Sunrise

Kaden was sick yesterday...so our usual sleep schedule of waking around 7am, has been disturbed. When the kids wake and feel rested...and the sun is not up yet...they are totally confused.

This morning, Kaden woke at about 5:45 and wanted a bath. So I said sure (hoping to go back to bed myself). Done with bath at 6am and woke Cass...so I suggested we go watch the sunrise. They LOVED it . This seems to be a once a year thing for us.



Shortly after Kaden, Cassidy, and Baby William watched the sunrise...cousin Luke who was over for a visit, awoke and joined them. So cute that the cousins are cuddling and "hangin'" on the sidewalk.

GOOD MORNING CAMARILLO!!!!!!

Lights with the Ross Clan

Matty missed a good one on this night. I put a call into the Ross Clan on way home from HB and they suggested a festive night of looking at lights. I had no idea what to expect...and was I happily surprised. What a perfect ending to a great day. We went to see the lights off Anza in Torrance/Redondo. What a sight. We grabbed some Hot Cocoa from Starbucks and a few refills while walking the route. I even got a few pretty good ideas for next year at the Epstein House. And for those of you who know the older kids...we're saving these pics for sure...and busting them out at Kaden and Sophia's rehearsal dinner (in about 20 years time)...they were AWFULLY cuddily in the last pic posted!!! So cute!!!

Dad...For Those Who Ask...

There are many people who ask about how my Dad is doing. It is nice to know so many people care about us, and how we are holding up. It is tough at times. REALLY tough sometimes. The road of Alzheimer's is a long and arduous one. One that takes a toll on caretakers and patients both. His health is slowly...and I mean S...L...O...W...L...Y... declining. He was so very strong and young when he received the diagnosis...that I think that has made it an even longer road. The doctors say that patients with "Early Onset" of Alzheimers usually decline faster, but...he is STRONG as an OX!

I try and visit my Dad (who is at a home in HB) most times when I go to OC. He has been there for a few years now...and some days are easier for me when I visit...and others are harder.

Luckily...my kids (atleast for right now)...enjoy seeing/visiting Papa Chris. We like to go at lunch time and feed him. We try and bring him In-n-Out when we visit for lunch. Sometimes the kids take turns feeding him, but mostly they just watch me do it. They ask questions sometimes...but this is the only way they have ever known Papa Chris...so ...it is what it is...to them.

It distracts me from the pain when I have the kids with me. But also gives me something to do. I LOVE when he gets a twinkle in his eye...like he hears me...or notices me...or the kids. It is interesting how I can notice such small signs or movements in him...and how much they mean to me and the kids when we are there. I am SURE that these signs are not neccesarily what I take them to be...but luckily...I get to decide what I see and feel when I visit.

It feels good to share this . I hope you enjoy these picture of him with the kids as much as I do!

Time with Grandma Marcia

We were so lucky to spend time in December with my mom...aka Grandma Marcia. She visited a few times to the 'rillo, and once the kids were out of school...we got a little OC time as well.


Making Gingerbreadmen




Cassidy in her new "christmas dress" playing w/Daisy




These are just a few of the GREAT memories we've made!

Disney On Ice World Of Fantasy

How lucky we are!!! Grandma Mona and I had been wanting to take the kids to Disney on Ice for awhile. We talked and talked about it...but never booked it. Finally...we booked it. Cassidy was VERY excited to go...Kaden was so so...next time it will just be the girls! Although the stories were a bit hard to follow if your not a Disney "officianado", Cassidy LOVED it. She swayed in her seat and danced in the aisle.

Friends and Gingerbread Houses

We had a great time with a few neighbor friends over for a quick holiday soiree! Now the main event was decorating gingerbread houses...but Grandma Marcia was in town...so the kids had their faces painted as well.

Grandma Marcia and I put all the houses together ahead of time...too many little ones not to. Each family brought different bags of candy for decorating...and there you have it...a party.

Introducing Tiggley Wiggley

Now the Elf on the Shelf seems to have caught on with many families we know and is such a cute tradition. This was our 3rd Christmas with Tiggley...and he comes to our home each year after Thanksgiving to be Santa's helper. He watches the children and reports back to Santa each night, letting him know whether they were naughty or nice. The next day he appears (in a new spot of course), and the children rush to find him each morning.

Kaden had a special love for our Elf this year and really wanted an Elf costume...so he could be just like Tiggley Wiggley. I mentioned it to my Mom...and wha-lah...a few days later the most adorable Elf costume accompanied her to our house!!! Thanks Mom for endulging him! Honestly...I think he actually looks a lot like him...don't you?

December Highlights

Alright already...it's January 10th..which means it is time for procrastinators to start blogging about December. So, I had every intention of getting all the lights up, tree up, decorations out, christmas spirit in check, all for once we got home from Kauai. Now most of it got up and out pretty quickly...but for the entire month I felt a bit behind schedule. Being gone for Thanksgiving was AMAZING and I wouldn't trade it...but I did miss having that weekend to "get Christmas out". As soon as we got home...I got the house decorated and it seemed like events and things to do were fast approaching.



Cassidy's preschool had a nice performance that she was all dolled up and excited for. All except for right as we drove up...her oh so sweet big brother...told her she was going to cry...because she wasn't with Mommy. Urrgh! Matty and I almost lost it on him... she ended up bawling sitting on the floor in the front row...So sad! I had to capture the moment...even though I was annoyed! Glad I did...cause it is pretty cute (atleast to me now)! In her defense, there were an awful lot of people in a small space that she didn't recognize. Hopefully this won't be a habit at all group performances...we'll have to wait and see!

It's good to be back...

Hello! Happy 2010. I've been absent for awhile...Christmas got the best of me and blogging got the rest of me...(that was nothing b/c I haven't blogged since coming home from Kauai). Not to say we haven't been having a blast...because December kept us BUSY!!! But...in mostly good ways.

Now I have some serious picture downloading to do and I will catch you up on all our favorite December memories. I was mostly excited to enjoy moments/days with the kiddos and watch the magic of Christmas do the rest. I thought Cassidy's reaction to Christmas would be my favorite (it was good), but I was pleasantly surprised but the awww that Kaden had towards the entire season. More to come on that...I will be using my camera and back tracking my favorite parts of December...but just in January.