Leading up to Christmas...

We did some holiday crafting!

Chloe had been begging me to use the craft stuff Grammy gave her in Palm Springs!

Glitter covered fingers!

His serious concentrated face on

As much glue as possible was used in the making of this project!

Their finished creations...with a little Mom help on the side!

A little practice posing for holiday pictures!

A little holiday baking with help from my two favorite elves!!

They loved throwing the almonds!

A fun night of holiday movie watching!

A little holiday decor to really get us in the spirit!

A little snuggling on the couch!

And finally the night they have been waiting for has arrived... Listening for Santa's bells!

It's so fun to see the joy of Christmas on all the kids faces!

Santa brought one gift for all the kids on Christmas eve...

Eli was so cute-all night he kept thinking he heard Santa and kept wanting us to listen for him!!

Santa on his way to all the other little boys and girls houses!

I LOVE this time of year... Some people talk about getting sick of Christmas music and tired of it all, but not me!! I love it all and am glad that we get to stretch out our Christmases each year so that we can celebrate Christmas with my family too!!

Sledding Sacramento Style!!

I wanted a picture of the kids for our Christmas card so, once again I called Alyssa and asked if she could take a few picture of my cutie pies!  We don't get snow, but I thought they were pretty cute anyway!

I think Chloe's looking for some snow or maybe Santa Clause in this one!

Sammy's about done... look at that cute little lip jutting out!

Our Trip to Palm Springs!

The second week of December we got to use Don and Eve's house in Palm Springs for a week of beautiful sunny weather!! While we were there my parents flew down so we got to spend a few days with them too... It was so nice to get away from the fog and rain, although taking a trip in December before Christmas sure makes the month short!!

On the way down listening to his Lightening McQueen story... Over and over and over!! He looks like such a big boy in this picture!

Sammy is three months old in this picture!! I took him to the doctor the day before we left and he weighed in at 14lbs 15 ounces and is 25 inches long!  He is still the sweetest baby ever! He is sleeping through the night and has been for about a month now (I'm hoping I don't jinx it by bragging about it!) and is such an easy going baby that he just goes along with us sleeping wherever and whenever throughout the day! 

Being that he is the third kid I haven't really been doing tummy time like I should, and when I put him on his tummy for this picture he promptly rolled right on over! 

The kids of course couldn't wait to get in the pool (actually the hot tub) and swim around!

Me and Sammy enjoying the sun!

What a ham!

Cute boy!

The hot tub wasn't heating up like it should, so it was warm enough for the kids but not this Mama!!

They are such good buddies!

Grammy holding sweet Sammy as he sucks his fingers... I think he's starting to teethe because he's sucking on everything and drooling all over the place!

We went to Joshua Tree National Park one of the days

Sweet Sammy didn't mind all the driving and getting in and out to look at stuff!

We packed a lunch and ate at one of the day use areas!

Enjoying a cookie!

A sweet little park ranger! 

I got the kids these Ranger hats at the Visitor Center and they wore them most of the day.

Me and the kids!  Since Mom was along there was more than one photographer, so I'm even in a few pictures this time!

Elijah had fallen asleep by this time so just Chloe and Sammy got out to look at the Cholla Cactus Garden

This cactus was so pretty and looked tantalizingly soft... but is apparently very painful!!

See... Doesn't it look soft and fuzzy! Kinda made me feel like Sleeping beauty about to prick my finger on the spindle!

And here's the sleeping boy with his leg crossed... He sits like this a lot and it always cracks me up!

Here's Chloe monkeying around on the big rocks!

Eli checking things out...

An attempt at a family picture!

More rock climbing!

Grandpa and Sammy... This was Dad's first time seeing Sam!

Looking through the binoculars!

Of course Eli has to have a turn too!

And we finally get to see the famous Joshua trees!

Up at Keys View checking out the San Andreas fault

The kids love seeing all the windmills along the road!

One of the nights Joe heard something out back and when he let Sage out he scared this little fellow up a palm tree!!

On Saturday we drove out to Shelter Valley to look at the new convention grounds and to pick up Greg O

Sweet boy enjoying the ride!

The kids loved checking out Greg's wall tent... Elijah kept calling it the tent house!

One of the shade structures

Back at home Chloe loved helping Greg with the dishes!

Sammy all dressed for meeting

Greg and the kids just before he headed back to Shelter Valley

On Monday we enjoyed another beautiful day in the sun... Everyone said it had been unseasonably hot... I think it was 85 on Monday, so we soaked it up and spent another day in the pool.

Chloe splashing around!

Handsome little guy!

Another handsome little guy!

Really getting into pouring his water!

Daddy is so fun to play with!

A self portrait

Lunchtime!! Could hardly get them out of the pool to eat!

Well, this guy would!

Sagey relaxing too!

Joe went and got a fruit picker, which Chloe loved using!

Daddy helping her out!

The boys!

Hanging out with Sammy!

Cute little baseball bum!

We had so much fun and can't wait to plan our next trip!