to buy snow clothes... who knew you had to buy everything in October when snow clothes came out.. We had to shop in the boy section.. but hey! I think she can pull this look off quite well.

Trick or Treat

This year Kelli completly understood the whole "Free candy" concept, but Josie just knew she needed to grab the candy and put it in her bucket. As we started the night off... she did what she was suppose to when people would put the candy in her bucket for her, but when they started to give her the choice to pick her own candy.. this is when things got ugly. This is how it would pan out...

Josie throwing her bucket and trying to grab the candy bowl for the person giving the candy.. and when they wouldn't give it to her... her having a TOTAL melt down on their porch.

So lovly to be the parent with "that child"...... lucky for me... she's 1 so its forgiveable.. had it been Kelli we would of gone straight home. It was so much fun and not to mention we had Serge walking around in that Gorilla outfit, so... that made for awkward looks from people, atleast we thought it was funny to see a grown man walking around looking like a gorilla.

Best part of "trick or treating" was... Brooklyn. After they got the candy from the house, Brooke would say, "THANK YOU" over, and over, and over again.... until she got to the next house, and then she'd say "trick or treat" and then start the cycle all over again. It was funny. At one point we lost her, but found her by following the "thankyou" voice.

This year for Halloween Josie was a Pink Flamingo, and Kelli was Tinkerbell. They looked so cute, and it was So fun to see them walking around in their costums. Especially Josie. Josie totally loved being in that outfit, and she just looked hilarious walking around in it. What was irritating is that people kept calling her a Pelican.... uh.. obviously she isn't a pelican cause they aren't PINK, and their beaks are different. Some people. The NERVE! :)

We had Halloween at my parents house, and we had the traditional Chili and homemade rootbeer. Followed up with Cheesy potatoe soup, and Spinach Tortellini Soup, and not to mention the mounds of dessert I shoved into my face like; Sugar cookies, a pumpkin cake made by our adoptive family member/neighbor, Shelly, and other mounds of deliciousness.

The kids had a blast and it was so fun to all be there together. Ryan and Amber surprised us by showing up, they were suppose to be in California but they drove through to night so they wouldn't miss our rockin' party!

Preparing for Halloween

Well, this is something that Danny absolutly loves. Carving Pumpkins. So one night we sat down and carved away. He did two and I did one. Kelli wanted me to do the cat, so obviously, my pumpkin is the one with the cat on the tree, and Danny did the Haunted House, and the Flame Eye creapy man.... Kelli didn't like that one at all. It was a lot of fun. Kelli colored a pumpkin and helped us do some carving. She thought it was so fun.

*Josie once again was asleep. FYI she goes to bed early. and she usually is involved in family things! ha ha

Haunted Mansions

Every year we get together with Justin and Jennie and build a "Haunted Mansion" for halloween. We do something different every year, and the boys get more and more creative with their house designs. Justin and Danny built it, and Jennie and I decorated it. This year we did an Igloo. Chase and Kelli are now old enough to want to do things too, so Jennie assembled a quick lil' house for them to decorate, and they had so much fun.... as well as putting one piece of candy on, and eating five.. and so on. I must say, their little house stayed put together for 3 FULL days before I came down one morning and she was eating the Oreos and candy off of it.

*Josie missed out this year, she was in bed cause we were doing this a little too late for her taste

Turning DOMESTIC

Well, this fall I turned DOMESTIC. Turns out that pesky apple tree in the backyard, had some top notch apples on it, so we started picking, and picking, and picking.... and we picked a kitchen trashcan FULL and 4 full grocery bags. Danny and I made some super tasty apple sauce, and then I also dried some apples, which turns out if you call them "apple chips" Kelli will actually eat them. Also, Michelle's mother in law gave her a HUGE box of plums, so we made some plum jam which was rather tasty as well. Apparently my mom use to made the best plum jam when we lived in California but, obviously she stopped when I was little cause I think they are all crazy... my mom does canning but I've never seen her do jam. There are too many witnesses for this to be false that she made the "best plum jam EVER!" Which is a quote I've heard hundreds and hundreds of times! My brothers have all said that the plum jam "took them back to their childhood"..... well, I'm glad! Its so tasty, and it was so easy.... It always looked so hard to do so I never wanted to try, but now I've got this canning stuff down.

Gymnastics

During the summer Kelli took a Gymnastic class at USA Gymnastics. So when the fall season started, Lyza and Thomas came along to put a finale to "pancake tuesday." This was the last class that Thomas was going to be attending because they were going to California for a month or so. Lyza and Kelli are still going and they love it! Its only the two of them in their class! Its so fun, Kelli loves gymnastics and she is freakishly strong so its perfect for her..... her new thing is, doing a headstand up against the wall, and then pushing up into a handstand..... I know right?! FREAKISHLY strong. You go try it! ;)

Future Dentist/or..... Construction worker

I was in the kitchen the other day making dinner, and I could hear Josie and Kelli just laughing and giggling. I didn't know what they were doing, but I could hear a weird noise.... like something electic. I came around the corner, and I saw Josie with a toy that Thomas had left at our house, a toy drill.... and she had it in her mouth, spinning it. It was so funny.... she knew that she was doing something funny and her eyes were huge. She'd turn on the drill and it would go around in her mouth inbetween her teeth causing it to make a weird noise.. and her and Kelli would bust a gut laughing.
Below is Josie, doing her full belly laugh.... It was actually quite hilarious, and I wish I have a tap for my video camera so I could of got it on film!

