A caroling we go.............

Since I work FULL time it is HARD for me to get more involved with Parker's School Activities but when something comes up that is extracurricular or special I try to do my best to take part in these little events. The latest one...Christmas Caroling with Parker's School...Yep....Carolling....I have not been carolling since I was 10 years old and in the Girl scouts! What the hey..it seemed like it would be a good time. The note said Please bring a tray of cookies and dress warm. well the night before The kids and I..oh and Gabe made a WHOLE mess of sugar cookies shaped like Snowman and Stars and had a WIDE assortment of candies and sprinkles and different color icings to decorate..BOY...what a mess and a lot of work...Next Time I am BUYING! ((oh by the way..our handmade sugar cookies were a hit..they were the first cookies to be finished out of ALL the cookies that were brought in and spread out on the tables))

 It was raining earlier in the day so we thought hmm maybe they cancelled the caroling but Gabe called and they said they would just round everyone in the cafeteria and sing. Ava was having fun watching a couple of the teachers sing Christmas song Karaoke ( and yes...it was a bit of torturous)

 Parker is funny..He wanted to be "cool" and throw on his 3 button Velvet jacket and hat...of course over his skater clothes LOL

 After a short while Ava was singing along with some of the kids. It was super cold outside but it was Not raining SO the teachers asked everyone By a show of hands How many of you would still like to go out and Carol around the neighborhood...only a couple hands went up.

 Gabe ofcourse was like YES!! I want to carol around the neighborhood..that is what Caroling is all about..I on the other hand was iffy cause I knew it was going to be cold...However I just HAD to get out of the Christmas Karaoke filled cafeteria before my ears would bleed out. One of the teachers was this younger guy who had his Guitar..he seemed like a hipster type..cool dude and he was like Ok so anyone who wants to carol the neighborhood let's go...pretty much EVERYONE got up to go...I  guess most of the other adults could not wait to leave that cafeteria as well.

 We just went a few streets and stopped at the houses that had lights up.

 Gabe and Parker singing...I think this is when they were singing Feliz Navidad ( which I hate that song and my brother and I had this whole count on how many times we would hear that song in December..every time one of us would hear it we would text with the number..I think his final count was 19 mine was 17)

 The neighbors that were home enjoyed the caroling

 The kids COULD not wait to go knocking on the doors...Ava kept going to the doors with the older kids and saying Trick or Treat

 The singing was not too bad and at least there was a guitar playing too

 Last house...let's move along folks...it is COLD OUT HERE

 Back inside was tables full of cookies and hot cocoa ..everyone sat around and enjoyed while the Christmas karaoke for the kids continued

MMMM...Instant hot cocoa...
I have to say..I think we all actually quite enjoyed ourselves.

Good Ol Shrinky Dinks

I spend pretty much most of my evenings alone with the kiddos and we are always trying to find new fun things to do. Every once in awhile I go to Micheal's when they are having sales and try and find some fun arts and crafts kits on sale. Of course over the Christmas season there was all kinds of sales going on. I found some Shrinky Dink kits for 4.50!! I have not done Shrinky Dinks since I was like Parker's Age!
                                                             
 The kids were having a blast watching them in the stove shrink up.

 If you are not sure of what Shrinky Dinks I will explain. You get this BIG sheet of Stencils and a BUNCH of little clear plastic sheets. You find a shape you like and trace and color. For example Ava had me do this Ice Cream Cone. I used color pencils and filled it in. I then Cut out the ice cream and place it on a cookie sheet ( i used this ol beat up cookie sheet )

 You pop it in the oven for about 1-3 minutes and it shrinks into this hard plastic mini ice cream cone. You can cut a hole in it before hand and make some charms.

 Ava with her spaghetti face ( we made these like Immediately after dinner) I made the mistake of putting this owl on a pizza sheet...it got stuck in the holes.

We made SO MANY plastic dinks that night that Ava cried when I finally put them away..I just could not do anymore. I know..I suck as an adult. If I were a kid every single shrinky Dink would have been done!

1st Christmas party of the season!

We have been invited to a few Christmas parties and this was our First One!! This was at our friends Brian and Brandees out in Menifee. It was so great too cause we could take our kids with us and because they are so far they offered for us and some of the other friends that drove the distance to spend the night.

I love the assorted drinks available..these were pomegranate martini's ..they were so yummy

 Then there was shots of Kahlua and bailey's and Vodka and Midori..I had several...

 and of course some festive candy cane cocktails which I did not have...Not a huge fan of minty drinks they kind of upset my stomach but they look really pretty.

 The spread of food that was out was so fun

 Parker was really enjoying the Christmas tree brownies!

 Love the union Jack place mats

 YES!!! I was hoping to see a Cheese Snowman!~

 How cute were these Santa face crackers!!

 The kids were having a blast on the trampoline

 While the adults drank, socialized and listen to music

 Santa even paid a visit

 Gabe being casual..

 GiGi and I

 Brandee, Brian ( thee Hosts) and Jesse..sitting by the fireplace

 The kids had fun decorating ornaments

 and ended their night dancing the night away with the adults

Night Night everyone!
We had a marvelous time!

Get up N Go

A couple weekends ago after a Saturday night of some drinking and board games and staying up til 3am with my brother and his Girlfriend Jess we decided to wake up really early in the morning (hangovers and all) and head out to Buena Park for some breakfast at Denny's for their pumpkin Pie pancakes (so tasty) and a quick couple hours at Knott's Berry Farm since we are all passport holders and want to use it as much as possible before they expire on the first of the year.

 Parker got the sugar cookie holiday xmas shake

 Ava was having fun playing with her snap on bracelets that she is COMPLETELY addicted too.

 It was a pretty windy day with a cool breeze...we all had a hair of the dog drink inside..made us all feel MUCH BETTER

 We didn't really go on much rides. Everyone went on Windseeker while I stayed below with the kids , Then we went on the log ride (man I wish I had the picture of Ava's face on it) She had this look of complete terror going down but when we went down she was laughing and clapping..so she enjoyed it..or maybe she did it cause she was glad it was over.

On our way out I made my brother,Gabe and the kids put their faces in the Pink's Hot Dog thingy...hahahaha what a crack up. I love these days when you have no plan and just get up and go and make the most of your day. It was a LOT of fun!

The Beauty Of Nature

A couple weekends ago My mom and I went for a long walk at the Wetlands by Bolsa Chica..I love going there for walks..it is so peacful and there is so much nature to see...here are just a few things we saw along the way..We were walking for about 2 and a half hours but had our water and trail mix and cameras ready to go.

I think I am going to make it a point to come out for a long walk at least once a month!