Cali Trip

After Christmas we headed to Dannys parents house in No. California. We drove straight through leaving at about 4 in the morning and getting there around i think 3 or so.. The kids did SOO GOOD...... on the way there.... They didn't really know what was going on so they couldn't complain.. but thank heaven for the DVD players in the car. Talk about a life savor... man.. no wonder why Greg and I use to fight constantly in the car when we would drive... then again.. we still do fight. so they must not of been the problem. lol. ANYWAYS. Good times.. It was good we had a week before the trek back home.

Here's Colby and Josie layin' on the ground together.. Dont let this photo fool you.. Colby isn't one to sit still he's basically a monkey, nearly walking and definatly has the crawling down.. he's only about 6 months old or so in this pic. Josie is a lazy roller... but is getting more and more determined and knows if she wants to survive she must roll away from Kelli.

What would a family get together be like with out playing the Wii.. Tyler stands there with Dave and strums his guitar as long as Dave is doing that... I wish Kelli would do that. Kelli is like me, gets bored REALLY fast.

I know what you're thinking about this AMAZING photo below... We were driving and I was bored so I took this through the windshield at the MTN's infront of me. I'll tell you what.. my windshield is NEVER as clean as it was on this trip, because of the weather, we were constantly cleaning it.... either that or I have some mad camera skills.... I must have mad skills.. right??!?

Christmas Extended

I know its taken me long enough to finish blogging about Christmas and everyone is over Christmas.... but back off. On Christmas night my Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and my Uncle Paul and his kids came over for dinner. It was so good to see my cousins because they live in Texas. We also got to enjoy playing the "bells" that my dad made many years ago that everyone just loves.... especially when ALL the kids have to have a turn and the bells are just being rung none stop.... (kind of annoyning...) It was so much fun though and the kids had a lot of fun... After we played Rock back, Danny took Kelli sledding at the park near my parents house and I was with Josie helping get things ready at my parents.

Below are pics of Kelli and Josie in their PJ's given to them by my parents. My parents gave all the kids new PJ's.. Kelli and Josie look SOOOO exhausted. As they should of been.. we didn't open presents with "everyone" til about 6 or so at night.... YIKES.

All the kids in my parents basement.... happy day.... they just LOVE everyone yelling, "SMILE" I wish someone was filming all the parents trying to get them all the look at us and smile... hilarious!

Sorting all the presents... its a dirty job but someones gotta do it... children and piles were everywhere but I think all and all... it went well.. we just had all the kids open their presents first and then we had them go in the game room and play while we opened our presents. haha. What good parents are we??! Open your presents and LEAVE!

Christmas Morning

This was Christmas morning. Kelli was so excited... Danny and I woke up at like 7 or maybe even before and we were so excited and waiting for our kids to wake up and of coarse they both sleep in til like almost 9.... I've never been more anxious for them to wake up... I wish they would sleep in more often!! Isn't it so funny that kids always want to put bows on their heads? Kelli put one on her head and then we put one on Josie's so they were the same.
Before opening presents... Kelli waiting on the chair by daddy... And notice the HUGE push pop from the stocking that she's always opened.. She loves those things and kept it with her the majority of the day til I found it and hid it from her! Its so sticky...

Kelli opened her baby doll that Santa brought her. She just loves the doll and loves that she can bring it in the tub with her..

Ryan and Amber and the boys came over and we all played Rock Band. Nothing brings in the holiday spirit like rockin' out to some rock songs...

On Christmas morning my parents came over for a little bit to watch Kelli and Josie open some presents, and then we were able to talk to Danny's brother Eric who is serving a mission in Brazil. It was so good to hear from him, and it just made us miss him so much more. I can't wait for him to come home in June.

Christmas Eve (out of order pics)

For Christmas Eve we went over to my parents house for dinner. Greg was up from Cali, and Steven and Shaundee were able to join us even though it wasn't our year, which was a nice treat. Michelle and her family were at Serges parents, and Ryan and Amber were at her parents. Danny made a wonderful stuffed steak. (stuffed with spinach, procuitto, red peppers, parm cheese, and more..) Its my favorite. Then there were some yummy sides to go along with it. Christmas time is so much fun especially when you get to be with your family.


Lyza and Kelli making a gingerbread house..... Kelli is eating the candy and Lyza is decorating.. THATS MY GIRL!
Papa reading "twas the night before Christmas"

Steven using modern technology to read Luke 2.. what would we do without I Phones??? Well, for one thing someone would of had to walk all the way upstairs to get a set of scriptures....

Playing "Jingle Bells" with Grandpas bell set that he made.

The 4 little kids that were loving having to sit still for stories... lol. Clearly Josie is wondering why all of a sudden Kelli is allowed to hold her without an adult being right at her side.... doesn't she look so scared??!!

Lyza and Kelli so excited about their new P.J.'s

Kelli and Lyza excited to sit at the table and have fancy dishes and goblets to drink from... meanwhile, I was scared Kelli was going to drop it and break one of my moms glasses... not so exciting....

Danny's MASTERPIECE.... complete with red peppers as a garnish and all....

Mothers Table decorating.... B. E. A. utiful

Playing in the snow

Danny took Kelli to play in our backyard one day and she loved it. I dont know how much she remembered from last year but she was so excited and I think knew it was going to be a blast. She was a lot more agile in the snow than last time which made for less tears! Which was more fun for me!!! What was also exciting, is that she still fit into everything from last year.. (coat, boots, jacket....) She had so much fun.. they threw snowballs at each other, threw snow up in the air, ran around and tackeled each other, and made snow angels, etc... She trys to make snow angels everywhere now!
Running in the snow (above) Throwing snow in the air with Daddy (below)

Mom coming around the corner with that dang camera again.... (thats what Kelli is thinking I'm sure of it)

Getting ready to take on the snow....

Tiny Dancer

Kelli had her first Dance Recital on December 4th. She did so good... she was so excited to get out there. She had a little 'teddy bear for christmas' routine, and then the whole group did 'The Grinch!' She loved every second of it.. before the dance started all the girls were crying and she said.."its ok guys.. lets just be happy!" After her first dance was over.. she said.."mom, I wanna do that again!" I told her good cause she needed too! After the dance Danny surprized her with flowers that just made her so proud! Danny and I were beaming cause she actually did it, and looked like she knew exactly what she was suppose to be doing in the routine.


Danny giving her flowers... Awwww....
My lil' WHOO Dancing in the front/middle

Doing her "GRINCH" fingers....

Her Teddy Bear routine. SO cute! (4th from the left)

(2nd from the right)

Before the big group Grinch routine, she had a little "who children" routine, but whoever was in charge of the camera was taking pics of the wrong girl.... haha. Luckly I have it on video camera. Thanks Lee family and Mom and Dad for coming and supporting Kelli. Dancing at 2 1/2.. she's awesome! (little bias? I think not......)

Christmas Tree

This year we went to a local tree farm to pick out a tree. I just love having a real tree, it keeps your house smelling so yummy! Kelli wanted to the biggest tree there.. and we thought we found a good size tree and put it on the car and came home... when we were trying to find a spot we didn't realize how huge it was. haha. It is so pretty and I just love it. I LOVE Christmas time.

Kelli getting ready to go find her tree!

Danny was attaching it to our car. We were worried it wasn't going to stay.. no offense to his abilities, but there's that small chance!

TA-DA! And there it is... this pic doesn't do it justice!

It was a lot of fun putting all the bulbs on and other fun ornaments... Kelli prob broke more than actually made it to the tree that she was doing.. but thats ok, we had a lot of fun in the process!