Palos Verdes Beach

Yesterday was an incredibly beautiful day.  All of my sisters were in town so we decided to take a walk at the beach.  The trail leads from the Donald Trump golf course to the water.  Down at the bottom of the trail, people take their dogs to play in the ocean.  This was the first time I have let Haley off the leash to run around alone.  She ran into the water chasing after a ball and got hit by an unexpected wave!  She shook off and was pretty much done with swimming after that.

New Hair

Doesn't Kevin look like a Rockstar?!

Justin just thrilled!

Kevin happer than ever!

Travis looking very natural!

Christmas Afternoon

We went to my sister Susan and brother-in-law Jeff's house for Christmas dinner.  Jeff mad an amazing Prime Rib Roast.  It was such a treat!

Travis got a magic trick set.  He thought it was so funny to play tricks on all of us.  He pretended he was giving us a stick of gum.  When you pull the gum it gives you a shock!

Garrett playing X-Box

Susan slaved the whole day. :)

Mom made the gravy

I just love the family memories we get to make with our extended families.  Garrett asked me this morning what my favorite gift was.  I told him that it was the blessing of our family and that each one of us has good health!

Christmas Morning

The kids got up at exactly 5am on Christmas morning.  We told them before they went to bed not to wake us up any earlier!  I don't think Garrett ever went to sleep that night.  He promptly woke up his siblings at 5am. 

Morgan got new UGG boots

Garrett got me a new jacket

Kevin got a much needed new pair of shoes.  Garrett has been into reading the Redwall series of books so he got a couple more of those.  He also got his first book in the C.A. Henty series.

Morgan is into Elsie Denismore.  She loves listening to the audio books.  Unfortunately, I bought her the books she already had. :(  I am going to return them and get her the next ones.  Justin is into The Magic Tree House books.  Morgan found most of the set at a garage sale and got them for Justin.

Aunt Roni went to New Orleans and brought the kids back masks.  Here they are modeling.

Garrett got coal for Christmas.  He knows there are times he deserves it! (Don't we all)  What he really wanted for Christmas was a cell phone.  We told him no over and over again these past few years.  We know we are the last parents on earth who won't get their kids a phone. We didn't see the point.  Now that he is getting more independent in his activities we can justify it.  So his big surprise was his phone!  We are working up a mutual contract on how we expect the phone to be used.  He was very happy.