Christmas Cards

OK - I am not a fan of Christmas cards. I know I need to get one out every year to update everyone on how the family is doing, but I think it is just a way to send out a picture so everyone can see how the kids are growing. I never include Tony and I in those pictures. Mainly because I can never find anyone to take a picture of all of us at a time when our hair is all combed and we are dressed decently. Hence the cards with just the boys. It took about 50 shots this year to find one that would do for the Christmas mail - I have posted one that sums up the whole photo shoot for me. Sophie is yawning, as she is obviously bored to death, although she is the only one that listens. Jaden kept pulling the Billy Idol snarl and Dylan smiles by jutting his jaw in the air and flashing his binky overbite. Luke just gives a little smirk and holds onto the dog while I am screaming to move this way and that, smile, don't move, don't touch your brother, look at me, etc.

I am excited for Christmas. I think the reason I wanted kids was because of Santa. I love the reindeer prints on the front porch, the chewed up carrots and half drunk glass of milk left in the morning. I remember as kid, army crawling down Grandma Hazel's hallway with a flashlight to spy in the living room @ 2:00am to see if Santa had made it. DeAnn knows all about this, because she was usually my partner in crime. I loved that feeling of laying in bed, hearing your own heart beat, and swearing it was Santa walking on the roof. I love my boys to experience that and the anticipation of the big red guy coming to see if they were naughty or nice. We also have Edward the Elf that comes every December and hangs out in the weeks before Christmas. The boys check on his location about every hour to see if he has moved or left any goodies. Dylan is at that age that he is truly getting it this year and he is having a blast.

Thanksgiving

How sad is it that I am posting about Thanksgiving just two days before Christmas. I will admit that December has been a bit of a whirlwind and I have not had much time to sit down and do anything for myself.

Back to Thanksgiving. What a great day! It was the best having De, Darren, Chase and Land here with not only Grandpa Doug, but we had Tony's dad, Angelo here as well. There was a game of flag football in 85 degree weather, skateboarding, eating until we were stuffed and a walk on Seal Beach to top the night off. I think Grandpa Doug had a great time, even though we were all thinking about Mom. She would have loved that all of us were together, laughing and enjoying the day.

My boys absolutely love the Olsen clan. Luke and Dylan have picked their favorites and Land and Chase know who they are. Luke is definitely the one that is into skateboarding now and wants to ride like Land. Dylan follows DeAnn around like a lost puppy and cries when she leaves. She takes such a load off my shoulders when she is here. A lot like Mom used to, like the cavalry helping with my rowdy boys and giving me five minutes to take a shower.

Thanks to all my family that came down and helped us through that day. I think we are going to start a new tradition and eat turkey in sunny California every year if we can handle it.

How Time Flies

I had to post a picture that I found on an old camera of the boys. Can you believe that the baby is actually Dylan? Luke is just over 2 1/2 in that picture - look at his gorgeous curls. I had to put the recent pictures of the boys for comparison. They are all growing up so fast and changing into little men. I am going to have a heart attack when their voices change.

By the way, Dylan got a job, an actual paying job and photo shoot. We go next Wednesday up in the valley. I think he gets to play with some toys while they take some shots. I really hope he cooperates.

Just Another Day

I loved this picture of the boys and Sophie. We snuck over to El Dorado Park to walk the dog around a bit and they found this tree they thought they could climb. It is funny being the mother of boys, so exhausting, yet when your little one turns to you and says "Mom, I love you too much" it makes all this worthwhile. Love you guys.

Notice Luke's haircut - he looks like Grandpa Doug now that the long locks are gone. Nice leaf - it was bigger than all their heads put together.

A Day at the Aquarium

The day after Halloween, I took the boys to the Aquarium of the Pacific to hang out and pet the sting rays. We went with our good friends the Hansard's (they also have three boys) and had a great day. The shark in the picture above just kept getting closer to the window and finally Jaden decided to get the heck out of there. Luke is checking stuff out with Nick Hansard above.

Adam Hansard was in the aquarium tube when this stingray swam overhead. Dylan was content to try and pet the stingrays.

HALLOWEEN

We had a great Halloween this year. Of course Luke was Darth Vader, I could not expect anything different, but the other two boys strayed from the force. Jaden was the grim reaper and Dylan was a "scary guy" as he calls it. Actually he was a cute, green skeleton, but he thought it was pretty scary.

We had some friends over for dinner and trick or treating. The little girl in the picture is Isabella and the little boy is her brother Luke (also Tony's god son). I was a party pooper and did not dress up this year. Last year I roamed the neighborhood as Princess Leah, so I thought I would give her a rest this time.

Boys Being Boys

Yes, I know, it has been awhile since I have sat down and "blogged". To be honest, I have a hard time finding time during the day to do things like that with the three boys running around. My computer is on the fritz and will not let me download any new photos, so I thought I would post some older photos.

Labor Day weekend was spent swimming all day at Uncle Anthony's house with the extended family. The boys were in rare form and I love the picture of Luke throwing a few gang signs. I won't post the one with their fingers up their noses. We had a great time and the boys were exhausted at the end - hence the picture of Luke and Dylan in the car on the way home. Luke could not even finish his goodies before he knocked off.