Gavin is 2!

The cake masterpiece must be documented. Gavin doesn't say much, but what he can say is...BATMAN! So what does his daddy whip up? A batmobile. Happy Birthday Gavie!
Gavin is a quiet little guy. You know that at any moment, he's just gonna bust out in full sentances...but as for now, he's like I was--he's got 3 other siblings that do all the talking, so why bother? Because of that, pretty much everyone that watches him, he calls mommy....which I kinda like because he's my little cutie. He got his sisters stomach and tends to throw up randomly which is always fun... but I'd take this little guy as my sidekick any day.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve just isn't the same unless I'm at my mom and dad's. Our family traditions are really centered around that night. I'm glad Dan agrees too. The first time Dan met my family, it was Christmas time. The house was decorated to the hilt....my mom followed the motto that if it doesn't move, decorate it....which means ribbons on each light fixture, twinkle lights everywhere, and music in the air! Dan felt like he had walked into a winter wonderland...and to top it off (way back in 2000) my grandparents were there the day he came to my home, and they could easily be mistaken for Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause! I always remember Christmas time growing up feeling magical and dreamy. Now that I'm grown up, that feeling has lessened but at the same time, I love as I watch my kids light up at the excitement and magic of Christmas.

One cool tradition my parents' community does with the help of the scouts, is luminaries. They sell paper bags and candles and then a couple days before Christmas, they come around in a truck full of sand and dump shovel fulls every few hundred feet for us to fill the bags and place the candle inside. Then everyone lights them at dusk, parks their cars in the driveways, and along with looking at the Christmas lights on the houses, we see the streets lined with candle light. It's really a beautiful sight. The kids LOVE to help fill the bags with sand and place the candles inside.

After loading up on food....funeral potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and ham, we head into the living room for some festivities. One of our favorite traditions is playing the bells....one year, my brother (who was on a low budget for Christmas) made one of my most favorite gifts for each of us... these pipe bells. He measured and cut pipe for hours and it is truly a gift that keeps on giving! Plus- it always brings out the laughs.Amid the singing and playing, there's always your teenage behavior that we put up with....that's my aunt trying to escape the wrath of her son :)

After the bells, we sing Christmas carols while my mom plays the piano. Then there's a pitiful duet of Sleigh Bells on the piano by my mom and me, or my sister and mom or sometimes both me and my sister with my mom (switching mid way). We only play it once a year so it's pretty rusty every time, but impressive too with how we can pretty much pick right back up each year. Next comes our annual 12 days of Christmas chorus. Each day is sung by someone in the family.....Dan's favorite is the 5th Day of Christmas with 5 golden rings....that guy loves to get a laugh...he was helping Kaitlyn conduct the whole thing this year. Whether you are tone deaf or not, everyone sings...that's what makes it so fun.
A tradition my family didn't have that I always wish we did is Pajamas on Christmas Eve. I had plenty of friends who got new PJ's on Christmas Eve and I always dreamed of starting the tradition with my own family.
And best of all...I get to watch my kids and their cousins participate in the Nativity scene....which never disappoints.
(Cole looks awesome...I think the sheep was life size)
Top off the night with some decadent 3 layer pudding pie and there you have a magical night that we then start counting down the days to do it all over again!

Le'ts party like it's...at the Dobrons

Every year since we've been married, we've had an annual Christmas party. It's one of my favorite things I look forward to each year. We carry on the same traditions each time: fine dining with a pot luck dinner...Ham, potatoes, salad, fruit, and desert, we always play the bells which provides endless entertainment, and we always read a Christmas story...it used to be the Christmas Orange story but some of the boys' attention spans wouldn't last, so in recent years, we've switched it to I Believe in Santa Clause. We then have a gift exchange and play a game or two. We were a bit crazy this year and had 2 parties back to back!
Somehow, the pent up aggression from these boys' work weeks come out at our house like this...
At the end of each party, we take the couple's pictures by the tree. Ours always ends up being taken at like 1 in the morning...so I'm always looking my best in these (NOT!) (tired much?)

Who nose?

So I suppose it was time. My kids...especially Allison, have never been the type to stick things up their nose or in their ears. But I can say this no longer. I retrieved a message (a couple hours after it was left) by Allison's preschool teacher, who informed me that while making little reindeer, Allison had stuck rudolph's nose (a small pom pom ball) up her nose and they couldn't get it out. She said she was able to get Alli to calm down but she figured we'd need to take a trip to the pediatrician to get it out. When Alli got home, we headed to Urgent Care (my pediatrician never answers the phone--gotta love that Temecula healthcare eh?) So we get in and the doctor can see it barely and tries and tries to get it out with this long tool, but to no avail. After a bit of probing, Alli was pretty much done cooperating. So we had to get a referral to the ENT...which meant a trip to the pediatrician anyway. So instead of waiting for a call back, I drove there and waited. The front desk told us the doctor wanted to try getting it out before making the referral. So another $20 co-pay later, and a failed attempt by two doctors at once, we got the referral. Unfortunately, by this time, it was too late in the day to get in to see the ENT, so the appointment was made for the next morning.
Alli didn't seem too bothered by the little ball, so she went to bed. The next morning, we drove 30 minutes to Escondido, and after waiting in the wrong office for 25 minutes, we made it to the right place. The doctors were SOOOOO AWESOME.
(Before procedure )They stuck a cotton ball up her nose that had some anesthetic on it and after 15 minutes, they came in to get the rudolph nose out. They pretty much knew they had one chance so they made it count. In one fell swoop, they shoved this long tweezer thing up her nose and pulled out this tiny, slimy little red pom pom. Alli was not thrilled.... but then sort of glad at the same time. It was quite the ordeal, and when all was said and done, cost me $60. I had to chuckle on the way home. These are the moments that you look back on and think, "Kids sure do make life interesting."

