Cookies and sick kids!

The Monday before Christmas my niece and her mom came over to bake cookies. We had a great time and I was very impressed with how well they came out. Ashlee and Brianna had a blast! Fun times!

The next day Ashlee woke feeling sick to her stomach and was throwing up all morning. I kept taking her temp and got normal every time. The last time I did it I put the thermometer on Hyrum to compare and it said he had a fever uh-oh. Anyways they both just laid around all day until we took them in to the doctor - ear infection for Hyrum, nothing for Ashlee. She actually started eating at around 2:00 and was fine after that, it must have just been something she ate. Hyrum was cranky all the way until the day after Christmas (more Christmas coming up!) Fun times though! At one point during the day they both got really quiet. I went into my bedroom to find this:

Poor little dears - sick kids are just hard to watch.

Christmas Pictures

So I am showing off two things here. First the cute Rudolph and Clarice that we bought last year and the kids absolutely love this year. (I hear they are being auctioned on Ebay ya for Aunt Lena!!!) Second my adorable little kids. It is so funny because I used to get Christmas cards with just pictures of the little kids and think to myself - okay yes they are cute but where are the parents? I don't even know who these kids belong to? Well I have turned into one of those people. I realize now the main problems with Christmas pictures are that it is next to impossible to get a good one with kids, and also who holds the camera for Mommy and Daddy? So the result is a Christmas card with just the kids. Below are some of the outtakes and cute pictures from Sunday morning.

California Snow

Ashlee has been watching all of the great Christmas movies with me. She is really getting into the holidays, but keeps asking me.."Where is the snow." "Mommy, when can I go to the snow?" Well today I was sitting in the house and heard a very loud noise and looked out my window to see Hail coming down. I ran to the window with Ashlee and she yelled "It's snowing, can I make a snowball?" After further inspection she declared that it was ice coming from the sky. Well as this is as close to snow as we usually get around here we just stood there and watched it until it stopped. I guess we will have to make a trip to the mountains soon to see real snow. But I thought I would share with everyone what California snow looks like:

*******Warning********

Please alert your neighbors, friends, and relatives. I have recently discovered a brand new pest. This pest is extremely tricky. He sneaks into the fridge and consumes small amounts of apple!! Be weary of this new pest as he is not satisfied with just one apple but must take some from each and every apple in your refrigerator. The said apples are then returned into the fridge ready for some unawares person to discover. I am trying very hard to locate this pest and post a picture so others will not be subjected to the same boggling phenomenon. Truly we hope that no one elses home as been infected with such a pest, but I am posting a picture of the evidence so all can see what it looks like!!!

Twilight

Okay I am adding to the masses and their opinions of the movie Twilight. No spoilers here just my opinion. Honestly I liked the movie. It was what it was. I had only read the book once so I wasn't to wrapped up in all of the little things, I just wanted it to give the same feeling to me as when I read the book. I have never been an Edward fan and actually liked the "other guy" the most when I read the books, but about 40 minutes into the movie I turned to my friend and said "this is changing me to an Edward fan!!" It was cheesy and good - just like the book. Today I actually had some free time (my niece is visiting and her, Ashlee and Hyrum played all day!) and I reread the book. It was interesting to read it because I was able to see why they cut stuff out and combined stuff in the movie. Of course there were a few parts that I was like - oh yea why didn't they put this in???? Like the whole meadow scene....oops I said no spoilers so sorry that is all I will say about that! Anyway all in all I liked it and want to go and see it again - anyone else want to go?????

Peek-A-Boo

I was walking through the house this morning looking for Hyrum and almost missed him. This is his new hiding place.....

The funny thing is that he just stands there. I waited for a long time and finally said his name which is when he turned around and gave me this adorable look....

Honestly is there anything cuter?????

Giant trees

For those of you that don't know California is home to some of the largest trees in the world. There are the Sequoias and the Redwoods. Before we moved here we would visit my mom and talk about the Sequoias. Jed had always dreamed of seeing them and was so enthralled with the idea of these massive trees. Well since we have lived here we just never made the time to go and see them...sad, sad, sad. Last weekend we finally made the trip up into the mountains and had a picnic in the clouds, (it was very rainy and overcast). Ashlee loved the giant trees and had a grand time playing with the pine cones and building the fire. It was very overcast and rainy so we didn't spend a whole lot of time up there but we roasted hot dogs and made smores with the slightly damp wood we could gather. It was so funny trying to light a fire when it is so moist in the air but the kids loved trying. It is definitely worth the hour drive to go and see them and for our far away friends if you come and visit we promise to take you! I think we may even try camping one day as we found a perfect camping spot.

This is a big stump from a fallen tree. This was Jed taking Hyrum and Ashlee on a little hike. I am not sure if you can even tell how truly large the trees are, but take my word for it they are HUGE!

Ashlee gathering pine cones!

This was a cool bench that Ashlee pretend to sit on. It was really very cold there, you can see the fog in the picture from when we first got there.

We stopped at a visitors center that had an explore area for the kids. Hyrum loved to play in the little tent. What a cutie!