Disneyland Pictures!

Here's a very small sampling of pics from our trip a couple weeks ago.  Thanks for looking! 

*Click on this post's title "Disneyland Pictures" 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas seemed to jump out of nowhere this year.  I'm sure it's a combination of having school/finals eat up the first 10 days of December and then taking off for a week's vacation in Southern California (I will post about our trip later this weekend when I get our pictures organized).  We got home late Saturday night, did church and had dinner at a friend's on Sunday, got caught up on laundry and some housework on Monday, did some *very* last minute Christmas shopping on Tuesday, and had 2 Christmas parties/dinners on Christmas Eve.  

This year we had the opportunity to participate in two "Sub-for-Santa's." One of them was done with Aaron's family for the Homeless Youth Resource Center.  Instead of doing a gift exchange, we took the money we would have spent and purchased items to donate for backpacks that they put together for the youth that they provide services for.  I thought it was a great idea.  We bought things like socks, handwarmers, and cup-of-soups.  

We also got together with our friends to help a family in need.  I enjoyed this one especially because it was fun to get the kids involved in picking out what to buy and wrapping the presents.  We went to our friends' house for dinner and a gift-wrapping party.  When we were done the guys took the older kids to drop the gifts off and "doorbell ditch" the house.  It was a great opportunity to teach Maddie about service and it really helped me put things into perspective.  

The girls have been a lot of fun this Christmas season.  Maddie wrote and revised her wish-list for Santa several times.  The final draft was mailed off on Monday.  The twins were enchanted with the lights and decorations and even got into the idea of Santa a bit.  This morning when we were going downstairs I asked Cami if she thought Santa had come.  She said "yes!" and then noticed the living room where presents were laid out and the stockings were overflowing (none of it had been out the night before - too risky!).  Her eyes were huge!  I'm glad we didn't go overboard this year, the twins lost interest in opening presents after two gifts (I think they each had 4 to open).  Maddie's favorite gift is the Barbie laptop that Santa brought and the twins love their baby dolls from Santa.  A close second was the Sleeping Beauty castle with several Disney characters that we bought at Disneyland last week (for 40% off!).  

Aaron was scheduled from noon-midnight today but was called off for the first 4 hours, it was nice to have him home longer than we had expected.  I took the girls up to my parents this afternoon for dinner and a gift exchange.  It's nice to spend some time with everyone.  I left around 6 so I could get home before the roads got icy and the expected storm hit.  The kids all went to bed fairly easily so it's been a quiet night here.  

Short on time

but I'll post a quick update.  First of all, I took my last final on Wednesday.  It was a very busy and stressful week but we got through it.  I passed everything!  I think I'll end up with a B in med/surg, a B+ in OB and an A- in peds.  Not too bad.  I'm so relieved to have second semester over with!  One year left!  A year from now I'll be done with finals for the 4th and final semester and getting ready for the NCLEX.  (That word makes me want to panic but I have another year, right?)  

I'm really looking forward to a few weeks with nothing but time to spend with the girls and Aaron.  I should also do something about the chaos in our pantry and my bedroom that has occurred since August.  

  

Have I mentioned

How much Cami and Brie are talking? Oh.my.goodness. They don't ever stop. 98% of the time I understand what they're saying. They are very conversational. And they have picked up some funny stuff. Here's a sampling of what I've heard the last several days:

"Me-haw, I'm a cowboy!" (said while "riding" a My Little Pony and wearing a cowboy hat) *Cami*
"We're having turkey dinner today. It's delicious!" *Brie*
"Kaden's house is broken!" (the Christmas lights weren't on)
"Kaden's Christmas is better! It's so bootiful!" (the Christmas lights were on again)
"OH NO! What are we going to do?" *Brie*
"I put water in it, Mama" (I was making Chex mix yesterday for a potluck and Cami dumped an entire bottle of almond extract into the dry cereal mix while I was cooking the candy coating for it. Yum.)
"We're going to Disneyland. In 2 weeks! I'm so excited!" *Brie*
"We go to primary today?" *Brie*
"You have a test tomorrow, Mama?" *Brie*
"Is this for your homework?" *Brie*
"I'm brave" *Cami*
"I want you to sleep with me, Mama." *Cami*
"I love you too Mama" *Brie* (She says this out of the blue, not in response to me saying it)
"Are you bootiful?" *Brie*
"I like to move it move it." *Brie and Cami*
"You guys are crazy!" *Cami*

And finally, "Mom, the crocodile is going to bite my toes!" There is a flying crocodile that likes to chase us when we're driving. Who knew? On Thanksgiving he spotted us as we were driving through The Ranches and he was a threat all the way to Murray (about 40 minutes). It was quite the ordeal.