It FINALLY Happened.

When Sydney's first Christmas approached I did what every mom does during Christmas time and took her to have her picture taken with Santa.  I thought this would be a fun Christmas tradition that we would do every year.  Well that first photo session was so horrible for me, watching her screaming and crying that I never really made a good attempt after that. 

Over the years we would get close to a Santa and I would think maybe we should try this again. But as we made an approach Sydney and Bella would always say No, No, Noooo!!! And later when Preston joined the party he would just scream. 

Then I got my hopes up at our ward Christmas party this year. The girls are older now and Preston does just about anything they do. Really I thought the clincher  was that Santa was giving out CHOCOLATE to all the little boys and girls who came to sit on his lap and tell him what they wished to get for Christmas this year. THIS IS THE YEAR! Our children are crazy for chocolate and I thought would do just about anything to acquire some of that dark gold.

We had our camera ready and I was staying calm with an encouraging smile on my face. You know the one that says, this is perfectly normal kids, everything is just fine. Just don't screw this! Please, please, please!

 But as we got closer, the girls on either side of me holding my hands and Preston with Todd, I innocently asked Bella what she was going to ask Santa for. She looked up at me with her lips tightly clamped together, shakes her head quickly from side to side and says, "He already knows I'm notty!"  Drops my hand and skips away to join her friend Rebeca without a second look back. 

I sputtered after her,"What did you do!!??". 

Then Sydney let go of my other hand took a chocolate from Santa's helper and ran off. Same went for Preston. 

No sitting on Santa's lap. No picture...

Until later the next week.... 

Todd and I had to be in it with them but we did it! First ever Wilson Santa picture. 

And we all survived.

A Little Stop Along The Way.

We took a new road to Palm Springs. Well it was supposed to be a short cut but let's just say we took the more exciting route and found SNOW. Lot's of SNOW!

I told Sydney that she should wear some warmer shoes because it might be cold if we stopped along the way. She thought these would be fine! I might have insisted if I knew what was ahead. She really didn't seem to mind. She is such a So Cal girl. Burrr!

Making snow balls. Not pictured is the one getting them thrown at her (mom).

Bella made a new friend. 

Off to warm Palm Springs (boy were we wrong).

The Wilson Family knows how to live it up. We took a vacation before our vacation, heading to Palm Dessert for a few days. One of the things we did was take an adventure in a dun buggy through the desert. 

We went on a fun but chilly ride through the desert.  The kids were excited but didn't really know what they were signed up for!

Here is are hot ride! Very fast and loud.

After our cold dun buggy ride though the desert we then hiked to a natural Oasis. The hike was a little hard for the kids because there were some big rock to climb up and over but they really enjoyed it. It was so interesting to see a spring coming right out of a cave in the middle of nothing but rocks and sand. If it has not been so cold the kids would have probably jumped in.

The best part for Todd and I was the dune buggy! We loved it.

I think Preston's eye's tell you how much he and the girls liked the ride! Fun but scary.

Decorating the Tree.

We have very high ceilings in our living room so we have a very, very tall tree. Sydney said she wanted to put the angle on the top this year. Once she got on top of the ladder she decided it was not such a good idea. Todd kept her up there even though it took about 4 attempts to get it on straight.

Sydney coming down the ladder!

Preston with "His tree".

Having fun.

Thanksgiving Celebration!

We had an amazing Thanksgiving this year. It was so amazing that it has taken me a week to recover! My whole family and Aunt Diana came to San Diego and The Wilson House for The Feast! But before we sat down to The Big Dinner (and I mean BIG, 28lb turkey big) we spend 3 days in Disneyland! The HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!! Well except for maybe Disney World.

The Castle had snow and extra sparkle during the winter. We were screaming with excitement when we saw it. Sydney wanted to stay and look at every decoration. 

We stayed at the California Grand Hotel which was a 

treat alone! This hotel was so beautiful but just like Disneyland and our hotel were decorated for the Holiday Season. They did such an amazing job. The first night we stayed at the hotel the Christmas Elves were hard at work. We woke up that first morning to a huge Christmas tree in the lobby, giant presents, ornaments, wreaths and garlands covering every inch 

possible. The kids and I were amazed!

