THIS WAS...

the best Christmas ever!!! The kids all say that every year which makes me so happy. I want Christmas to always have a special place in their hearts and for them to be able to look back at it as one of their fondest memories from childhood. This year was a little different for us because we went out to Las Vegas to meet up with my family and celebrate. I was hoping for some snow because they had some the week before but all we got was freezing cold. We stayed in a hotel this trip which made it tons of fun for the kids and we had just a wonderful time.

The day before we left we surprised the kids by opening the gifts from each other. I had to get a picture of them in their new pajamas handmade(the best kind) by Grandma Dunk.





Our first night in Vegas we went to see the newly redone Mirage Volcano. It was so awesome!

They use all this fire that dances to the music.


We always need to spend time at Bellagio, my favorite.




There is of course the Christmas Eve tradition of new Pajamas.


Christmas morning we were lucky enough to have Santa leave stockings for the kids in our hotel room and then it was off to Lynnette's house for a delecious breakfast and to see what gifts Santa left.


Lately I can not seem to get a picture without Bryce looking like this.

Who needs presents when you hava a baba?


In our family there is of course Santa Clause,

but we also have Papa Clause as he calls himself :) who made every kid even happier.


It was a little break in some of our normal at home traditions but I would say our Vegas Christmas was extra special just being all together and doing lots of fun activities.

LET IT SNOW...

or in our case rain. The snow did get close though, I have never seen it on the foothills like that before.


I enjoy the rain because it puts me in the mood to bake which is something I love to do. It is a tradition in our family to put together plates of goodies and do some deliveries, which the kids look forward to every year.






This weekend was another busy one. On Saturday we had the always fun Dunkley Family Christmas Party. Unfortunetly, I did not charge my camera battery so I was only able to get a few pics.

This is Joe's Mom and Dad and I could not ask for better in-laws.

They had 7 children and are now up to 16 grandchildren, 8 boys and 8 girls.


I finally got a pic. showing Bryce's cute dimples.


On Sunday we went up to L.A. for a a baby blessing so of course we had to stop by and see the L.A. Temple which is just beautiful with all the lights. You never know who you might bump into up there so I was thrilled to see two of my Young Women.

Joe really was happy to be there.





We wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...

and the busiest, so I hardly know where to start. I guess it will be with soccer. Even as of last Saturday we were still going to games. Anika was on such a great team this year and those girls played their hearts out. Anika has improved so much and it is always so fun to watch the games. I am amazed how into it I get and the last couple of games she played in, especially all the playoff ones were a real adrenaline rush. Her team finished 2nd in our region and the went on the regional playoffs were they came in 3rd.

GREAT JOB GREEN MACHINES!!!!


You can tell by this pic how tough she played. Check out her awesome trophy


Of course over the last few weeks we have been busy going to SC football games. For anyone interested, under Pete Carroll SC has never lost a game in the month of November. We also crushed ucla again this year and we have done that 8 out of the last 9 years, but who is counting.

No matter how busy we get, I HAVE GOT to go here.
Following are some favorite pics from the last few times we went.


It is always more fun to go with great friends.


They went on the Rapids ride 3 times in a row and to say that they were a little cold the rest of the evening would be an understatement.


Maybe I like Disneyland so much because the kids are so great at posing cute for pictures, just a theory :)










We have attended lots of fun ward and stake activities like Follow the Star, Sing Noel, the Adults only Christmas dinner and of course breakfast with Santa...

All Josh could say to Santa was that he wanted was a candy cane since there was a bag full of them sitting on the ground.

Bryce was not having the Santa thing at all this year and was jumping out of his arms and the girls I am sad to say are just too cool to sit on his lap anymore.

His reward for 10 seconds of torture.

She snuck a reward anyhow.

There were of course fun birthday parties.

The kids cousin, Troy turned 4!


One of Anika's BFF's turned 9 and had a cool gymnastics party.

Josh got to go to an awesome Indiana Jones Birthday party that I figure he will be talking about for weeks.

He was willing to hold all the creatures except the one in the next picture after this but he would not actually let them touch his skin.




We have also been busy doing all the amazing fun and FREE activites in the area thanks to my wonderful sister in law Michelle who keeps me informed. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! For example, the tree lighting ceremony at the St. Regis.


The last and in this case CERTAINLY LEAST thing we have been up to, was having that nasty flu bug that went around. Of course we all got it the week the kids were off of school for Thanksgiving when I had tons of fun things planned. Thank goodness I have no pictures to document the grossness of it all, but I have to admit had she let me, there was one photo I might have snapped. That was moment when my Mom who is the best grandma ever, was covered in puke thanks to Bryce, with partially digested orange wedges hanging out of her shirt and everything, nasty I know. I felt like there was not one minute that week that my washing machine was not doing a load of towels. We are all good now and I should have lots more fun Christmas activities to post in the next 11 days.

Tis the season to be jolly!!!