The Crazy Holiday's

This year we got to have Ben's brother and his family at our house for Christmas. It was awesome for me because, it was kinda like having Kristen and the boys back with us. We had a blast with them. First we went to Tessa Christmas program at Park Elementary School. She is normally really shy, so I thought that she wouldn't do anything, but to my surprise she sang every song. I was so proud of her. Then when Kristen and Thomas came we went sledding and froze them solid. I forgot my camera that time so no pics.

Then we went ice skating at Seven peaks arena. I wish I had a camcorder with me. Ben's brother is a Marine, one of those tough guys that is not afraid of anything. Not so with this Marine, he is scared of the ice. We got him on the ice for about two seconds, and off he went.

Then off to see Santa. We got there at 1:15 and there was a sign saying Santa was out until 3:15, I guess Santa needs to eat sometime. So we walked around the mall for a while, when we get back the line to see Santa was crazy long, but finally we got to see him.

The lizard and the clone.

Christmas eve we went up to Temple Square, not so much fun for some of the kids, the California Cooks were so miserably cold we made the trip short, and decided to go to the festival of lights in Spanish fork, since we could be in a warm car and still see the lights.

While waiting to get into the festival of lights we started to take random pics of everyone.

Then time to get ready for Santa, but first we had the christmas story and eating scones. Then the kids to bed and present out.

Over all we had a wonderful holiday, we went some more sledding and tons of eating, "now I have to lose the 10 pounds that I gained in a week". We always have a blast with Thomas and Kristen, and their kids. We miss them.

Fun at Disneyland

Ben's sister Golda works at Disneyland, so when ever we go to California she takes us. Who can complain about getting into Disney for free, and getting fast passes for every ride. But because we went after a major Holiday it was not packed so we didn't have to wait in lines and we even got to ride some of the rides twice in a row with out waiting. This is the Nemo ride. The kids had a blast going in a submarine and seeing all the under world life.Alex was one of the kids chosen to be a Jedi in training. Alex got to fight this guy, I don't remember what his name is. But Alex had a blast. He got a certificate showing is completed training.Then off the Its a small world. All of Disney was decked out for Christmas, and this place had every country and how they celebrate Christmas. Then Tessa got to meet her favorite princess, Aurora.Minnie mouse and TessaTessa and CinderellaThen afterwards Tessa had her face painted. Isn't she so cute.

Then we went on almost every ride they had. This is the Buzz lightyear ride.

We had so much fun, the day went by so fast. I know you can't see it very good but the Tree in the back ground reminded me of the tree in The Grinch, at the center of the Who town. It was so cool. We also for the first time we to the Tiki room, where all these animated birds put on a show for us. And right before the parade the made it snow, it started to come down then we realized that it was bubbles.

After Disney we left to come home. We had such a great time. We love California and all our family there. We miss them so much. So Thanks Kristen and Thomas for putting up with us for a whole week.

Another day at the beach

One of the days we went to the San Onerfa Public beach. There was this cove that we could walk through, that was made out of the sand.

Thanksgiving in California

We went to California for Thanksgiving this year. We had blast. Kristen cooked her first turkey, and it was so moist. The trick is to cook it in a roaster. We had a packed house, our family, Kristen's family, Aunt Golda and Mike, Isaiah and his girlfriend Mercedes, and some friends of Kristen's and Thomas, the Cox family. I completely forgot to take pics during the day, but we had so much food we didn't have to go shopping for several days.

This is Liz, Mercedes, and Isaiah.

Uncle Thomas and his daughter Liz.

Almost everyday we went to the beach, we thought that it would be cold so we didn't bring our swimming suits, so the kids played in the ocean in there clothes. It was so beautiful, we would go to the beach first thing in the morning and the kids would play in the ocean in their PJ's.

Austin and Tessa chasing the waves.

Tessa's dance program

Tessa had her first dance recital. At first she struggled to learn the steps, then by the end she finally got it.

This was a trial run for about 10 weeks, since she did like it, we will put in a permanent class in January.