The hotel was so close to the entrance to Disneyl

and we didn't even have to take the train in. Also the hotel has it's own entrance into California Adventures! 

We were so spoiled. Todd said we might never be able to go back if we don't stay at that hotel.

First stop was the Tea Cups.

 Then Dumbo and then it was off to Finding Nemo. 

Then a little breakfast with The Disney Characters. I don'

t know how much we ate really.  But we got to meet a lot of characters. 

Even the characters were dressed in the holiday finest. Cute dress Minnie!

Bella thought Goofy was very funny!

My mom takes all the Grandchildren to Disneyl

and by the time they are 6. She bought all the little girls princess dresses to wear at Disnehyland. They each picked out the one they loved best. Sydney's is a wedding dress with all the princesses on it. She just couldn't decide which was her favorite. Bella loved Alice In Wonderland and was so happy to have found her dress. This trip Grandma treated all the girls to a lunch with the Princesses at Arial's Grotto. We met ALL the Disney Princesse and had an "Fancy" lunch. The girls were speechless. 

A scary BUG!

 Don't eat the Princess and Alice. We LOVED the Bugs Life area in California Adventures. Even the "stinky" show as the girls called it. 

On to the Jungle Cruise. The kids were waving to all the animals. 

And then the rain came. First it was a sprinkle then its was a drizzle and by nightfall it was fully raining. But that did not stop the Wilson, Case, Lloyd, Lowe family. We stayed late into the night.  My sister April, Mom and Adam even went on Splash Mountain multiple time! Wish I had a picture of them after that!

Having fun even in the rain!

It's Buzz! Preston was, is, obsessed with this "Shoot Gun" he got after the Buzz ride. He was shooting and shooting and shooting.....

 I was hoping it would run out of batteries in the first day. No such luck. The Buzz ride was his favorite, obviously.

THE END.

Night Swimming!

Let me first say that I LOVE Fall and Winter weather. I love to wear boots and coats and sweaters. I just look better in layers I guess:). Really though the colder weather did not seem to get here soon enough. But The Family is missing the pool! I'm not a huge fan of the pool mainly because it's wet, cold plus there are tons of germs but mainly I admit don't like wearing a swim suit. But I do it (and the beach which I do love BTW) all spring and summer and into the fall.So I'm a little burned out on it.

 Here is our last session at the pool back in early November. It was still so hot that we went swimming in the evening. We were there unit it was very dark and everyone else had gone in. I'm not kidding when I say that I still I hear 5 time a week, "When are we going NIGHT swimming again!".

I say, It's tooo COOOLLLDDDD! Then I laugh a little because it's 60 degrees which to most of you looking in on my blog is considered very warm especially for November and December.

So I'm saying GOODBYE to the pool until at least May. Sorry kids. But it's time to start decorating the house for Christmas and wearing our cute winter clothing. Please don't be surprised though when you run into Bella in shorts and t-shirts still. She is the hardest to convert to the winter wear. That is another post though. 

Bella's Version of the Pilgrim Crossing to America

Bella's preschool has been learning about Native Americana Indians and the settlers to the Americas. So they started making up a play to share what they had learned with their parents. They made this ship and their Pilgrim and Indian hats themselves. 

I didn't have the heart or desire to tell Bella that Pilgrims did not get to wear pink bonnets . She looked so cute!

After the play the class rocked our. Literally, they used rocks and sticks to make music. Fun but loud. She sure has good teachers (if not a little deaf).

Here she is in her cute boat. This picture does not do it justice. I wish I had a shot off all the kids jammed in there like a Pilgrim clown boat!

Thanksgiving Programs

Sydney's 1st grade class did a program before the Thanksgiving break. They sang some very funny songs about the Thanksgiving turkey and such. She was having a great time as you can see from the pictures!

Sydney there is a turkey on your head! I wonder if she will find this as funny as I do some day?!

Here is most of her class waiting for their turn to sing (yell) about stuffing the BIRD with BREAD!