We've Been Good Santa ...

Christmas Eve, the most exciting night of the year for kids. After waiting all year long and hearing at least 100 times that Santa is watching you so you had better be good ... he was finally coming!



The cookies were ready for Santa, the note had been written and the magic key was on the front door. All that was left to do was read Twas the Night Before Christmas.



We've been good Santa ...

Making Cookies for Santa

Dylan loves to help out in the kitchen. Especially when it means making cookies or some kind of sweet treat that he will be able to eat. This year we made cookies to give as gifts to people so it was an all day ordeal in the kitchen.

Gingerbread Babies Play

Dylan's kindergarten class performed The Gingerbread Babies play this year for all the parents and grandparents. Dylan had the lead role as Mattie, the boy who saved the gingerbread babies from being eaten. He was so proud of himself as were all of his family.

A Mother's Promise

After a long exhausting day of moving, what better to do than go get a Christmas Tree? Who cares that there are boxes everywhere and beds aren't put together? After all, when you make a promise to your child you had better keep it!



Dylan has been asking for a Christmas Tree for weeks and I promised him that as soon as we moved we would get a tree and put up the Christmas decorations before we even unpacked any boxes. Well, I kept my promise and the smile on Dylan's face was worth the feeling of sheer exhaustion that my body was feeling as we decorated the tree at 10pm!

It's Time to Move Again!

Yes, it's been less than a year since we moved last, but it's time to pack up and move again. I knew that our last move would only be temporary, so it's a great feeling to be moving this time. Going back to Newport Beach where we started our lives together almost 6 years ago is well ... like going home!



Dylan enjoyed helping to pack up his room and pack his special magnets from the fridge. But I secretly know his favorite part was when we took his bed apart and he got to sleep with mommy for 2 nights.

Christmas at Disneyland

OK, living in Orange County it just isn't Christmas without a trip to Disneyland to see the fireworks and snow fall on Main Street... at least in our family it's not. Trust me if we weren't in the holiday spirit before, we are now ... Walt has a special way of making that Christmas Magic touch us all.


So we all got bundled up in our hats, jackets and gloves and headed to Disneyland. I picked Dylan up from school early so he was really excited. We did all the usual rides with Aunt Stephie and also the new Nemo ride... Dylan really likes it. We visited Santa's Reindeer Round-Up too!

Grandma and Grandpa came later for dinner and the snow. The park was beautiful as usual, but unfortunately a certain little boy was too tired to stay awake for the snow.

The Simple Things in Life...

Ah, to be a child and find the joy in the simple things. Dylan spent over an hour building his "invention". He took all of his bouncy balls, some animals, a train, some cars, string and all sorts of other things to build this creation. It's amazing what can be created when you just use your imagination!

A Day at Sea World

What better way to spend a Saturday than at Sea World. After all, our passes expire in December so we might as well go one more time. Most people would think that a day at Sea World means watching the Shamu and Dolphin shows ... not with my son. Dylan only wants to see the Sea Lion show and feed the Dolphins, Bat Rays and Sea Lions. Other than that we walk the exhibits, see all the marine animals and we're done! This time I didn't even have to buy a toy ... all he wanted to spend money on was fish for the animals.

It was such a nice day too. Perfect weather. Dylan was the tour guide and he chose where we went from the map. I tried to explain the logic of seeing things that were next to each other, but it didn't work. We were all over the place! In most of the pictures his cheeks are puffed out ... this is because he wanted to give the illusion that he was holding his breath and swimming under water with the animals. The park was decorated for Christmas so this made it fun too ... helped get us in the holiday spirit.

Two Pieces of Pumpkin Pie Please ...

Forget about the turkey, Dylan woke up asking for two pieces of pumpkin pie! This year Thanksgiving was a bit smaller than normal, but so nice and relaxing. Grandma made the turkey and all the fixings. When the turkey was done Dylan gave his impression of what a turkey does ... Gobble, Gobble!

Now because the day was so relaxing, I failed to take the important pictures as planned. So there is no proof of the fixings, or of Dylan eating a turkey leg, or of the pumpkin pies. I know bad mom. However, I did manage to get the turkey cookies that Dylan made and Dylan and Great Grandma playing darts!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

What a day for Dylan! After making Turkey Soup, Cornbread Muffins and Butter with his classmates it was finally time for the Feast. He was so excited and couldn't wait for his family to come share. Unfortunately, Grandma and Grandpa couldn't make it ... but Mom and Aunt Stephie were there. Both kindergarten classes recited a Thanksgiving Poem and then sang a few songs for all the families. Then it was on to the food ... let the feast begin!

Animal Sculptures

We all know how much Dylan loves animals. Well, he has begun making animal sculptures as he calls them. He actually had one made with all of his animals and it covered pretty much the entire floor of his bedroom. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and made him clean it up before taking a picture. It really was impressive though. He had grouped the animals by continent~what else?

I Am Special Day

Every child in Dylan's class gets to have one day that is all about them and what makes them special. A week before their 'I Am Special' day they get to bring home a little suitcase and fill it with their favorite books, toys, stuffed animals, pictures of their family, etc.

