Merry Christmas

In December we had some great Christmas cheer. We toured the Streets of Bethlehem in Salinas--amazing! 

 We had a fun ward party complete with photo backdrop.

Some of my church friends: Emily, Shauna, me, Carolynn, and Bonnie

We went to a very fun White Christmas dinner party--all dressed in white!

We also toured Christmas at the Inns--really enjoyed it but do not recommend bringing children, and probably wouldn't do it more than every few years. We enjoyed baking and plenty of other fun activities, concerts and events. I love Christmas!

Christmas break

We had a fun Christmas day--presents and dinner at the Bernardses.  Santa somehow knew just what they wanted, even when three days before Christmas, Declan just had to have Santa bring him a compass. That Santa is pretty great.

 Mr. B and I decided to buy him a pricey board game he really wanted, Gloomhaven, and we spent a lot of Christmas break playing it (fun!), other games, watching movies, reading books, lazing about and eating cheese and chocolate. It was perfect.

Audrey celebrates

We sure celebrated this girl! A day out on her actual birthday, with manicures, shopping, dinner at Lalla Grill, and a cake (all with her friend Claire), and then a weekend party (board game themed) with her school friends (who wore me OUT). 

First manicure!

Finding all the birthday stuff at the mall (but not actually buying it...)

Happy birthday Audrey!

Audrey turned 12! She has become a beautiful, talented young woman, and we are proud of her.

Christmas season begins

Our ward had a fun Christmas dinner with this great photo booth--we all had fun playing with it!

November

The day after Halloween was the first warm day in a long time--we headed to the beach!

Thanksgiving brought Paul to visit, and a fun sighting of a sea lion!

My dream came true when I got to see a Broadway production of Aida. It was amazing!

Declan was the cutest in his class Thanksgiving play.

We did "Christmas at the Inns" this year, touring several B&Bs all decorated for the season, with music and treats. Delightful!

Halloween party

Another fun Halloween party with our friends! We are always so impressed with people's creativity.

Tree and lumberjack

What the kids looked like 20 minutes before party time.

On the back, their jerseys said "Together since 1981" when they stood together. They also brought mini footballs for my kids--so sweet!

Operation game

BYU /Utah rivals

Dirty dancing

Coco

Tick Tock Croc and Tiger Lily

Fish bowl and fish out of water

Twilight vampires

Oreo