Question

So I put a tracker on my blog, because once I had a comment from someone in Brazil..... So I asked Greg since he went there on his mission, thinking maybe it was someone that he knew or something like that... what they had written had nothing to do with anything, but that I had a cute family..(creeper), and it was some random person that had come across my blog... (freaky!) I dont want to go private, cause I like that people from different places that I've lived can catch up on my life, but I dont know how all these other countries are accessing my blog cause I dont know people in these countries... how do I stop this??? Its freakin me out.....

Helpful tips?

Finally!

Well, this is about a month over due, but I'm finally getting around to posting an entry at midnight... but it had to be done. Josie is finally a 100% walker. She has been walking for awhile, but would still crawl here and there, and the weirdest thing, she'd ALWAYS crawl on the grass... and never walk (weirdo).... but now she's a walker, and now an avid runner. I guess with a sister like Kelli who chases after her at full sprint you'd have to be. Josie and Kelli are best friends, and do everything together. Kelli gets so heart broken if Josie doesn't come down to the play room right away when asked. And in the morning when Kelli wakes up, she runs straight to Josie to give her a hug and kiss..... running right past me! How rude... after me enduring Kelli kicking me and stealing my blanket all night, I should get the first hug of the day! People always say that once your kid walks... they get into more things, but that isn't true.. she's been this busy since she could crawl. She loves to climb and will climb into anything... (top drawers included...she makes stairs out of them) Shes a sneaky lil' devil and I'm sure when her and Kelli and downstairs playing, Kelli is telling her all the secrets and Josie is mezmorized by her intelligence! At Josie's 1 yr doctor apt she was crawling up the drawers to fire truck bed. Its hilaroius. The Doctor finally had to sit infront of it so she wouldn't fall off and nail her head. She's so funny, and seriously, has the biggest smile and mouth and teeth you've ever seen on a 1 yr old. I love it. You can't ever get mad at her cause she smiles at you, and look at her, and see those teeth, and bam! Your heart melts. I'll post some more pics when I have more time of her mouth/teeth. LOVE IT.

(ps: in this pic, Josie and Kelli were "watching a movie'' but really, Josie had stolen my phone, and Kelli was calling people and then handing it to Josie. So, I'm sorry if you ever get muliple phone calls from me and then hung up on. and my lil' Kelli.... already have her sister do the dirty work!)

Highlight of Disneyland...

Ta-daaaa!!! We stood in like for like and Hour and half for this stupid thing... stupid for me, and wonderful for Kelli. And you should of seen the line..... it wasn't that long... I don't know if people decided to sit down and talk with the princesses and about their experiences in the Disney films... but MAN! It took forever. Danny and walked Josie back to the hotel and I stayed with Kelli, since I missed out on a lot of rides, and shows with her. (not to mention, he took the double stroller, and left me with Kelli and a backpack.. and Kelli's legs were "too tired" to walk.. so I walked through the whole park and to the hotel carrying her.... lol) But man, once it was our turn and we turned the corner and saw BELLE standing there in her beautiful dress I think Kelli was so stunned she didn't know if she should run and scream or just cry. She was so excited. She told her about her favorite rides, food, gymnastics, dance... all sorts of things.


Belle and Cinderella were definatly the Hits of the whole thing... Mulan? Really?? I mean she watches the movie and knows who she is but... she's not even a princess... haha. I had my fingers crossed that Sleeping Beauty would be there.. but the stars dont ALWAYS align. But Kelli was just as excited about getting to meet them....
I tell you what though, that Disneyland... they are pretty tricky, and freakin' smart... they have like a beauty salon for toddlers right after they meet the princesses... so they can get their face painted and get make up on and stuff.... buy dresses, dolls... all sorts of things... its like the end of the world after such a wonderful experience, cause now all the adults are prying their children away from the Salon.... darn you Disneyland!

ps: Since we were at Disneyland for 5 days, we learned the ropes and the tricks, and we were able to have 2 nights where Dannys parents watched the kids, after we put them to bed, and all the "big kids'' got to go back and go on some rides... first of all, after pushing that stroller all day... you can walk so much faster! Its unreal, Danny and I were like running cause we still had the momentum from earlier. It was so much fun and on the final night, we were able to go on Splash Mountain like 6 times in a row... there weren't any lines close to closing time. So they let us all stay on the log, and continue on. It was such a blast! Thanks Ross and Nancy for such a great experience. We'll never forget it.