Well, Dylan filled that suitcase to the brim! He brought his books, Madagascar animals, his penguin and raccoon from his special shelf, sunglasses, rubber snake, Buzz Lightyear, USC pompom, baby blankies and more! After lunch and recess all the kids sit on the carpet and Dylan gets to sit in the teachers chair. All eyes are on him and he has the floor. Man did he love the attention. He got to introduce his family that came (myself, Grandma and Grandpa and he told his friends that his Aunt Stephie was in Italy and Spain) After showing all of his favorite things the class got to ask him questions about what his favorites were. When asked what his favorite animal was, the response was "Oh, that's so easy ... every single animal in the whole wide universe!" Needless to say that became the standard answer for everything.



Mrs. Campbell was surprised to see this side of Dylan. Apparently he is very quiet and not the Dylan that we all know and love in class. She said she loves to see the personalities of the kids come out when their family is there. We are all so proud of Dylan!

Bronchitis and Dylan

As a mom it just breaks my heart when Dylan is sick. All I want to do is kiss it and make it better... but sometimes that just doesn't work. Sometimes we need the help of doctors. Last week Dylan came down with a cold, a good cold that just wiped him out! Unfortunately, it did not get better. My poor baby was coughing 24/7 and in so much discomfort. Never mind that I wasn't sleeping ... living on coffee all day and night. So back to the doctors office we went. His cold had turned into bronchitis.

Like a good mom I got his homework from the teacher and we set up school at home. He really likes school and actually enjoys doing his worksheets.





So for the past two days we have been doing breathing treatments every 4-6 hours. He seems to be getting better, and the doctor gave him the ok to go back to school tomorrow. Which is a good thing because tomorrow is his "I'm Special Day" and he was really upset that he might miss that!





He doesn't like the breathing treatments ... who would!?!?
But he does them like clock work. Such a trooper!

Kids Say the Sweetest Things ...

When Dylan was 2 years old he received a book from my Aunt called "Picture Me To The Rescue". A simple board book where you put a picture of your self at the back. As you turn the pages you can see yourself as a Firefighter, Police, Doctor, Paramedic and Military. This has always been one of Dylan's favorite books; probably because he is the star of the book.

Anyway, he was going through some of his books the other day to donate the ones that were for "babies" so that he could make room for his new Kindergarten books. He brought this book to me and said that he wanted to give it to Sydney. When I said, "that's very nice, but this is your special book" he replied "I want her to have it so that she won't ever forget me" How sweet is that? I was beaming with pride that I have indeed raised a child with a good heart.



For those of you don't know Sydney, she is the daughter of my best friend Laura. Laura and I have been friends for over 15 years and Dylan calls Sydney his 'Little Sister'. She is 2 years old and I know that they will be lifelong friends just as Laura and I are.

A Day at The Farm

There was no school Monday due to a Teachers In Service Day, so what better to do than take two little boys to the farm... right?

Talk about fun. Two best buds running through the dirt, getting their hands filthy and feeding animals. Oh, and let's not forget about the nice man that let them walk up to a real Ox and pet it. I think both Dylan and Owen were a little surprised at just how big the Ox was up close!

Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho a Pirates Life For Me

This year for Halloween Dylan decided that he wanted to be Captain Jack Sparrow since Pirates of the Caribbean is one of his favorite rides at Disneyland. I'm sure the fact that he got to carry a sword didn't hurt either. After many calls to the local and some not so local Disney Stores; I was finally able to track down what just may have been the very last Captain Jack Sparrow costume in Orange County! Heaven forbid I let my child down on Halloween.

I surprised him with the costume one day after school and he couldn't wait to try it on. Of course I did have my stipulations to his carrying a sword and being a pirate ... yep, you guessed it ... he had to wear the eyeliner! Now Dylan knows that his mom is a makeup artist and puts makeup on girls, so I had to convince him that what I was using on him was special Pirate makeup! I figure what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Seriously, what's Captain Jack without the eyeliner?



This was the first year that Aunt Stephie wasn't here to go trick-or-treating with us, but we managed. Dylan's best friend Owen and his family met us at Grandma's house and we all took the streets of Eastbluff for what else ... CANDY!

Star Student

On the second day of school Dylan received the "Star Student" award and was so excited and proud of himself. And I must admit, so was Mommy!

Little did I know this would be the first of many "Star Student" awards for my little boy. He is doing very well in Kindergarten and learning so much so fast. It's true what they say about kids ... little sponges!

A New Chapter

I thought the day would never come, but it did ... and I cried. My little boy was all grown up and starting Kindergarten. Life would no longer consist of carefree days and pre-school playmates. Gone were the days of sippy cups and diapers. Our days would now be filled with backpacks, schedules, sack lunches, PTA meetings, school fundraisers, homework and the beginning of what I hope will be longtime friendships for Dylan.





Yes, we have begun a new chapter in our lives with changes for both of us ... and we welcome them with open arms.