Christmas morning 08

This was our first Christmas in our new home
in California and besides being a little sleepy the girls had a great time opening their gifts. Here is Alyssa opening her train whistle and trying it out first thing. Ashlee also got into the spirit. She was trying to open all the gifts including the yummy gold chocolate coins. (later she did get the coins and also some strawberry chapstick). The girls received some fun board games along with some electronic games, along with movies and lots of over goodies.Mommy and Daddy got new Ipod Shuffles with arm bands so we can start our new year off on the right and left foot. Mommy also got a new pair of running sneakers while daddy got some of his favorite red wine. The girls spent the day in their PJ's and playing with all their new toys. We had dinner together around 3:00 PM and homemade pumpkin pie just shortly after. Alex and I took a little nap in there too. John was in New Jersey this Christmas spending time with his Dad and spending New Years with his friends. We all missed him this morning.

Decorating the tree

The girls had a blast decorating their Christmas tree this year. Alyssa is aware of what is going on and they both look at each ornament and remember where it came from or who made it before they put it on the tree. The dog, dear old Ashlee, on the other had could care less!Daddy was playing Christmas songs on the keyboard as Alyssa put all her ornaments on one side of the tree, we had to spread them out before the tree when lopsided. Too cute.

Old fashion Christmas

Our family attended our new Church's old fashion Christmas party on December 29Th. The Girls got on stage (all the way to the left)to do their happy birthday Jesus song for everyone. After we enjoyed some yummy cookies and punch the girls started dancing off all that sugar. While there was singing on stage our girls found an area off to the side to show off their moves. Here they are taking a break. Then back to making themselves dizzy!

Gingerbread /Spice houses

Here are my beautiful girls making their yearly gingerbread houses. We usually only make one house and decorate it together but this year we decided to make one for each of them. Daddy helped putting on the roof's but we had to kick him out of the kitchen when he started eating the decorations. We used gum drops, candy canes,spice cookies in the shape of trees and little men. It was really hard for them to not each the decorations too. But the icing was everywhere and I am sure some of that made its way into their mouths. It was a good time and a good mess!

Christmas parade

Isabel and Daddy marched in the Encinitas town parade with their Adventure Guides troop. The theme as you can see was a charlie brown Christmas. The pictures are not very clear because I had to copy them from an email but Auntie Beth took them for me while we all enjoyed the parade. The girls carried twigs with one ornament and the dads all carried a wrapped present. John's snoopy had a seat high on the dog house that was pulled on a wagon. We all had a great time, even Alya and Alyssa liked seeing the street cars and lighted floats.

The living nativity

Last week we were invited by our neighbors to visit a nearby church that has a live nativity.The girls first made little lambs then played a few games before we went to eat. Afterward while the adults waited in line to see the nativity, the girls, myself and my neighbor walked around and snacked on many of the treats offered from chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows to caramel covered apples. Then while in line we of course had hot chocolate and more food, corn dogs and churro's. The girls were quite full by now and ready to see the show. The girls got gold coins to pay the taxes on our way in. Isabel really enjoyed each part of the show where Alyssa was not as interested. There was also camel rides,and some lambs and goats to pet. There was also this baby camel.

The CIF Champs

My boy and his football team won the playoffs this year and got to play their champion game at Qualcomm stadium, where the San Diego Chargers play. It was an awesome game and my boy made many tackles in the last quarter. He is number #17 and there is a shot of him on their home field at his school and then there is a shot of them at the stadium after the game. They won something like 45 to 28. It was the first time the school has made it this far and won! I will miss seeing John play football now that his senior year is over. Next year he is off to Rutgers University in New Jersey to start his college career.

Baby Alya came to visit us the first week of December. Well as you can see she is no longer a baby, she is 20 months now and so cute. She was trying on Isabel's sun glasses here. We went to the zoo and the beach while she was visiting along with just hanging out and playing with the girls.We all had a great time and hope that Auntie Beth and Uncle Al will bring her back soon.

little indians

Isabel and her kindergarden classmates put on a thanksgiving show with songs and dress up. They all did a great job and were so cute. They made the headdress and vests them selves. After the show we all had their homemade(classmade) soup and cornbread to celebrate.

Here are just a few cute pic of My little one playing her guitar. She loves music and most of all loves to dance and sing!

Christmas cookies

Alyssa is the newest member of the Alon cookie making team. She knows all the rules about washing her hands, no licking the chocolate, and especially NO Sneezing! Since Isabel and John are at school during the day Alyssa and I were left to do all the cooking baking our selves this year. She help with the chocolate chip, the sugar cookies, the spritz, the oatmeal with coconut and of course as you see here , her and Johns favorite, the peanut butter blossom. Anytime she sees me in the kitchen with the mixer or the eggs she is right up there ready to dig in and get dirty, as dirty as can be sometimes. We had lots of fun!

Isabel turns 6

My little Girl is now 6 years old. We had a small family dinner out at PF Chang's then has homemade chocolate cake for dessert. She opened a few family presents when we got home. Her first bible and a new keyboard (for her to practice her piano lessens). That weekend she had a fairy party to celebrate with all her friends. We had face painting and nail painting at the fairy painting station then we had new york style pizza and homemade ice cream cake in the fairy dinning room. They all had a great time with crafts and drawing. We made up little fairy favor bags for each fairy to take home along with homemade tissue paper flowers. The girls and I along with some help from my neighbor made quite a few of these to decorate for the party. Big brother John also got in on the fun as he helped out and played some games with them, fairy bingo. I think all the girls, I mean fairy's, had a great time. Isabel sure enjoyed having all of her friends over for one big day of fun!

Little Gymnast

Here is my little gymnast. Alyssa just started Gymnastics this last November and loves it. This were taken her first day when she was all over the place. She likes her coach and has since learned to stay with her class and listen to the coach. She still doesn't know how to jump on a trampoline by her self, she runs down it instead of jumping. She also likes her little shorts and shirt which she wears each week. She is signed up for another 4 weeks come January so we may need to get her some long sleeves since they leave the back doors open at every class. She is so tiny and very flexible just perfect for a gymnast! My little Gymnast!

Halloween week

My girls had so much to do this Halloween season. We went to Halloween parties at My Gym, the Library, our neighbors house, & Mommy and me class, along with trick or treating. The girls wore many different costumes too...First it was My Gym where Alyssa & Lauren( my neighbors daughter) had a great time on the tire swing and also on the trampoline. After that my neighbor had a Halloween party for the ladies and girls on the block. Here is Alyssa and others picking up candy from the pinata. They then enjoyed watching Halloween toons and eating popcorn. Alyssa was a barbie ballerina for both of these parties. (Isabel was camping with her daddy this weekend) Mommy & Me class was next and they were both fairies.Then came the Library where they were both Cheerleaders. So here they are on Halloween night. My little 5yr old bride and my little Disney fairy. Daddy took them around one block then mommy took them around our block in our trusty red wagon. It we a warm day so it was great not to have to cover up the costumes with jackets. All those Dress up clothes really came in handy this year! Candy Anyone?