What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Renato and the kids came down to join the fun on New Year's Eve. It was definitely a house full, but we had a great time. We headed over to the beach for a walk down to the pier, playing in the waves, and a beach BBQ.

Aunt Laurie loves to build sand castles. She made an entire neighborhood for the royal family!

How do you like my hat? Renato was taking good care of me and gave me his summer work hat. I think I look like little bo peep

Audrey and Renato looking for sand glass.

We built a bonfire on the beach and roasted hot dogs. Simple yummy meal.

Back at the house we played games and brought out the New Year's Eve toys. To be totally honest, we did not make it to midnight. We had to get for the Rose Parade, and we were totally beat. But we made it look like it was really New Years!

One of the funniest games all night were Anna and Elise playing Twister. I would call out just hands and feet (since they did not really get the gist of right and left). I would tell them one foot on red and one foot on green (the opposite side of the mat). They would yell - you've got to be kidding me! And then try their best to stretch across. It was hilarious. A great New Year's Eve!

All Grown Up!

Craig sent me this picture today.  It was taken at a wedding reception of a friend of Chelsea's at Christmas.  Notice how Sammy is now taller than his Dad? I must be really old now...because I am starting to say things like...it was just yeasterday that Carly came down from her nap and asked for Ninndy.  They are a good looking family, and yes they are all growing up so fast.  At least we still have "little" William.  Can you stand how beautifu my Carly and Chelsea are?

Cousin Time Down South

Not only did we head down South to see the Rose Parade and Disneyland, but to get in some good cousin time too! Chelsea and Susan stayed home on Wednesday to make this quilt. Chelsea said it was for her bed, but I am certain that she secretly wants to give it to me. It is not to late Chelsea. Just send it over to Aunt Cyndi.

We made woofums in the fireplace in the courtyard. Yummy!

We played games and made new friends.

Camille even wore her elf PJ.s I think the ribbon adds a bit of flare!

And the big kids went to a New Year's Eve dance - it was a "Thrift Store" dance. So on Tuesday they went around to a munch of thrift stores to get their outfits. They got some great ones.

Especially Sam....is that a pant suit or what? You can't tell from the pictures, but when he got home and showed us right away his Dad said...hey do you see what it says on his jacket? When you were looking for it you saw the E and the X. then pretty soon you saw the S. It took a long time to see the Y. But the SEXY all over the outfit was great. I guess the Stake President just rolled his eyes at the dance and let him in.

Disney and the Rain!

Cathy and David have been planning our post Christmas adventure for over a year. David wanted to see the Rose Parade in person and while you are in town you might as well stop by and meet Mickey. This was Anna's first trip to Disneyland, and she had plenty of company to enjoy all the festivities. When we drove up the big sign said to park at Pumba. Sam said...Pumba parking sucks! It was just fine, some of us even walked over to the gates.


The die hards went for two days, but on Wednesday the entire group (15!) headed out for a full Disneyland day. We knew it would be crowded, but as luck would have it ... it started to rain as we arrived and rained all day long. It made for some interesting outfits (notice our lovely hats and ponchos) but it did thin out the crowds. Apparently some people don't think it is fun to walk for hours in the rain with wet feet and a cold nose. Quitters!

As we arrived we ran into several friends - Mickey, Mini, Donald, The Chipmunks, Marry Poppins and Goofy. Were we are getting pictures and autographs.

The steam boat picture was from the day with the sunshine, but it was a big hit. We had gone to see the Princess and the Frog before Christmas, and Disney put together a huge show featuring the steam boat. It was a hit! Anna told us all about Princess Tianna's big show.

Penny and Holly - David's sisters - flew down to join us - and then only thing that Penny said she wanted to do was go on the boat. While we did see the boat several times, no ride for Penny. I guess we will just have to go again next year!

We went through all of the kids rids in the bugs life portion. The big kids were good sports and joined in on the little rides. We loved the bumper cars.

Because of the rain I don't think we waited in a line any longer than 30 minutes all day. Mostly 10 min or less.

A is for Anna! I swear we took at picture of me by the "C", but it disappeared.

See David waiving at us from Main Street?

When Anna and Michelle went to Pixie Hollow they got up to the front and Tinker Bell asked Anna if she knew a song to sing to them. Anna perked right up and said yes, then she started to sing "I am a Child of God". Terrance (the other fairy) joined in and Anna and he sang the entire song!

Part of the gang taking the train around the park

Big kids on the Farris wheel. The night before David, Grandma, Anna and Holly went on the Farris wheel and David made it swing back and forth really high. Everyone was terrified except for Anna. She just thought Daddy was funny.

Marry Poppins. I was impressed, the little girl in front of us was from Japan and Marry Poppins said hello and a few other little greetings in Japanese.

Daddy and Anna on Main street. You can't see the castle in the background, but you can see the rain drops on the camera.

Playing around.

This was the most effective rain look. The wind tried hard to blow my hood off, but I was not to be discouraged.

So you know how I hold the camera out and take my own picture. Well, I did that with this picture AND I got Cathy and Anna in the shot. I said...boy I am like a professional self portrait taker. Too bad there is not any demand.

Sam in the bug's life rides. He was making funny faces every time we went by. Penny told him that he was a good kid, so Sam proceeded to tell her all of the crazy things that he had ever done. He did his best to convince Penny (the school counselor) that he was not a good kid, but she saw right through him.


Cousins.

We went into the bugs life movie - where they give you these funny 3-D glasses. We were taking silly pictures and Anna did this funny thing with her fingers. I said - what are you doing - and she said I am being buggy!

I asked...is this as scary as the Honey I shrunk the Kids show? I hate that one where if feels like mice are running over your feet. Oh no they tell me - not that scary. Well I screamed and jumped into Carly's lap!

Chelsea is always talking about Grandma Ann's get-ups. Isn't this one a great one?!

Grandma, Grandpa and David - staying dry.

It was a very full fun day - we saw it all - and we were exhausted when we finally rolled back to Craig's place.