Christmas Morning...

Jed was soooooooooo excited to find presents that Santa left him! He could not wait to open them! He came running into our room at 8am to tell us to get up because Santa was here and he left presents for Jed to open!

Christmas Eve with the Cornwells

Livy, Janet, Julia
Janet and Jed

Janet and Mike

Amanda and Jed

Julia, Livy, and Amanda in their new Jammy bottoms from Jerusalem!

All the kids showing off their pj bottoms

"Lookin Good!"

Jed and Joey


We had a great time with the Cornwells on Christmas Eve. We ate dinner, openend presents, hung out and watched Harry Potter-it was a nice and relaxing night! Jed opened his new jammies along with his cousins (sporting the new mc hammer pants from Jerusalem). My niece, Amanda, went to Jerusalem for a semester on a study abroad. She had a wonderful time and brought back so many amazing things and I can't wait to see her pictures from the trip!!!

Jed wasn't too thrilled about his "Walle" pjs, but didn't complain too much! As you can see in the picture above, he was happy to wear them!

Happiest Place on Earth

Here we are again visiting the happiest place on earth. In these pictures we are waiting for the Christmas parade to start. Jed kept climbing up the pole until he was told to get off by a Disney worker! It was a cold day in Anaheim, but we still had a great day! We did, however, park in the boondocks in the Simba parking lot. If you have never heard of it, don't worry! You never want to be told you are going to the Simba lot. It is way past Downtown Disney and the hotels and worse...there are NO TRAMS to take you to the main gate! Bummer!!! I guess on a more positive note-I got extra exercise that day!

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town...

Jed with his toy from Santa!

Jed with Santa Claus

Waiting in line to meet Santa

So tonight we ventured up to Poway to the Huish home to meet Santa and see the great decorations in the home and outside! We enjoyed hot cocoa and apple cider. Jed enjoyed his new sword from Santa and kept sneaking away from me to see Santa...again and again!!!

It was a cold night...apparently not as cold as in Utah as my parents told me on the phone tonight. I'm sure they're right. It isn't as cold, but it sure felt like I was in the snowy weather!

DECEMBER...

Julia, Jed, and Livy (my nieces)
Julia, Heaven, Livy

Liz, Jeff, Heaven (my sis and bro-in-law)

Another adventure at Disneyland

Jed with Pluto

Is Jed the new "Karate Kid" or what???
Look at those muscles...

I have to say that this year has been pretty great! I have all my Christmas shopping completed and everything has calmed down a bit. Heaven left us to go live with relatives on Friday the 12th. That has been a very bittersweet event. I, of course, had to take her to the county early in the morning and it was not easy to say good-bye. When you have a child reaching for you saying, "mommy, mommy" it doesn't make anything easier. Needless to say, Heaven and her social worker made it safely to New Orleans and I spoke with a relative there and she said she is doing well...sleeping a lot from the aftermath of flying and layovers in airports, but doing well. I was assured updates through e-mail so I will keep you all posted!

We have decided to go with LDS family services and the San Diego County for adoption this time. We feel that there is a child out there who is meant for our home permanently. And it is too hard to let these kids go! Jed has been very somber these past couple of days so we feel it is time to just solely adopt. But we definitely want to keep our options open down the road for fostering again. It has been an amazing experience that I would tell anyone to do if your heart is strong enough for it! I won't tell you it is easy, but it is definitely worth it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Kam's Cutest Quilts

My friend, Kam, makes the cutest quilts. She stayed at my house this past week and was putting the finishing touches on these amazing baby quilts and bedding sets. So sad they are not for me! She was making them for some relatives.

Kam, you are so talented!!! Pink and striped baby girl set

Blue and green baby boy set

Sea World

Sea World was NOT busy at all when we went during the afternoon. It was very cold, though. We met Lisa, Jackson, and Ruby at Chick-fil-a and then right before heading over to Sea World we went to Target and bought sweat shirts for everyone.

We traded off taking the kids on the rides and then saw the "Pets Rule" show. Then, after a few more minutes of playing, headed for home.

Jed and Jackson-Best Buds
Heaven and Ruby-Stroller Buddies