For he's a jolly good fellow...

We had a night away from the kids and were able to go to San Diego to celebrate my father-in-law's 60th birthday. It's been a rough year, but family is what really matters and I think that's what keeps this man going. He sure is a hard worker and a fighter. We feel blessed to live nearby to celebrate these days together!

Preschool Program

These are always entertaining aren't they?
The Gals

Here she is towering over everyone...just like her mommy, poor kid.
These two have grown to be great friends....I wonder if they'll be in Kindergarten together?!

Audrey's Birthday

Audrey turned 7 this year. 7!! She and Alli have been great buddies. It's been fun seeing them get along better and better as they get older and the age difference starts to blend together. Audrey is an energetic little cookie. She is amazing when you give her a task to do. She is a take charge kinda girl and loves to do things for others. She is a HUGE animal lover (hense the dog cake--created by her daddy) She loses teeth like it's goin out of style. She is a crack up when she plays house...she's very imaginative. I've loved seeing her really delve into school and excel. It's hard to imagine not seeing her grow up before my eyes. I love it.! And with a birthday, always comes....a party!!! And THOSE are NEVER dull...trust me.


I dream one day of Alli and Cole being close like these two.


It's gonna be hard to see this little guy grow up...he is a DADDY'S BOY!


For posterity's sake, here is Alli biting her nails...not sure she is ever caught NOT biting them. It's gonna be a hard habit to break. Maybe the caos led her to do it this time :)


And last but not least, Dan, Uncle Dan, never fails to make someone cry.


And that's how it's done folks...never a dull moment when it comes to celebrating together!

Now THAT's a birthday party

I'm not sure how Brittany pulled it off but she never disappoints! She went all out for this one...Todd's 30th birthday. She rented a hotel room and we all came in disguise and then revealed our true superhero selves before the guest of honor arrived. How did he get in costume without knowing about the party you ask? Um, his wife brought it, and how she got him in it I'll never know. He's a good sport that kid. A little mask action, some gloves, a wig in my case, and some mens underwear for most, and voila! You have yourself a super action packed party. BAM!

The Incredibles

Who says you have to drink to have fun? We just dress up like superheroes...although after we left the place, I'm sure the cleanup crew wondered where the beer bottles were....they musta thought we were looney.

You went to Disneyland??

Of course what's a birthday celebration without going to Disneyland?? This was for Audrey-

I love this sequence.
Audrey wanted a picture by herself.
Well, then Alli wanted one by herself but Audrey wanted one with Alli first. Alli was not thrilled.

Then we explained that Audrey just wanted a picture with her first and then she could do one by herself. So she humored us.

But Audrey certainly couldn't resist the temptation to be seen in Alli's photo (see the background) I love that kid....she's a lot like her uncle :)

Maddie is old enough to take the younger kids on the ride!!
(We didn't tell her he likes to dress up as her...we're hoping it's a phase...do they sell prince costumes?? We need one. BAD.)
Is that Cole on Tower of Terror you ask?? Why yes....
...and this is how. Cole?! Whatever could that be in your shoes?
...

You know how you give a kid a present and they just want to play with the box? We take our kids to Disneyland and they prefer to wash the walls with a wipe. Go figure.

Allison's Recent Masterpieces

(Baby Kaitlyn)

(Cinderella)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I would say most of our family traditions are centered around Christmas time. There are tons of traditions that I have brought from my upbringing, but the fun part is creating traditions that just started with us and our little family of 5! We have the kids write to Santa each year and he ALWAYS writes back. Good thing Santa reads code because that's what Cole's was written in. Allison on the other hand is starting to do the laundry list of wants for Christmas. I think all the items revolved around Ariel. I think it will be cute to look back at how the things she wants will evolve...from Ariel to cell phones no doubt!
(Ariel Costume and Ariel Purse)

I love love love the way a tree looks with large light bulbs...it makes is glow.

It's so cute to look at the tree when we're done and see how the kids placed 4 ornaments on one low branch. They really love decorating the tree.
At some point, we'll have to put together and sequence of these pictures from year to year. I think I'm pregnant or have a new baby in each one!