Dannys parents took all of his siblings and families to Disney for 5 days! Thats right.... 5 days! We stayed at a Hotel right across the street and we'd just have breakfast, and literally walk right out of our hotel and were infront of Disneyland entrance. So fun! It was really convienant for naps with Josie as well. We had so much fun! Kelli was so into EVERYTHING. She loved going on all the rollercoasters and rides that she could. She was less than a 1/2 inch too short to go on space mountain and splash mountain... but she still had fun. On the second day that we were there we walked into Disneyland, and all of the characters were just standing in the entrance, with like NO LINES. So we like raced to get as many as we could... we never did find DAISY.

(below: Kelli standing with Mickey... she was SO excited, and blew him kisses)
(below: Kelli standing with Minnie. After we walked away from them, she said..."they aren't so small like on TV, they're HUGE!)
(below: Josie like most of the rides but the TEACUPS were her favorite. She would giggle SO HARD when Danny would spin the teacup "super fast"..... )
(below: This isn't the best pic that I had of us with Pluto, but Josie's face is hilaroius I think... she looks like she's thinking.."ok, this is by far the BIGGEST dog ever!!" She never took her eyes off his nose)
(above: Josie in the stroller... which BTW after Disneyland, she HATES her stroller.. and after the 2nd day of Disneyland, she wouldn't take a nap in the stroller, we had to take her back to the hotel... she's already being dramatic.. darn it!
below: Kelli's favorite ride, Matterhorn. She LOVED it and I believe went on it 8 times. She'll still say its her favorite but didn't like the white "monster''.... but she wanted to go on it over and over again.. This is such a fun age to be at Disneyland)
(below: Kellis first time on a real roller coaster. The one in toontown. She LOVED it and was so excited about it. But of coarse she loved it... she loves anything fast and dangerous)
(below: kids and Danny with Donald... once again.. Josie giving him the evil eye of.... dont you think about touching me you HUGE DUCK YOU.)
(below: Kelli wanted to go on this the whole time we were there, and finally the 2nd to last day when there werent any lines in the morning we ran over there to go on it. and of coarse, she LOVED it)
(below: Electrical Parade)
Kelli and Tyler at electrical parade
(below: Danny and Kelli first went on the ferris wheel.. which kelli has wanted to do since she saw one at Lagoon. They went on the moving ones that slide, and she loved it. I was with Lauren and Josie, Lauren was a little too nervous to go on it.. Later, Josie and I went on it, and Josie absolutly HATED IT. she was climbing up me like a monkey. but there wasn't a line, so we kept going on... she warmed up to it the 2nd time around...)
(Below: getting off matterhorn)

San Juan Cap & Josie Bday

This year we had a huge family vacation with Dannys family, and we all went to Disneyland. So as a good excuse before hand, we went and visited my brother Scott and his wife Larissa, and my brother Greg. We stayed there for about 4 days, and did as much as we could... we went to the beach, and breakfast at the pier, shopping in Laguna, and of coarse went and got my favorite dessert.... a PIZOOKIE. Went out to dinner and some yummy places, and did lots of swimming. Josie didn't love it, cause she'd get cold so fast... so Kelli would swim a lot with everyone. We brought Jeff down with us, so he could work with Scott for a week. It was so much fun... Josie's birthday was coming soon, so we decided to have a make shift birthday party and Larissa made her a cake. It was so much fun. She blew out the candle and everything! Here are a few pics... My camera is so big that I never brought it to the beach but Scott and Larissa did... I'll get those pics from them and then post later...

(Below: Josie blowing out her candle)

(Below: Kelli swimming across the pool at Scotts house. She was timid at first, and would wear a life jacket (there's no gate around the pool in his yard) but then she couldn't swim as good. So we lost the jacket, and she would swim and go everywhere with a little inner-tube thing. She loved it and was able to get good enough to chase people down in it. She LOVED it and wanted to swim all the time.)
(below: They had one of these rafts at the pool, and Kelli loved to lay on it, and have people push her back and forth from one side of the pool to the next. She thought she was a princess. And when Uncle Scott is around.... she is TREATED like one!)
(below: Brody found such a wondeful friend... Josie followed him everywhere he went. I think it actually drove him crazy... he'd lay down and get comfy, and she'd come around the corner, he'd lift his head and look at us like..."are you going to get her or is she going to attack me?" then she'd come and attack, and he'd get up and walk away somewhere else and lay down. She thought it was a game... Poor Brody!)
After we left Scott and Larissas, we went to Disneyland for a week. We were going to head back to Utah after that, but decided that we couldn't leave Sunny So Cali just yet, so we met up, went to a Sample sale, Thanks to Greg and him working for DC SHOES and got hooked up with Quiksilver and Roxy and DC SHOE everything, and went back for one last night in San Juan Capistrano. Thanks for the letting us barge in and move in for a weekend. We always feel so welcome and we had such a fun time with swimming, bon-fire, beach, food, THRIFYS ICECREAM, movies, games, and everything else that we did. Thanks for everything Scott and Larissa... and we're glad that Greg was up there to enjoy the whole weekend with us... even with his injury!