Another day at the BeAcH

It was such a beautiful day at the beach last Monday so as Kathy and I were on our walk Saturday morning we decided that we should turn around and grab the kids, load the car and go! The men decided that they wanted to go too! So, we packed up the kids and the car and headed out!

It is weird how the weather is here.... Last Monday it was cool here (73°) and when we got to the beach it was over 80°, I had to take off my sweatshirt I was SO hot, on Saturday we were VERY hot on our walk and when we got to the beach it was cool, I left my sweatshirt on all day.

Here are a few pics from yesterday...

Yes, as you can tell, it is a different beach this time... no rocks... no tide pools...

Brad always brings a football to the beach...

Chad playing catch with his dad... and Scott watching

Kaitlin and me

Me, Kaitlin, and Kelsey

Awe, Kaitlin, thanks for taking some pics of me and my man!

Me and Kathy

How beautiful.... the Lord's creation!

A California Christmas!

Most of you were probably building snowmen, drinking hot chocolate, and making snow ice cream while we here in Cali were putting lights in our palm trees and visiting the beach... I have to say while I love visiting my mom and enjoying the beauty of a fresh white snow but I always love coming home to the WARM sunshine! I love living in southern California... we have been here for about the last 23 years. I LOVE the beach... the sand between my toes, the cool water, the warm sun on my face, the breeze thru my hair wading in the water and picking up pretty seashells, making sandcastles, sitting in the sand and watching the sun go down... oh yeah, I LOVE the beach! (I have to say my favorite trip ever was to Maui... and going snorkeling and swimming with the awesome sea life!)

The boys love going to the beach in the winter and looking in the tide pools for various sea life. It pretty much has become a tradition every Christmas. They miss the beach while living in the snow while they are off at school.... So on Monday Dec 28th we headed out to the beach to see what we could find!

Here are some beautiful shots of the ocean/beach that we took!

And here are some of the very cool animals that they found! These little guys are Brittle Starfish, I have to tell you it felt like a spider crawling on my hand... they are fearless, I thought it was going to crawl right off my hand and fall to the sand below! It really tickles when you hold them!

Devin searching the tide pools...

Doesn't this look cool? We saw sea slugs, sea urchins, starfish of different colors, a few octopi....it was so fun!

Dallin bringing up a starfish for me to hold...

Cool, huh?

Here the guys had found a very large octopus but he didn't want them to get him, he hid further under the big rock, they tried to move it but it was way too heavy, Devin had a hold of one of his arms but it was VERY strong, Devin's arm was shaking as he was trying to pull it up for everyone to see, at one point the octopus was able to bring Devin's hand to his beak and bit him! (just the tip of his finger) They found a tiny tiny octopus but I guess I didn't get a picture :(

This little guy looked hard but he was quite mushy, lol...

My climber boy, Chadman...

Diana soaking up some rays! It was a gorgeous day, about °74! We had to shed our sweatshirts! What a beautiful day!

We even saw a Sea Lion who was waiting for the tide to come back in to take him away...

Goodbye for today...

After we left we went to Togo's for lunch... what a wonderful time we had! There is just nothing like being with family and enjoying the sunshine!

Christmas Traditions!

Picking out our Christmas tree...

Loading it on the car...

Making Oreo truffles!

Oreo truffles and dipping our pretzels!

Making tamales!

(Remind me next year not to wear a sweatshirt under my apron, I look HUGE.)

The Mission Inn...

The kids were SOOOOO good to us this year, they all pitched in together and bought us new lights to hang over the dining room table, in the entry way and over the stairs... THANK YOU kids, we love you!!! You are so wonderful!!!

Taking down the old lighting...

Nope, the ladder ON the dining room table wont work... still not high enough...

Okay, make the ladder straight and lets use a rope and hold it at the bottom... does this look safe???

It WASN'T. I should have been taping it... Dallin fell!!!! Diana and I honestly thought he was going thru the window!!! The ladder tilted to the left and spun and Dallin fell/jumped off... and landed on the dining room table. It broke off one leg and shattered 2 corners.... SOOOOO GLAD DALLIN WASN'T HURT!!!!

Brad, Devin and Dallin were able to "fix" it. They cut a piece of wood and got the leg secure and used a C clamp over night... and then glued the "shattered" pieces back on... good thing the table was made the way it was... it is supposed to look "old"... so, it works!

Pictures of the new lighting!!! LOVE IT!!! You guys did a great job picking it out!!! THANK YOU!!! LOVE YOU!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas! We had all the kids at home except Derek and Brittany... we were sad to not have them but we understand... you have to share! °Ü° They are having a great time in Denver! They were able to spend Thanksgiving with us and for Christmas this year my mom, Brad and paid for a CRUISE!!! We are all going on a cruise!!! We are so excited!!! Derek, Britt, and Dallin are going to have to miss a week of school, oh darn! HAHA!

Anyway, we hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and were all very much aware of why we celebrate!!! I am sooooooooooooo very grateful for my wonderful family! I love the Christmas season when everyone seems to have such a giving spirit.... I love the lights.... the music... the smells... but, most of all I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven that sent his Son that we might once again live with him! Merry Christmas everyone everywhere!!!

FREE books to download!

Go here to get some free books to download! Deseret Book is letting your download some great books. Just download them to your computer and read them later, they are available till Dec. 24th!