HE'S BA-AACK!!

One day at a time, two years have come to pass. My brother Robert, a.k.a. "Elder Nelson" has returned from his mission in Nicaraqua. Yes I do have a brother, some of you may be questioning that fact, it's true. Robert actually began his life as my cousin but my parents ended up adopting him a few years ago and now I have a brother. So there! The family and some friends congregated at baggage claim to greet him back from this great feat. He looked the same, though two years older and two years wiser. There were nieces and nephews he'd never seen there to meet him for the first time. Jace and Lauren were so excited and both even teared up a bit when he arrived. We are just proud to have him as part of our family!

Everyone patiently awaiting Robert's arrival

Robert and Lauren

Proud parents

Jace, Robert and Lauren

CrAZy hAiR DaY!!

iT WaS CraZy HaiR DaY aT SchOoL ToDaY.......

LaUreN HaS MuLTiPLe PonyTaILs PUllEd INtO ONE-WhIcH AcTuALLy TuRnEd OuT PReTTy CuTE- AcCEnTed WiTh PiNk AnD GrEEn HaIrSPrAy

JaCE CHoSe A CLaSSic MoHAwK WIth GrEEn TipS

Christmas 2009

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

~Norman Vincent Peale

















What better way to start off the week of Christmas then to visit the atrium at Bellagio. It is so perfectly decorated and pulls you right into the Christmas spirit. Even better is getting to enjoy it with our friends, the Hollingsworth's.

Lauren and Jace with a larger than life Frosty the Snowman



Lauren, Jace, Abi and Lexi adoring the mirrored stacked presents

Lauren and Abi by the ginormous live Christmas tree

This cute polar bear's fur is made from carnations

Another carnation polar bear that actually drips water as if it has just stepped out of the pool of sparkling water

After Bellagio we stopped by the Fashion Show to go to Macy's and mail our letters to Santa

Christmas Eve:

• a nice dinner at Mezzo, an Italian bistro
• baking chocolate chip cookies for Santa
• opening ONE present and big surprise it's pajamas!!
• eating a few cookies with some Christmas punch called Kinderpunsch (i think it's German and it was pretty good and festive)
• leaving Santa a plate of cookies with some Kinderpunsch and a couple of carrots for the reindeer

Christmas Day:

Seven o clock came pretty early. It was apparent as the kids ran down the stairs that indeed Santa had stopped in. Even after all the phone calls I had to make to him, he had in the end decided that Lauren and Jace were deserving of remaining on the "nice" list. Paper ripped, boxes torn and presents revealed.

Jace with some of his presents

Lauren with her cute Hollister shirt

Then, as if, that wasn't enough we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's. Once again the kids scored.

Lauren looking sassy in her new outfit

did grandma really wrap her present in that bag??

Maybe that was supposed to be mine!!!!

This year our fantabulous family lunch took place at Del Taco. There's something for everyone!

As you can see the boys are enjoying it!



The girls like it too!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for lunch!!

After lunch we went to visit with Jason's sister and her family
Lauren and her cousin Abby

and a visit with Grandma and Grandpa

Lauren and me

Jace and Jason

That night when hunger struck we decided to carry on our tradition from last year and have dinner in the food court at Aliante Station. This years dinner of choice: none other than Panda Express!! My philosophy is nobody should have to cook on Christmas!!(well i guess except the workers at del taco and panda!!!)

It's unsettling, really, to know that Christmas has waved it's frosty hand good-bye. There was so much invested with the garland , the tree, the cookies, and presents. How is it that we can just pack it away in the garage and do it all over again the next year? Because we love it!

So we all survived another Christmas, stored a few more memories and had a few more laughs.

THE END!!

Is it Christmas Yet??

Everyone knows that Christmas really isn't just on one day, it lasts all month long. The Saturday before Christmas we had a family dinner and went to all my sisters' houses. At each house we had something to eat then my mom told a story and gave the grandkids a little gift.

Grandma with the kids



Lauren and Maddy with their Christmas Blankets from Grandma and Grandpa sipping on some hot chocolate




Jace and Clark

Aunt Karessa and Lauren

All the grandkids at Karessa's house where G & G gave them their ornament

The next day, which was Sunday, my parents cooked the big Christmas dinner. This year our main course consisted of Turducken, mashed potatoes, yam souffle, corn, rolls and some other goods. What? What's a Turducken? Well my mom ordered this meat that is a chicken inside of a duck that's inside of a turkey. I know, weird huh. Anyway, if I hadn't been the wiser I would have just assumed it was all turkey. Dinner was good, albeit a little loud with the kids and toddlers, but what can you expect with 13 grandkids.

Lauren and her cousin Jaxon

Grandma and Koben


Ready for dinner

Don't forget dessert!



The grandkids performed the nativity

The Wednesday before Christmas we met up with Jason's side of the family for some bowling followed by dinner and a fabulous game of White Elephant...

DISNEYLAND 2009

A stroll down Main Street, going lightning speed through space, rafting down a raging river and being spooked at a haunted mansion. Seems all these things couldn't possibly happen in one location, but they do- it's called Disneyland. We went November 6 -11th and had a ton of fun!

Waiting in the never, never short line of Peter Pan

Christmas tree in California Adventure

Cousin Jake, Jace and Cousin Clark with Mr. Incredible

Jace and his pal Goofy

Jason and I in California Adventure

Jace in front of Main Street Station

They were filming for the Christmas Day special while we were there and we caught a glimpse of Ryan Seacrest

Also this gal is the voice of Princess Tiana in Princess and the Frog

Funny faces of Screamin'

Someone looks terrified!!

Lauren and Jake on Toy Story

Wait for it.......

The pirate ship was running so we took a ride on the River of America

Jace and I on the ferris wheel

Lauren and Jake on the ferris wheel(everyone else was CHICKEN!)

November 8th was my dad's birthday so we had dinner at Ariel's Grotto

Lots of good food!

Lauren with Cinderella


This is how we looked on the last night!!

On the way home we drove through downtown L.A.

This is the L.A. Times building- very nice!

We also stopped at Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House.

It was closed because it was Veteran's Day, but we walked around the outside.

I have to say that I think he's a bit overrated, this house did not impress me!

Since we rode with my parents we drove them by to see the Gamble House by Greene and Greene- now that's impressive!

And so ended our little California adventure. Disneyland never disappoints (if you know when to go) and we had fun with my parents and sister Steph and her family. The best part is that we got annual passes so now we can go anytime we want! YEAH!!