Santa Clause came to town!

The Dental Core had their annual Christmas party at the clinic. Andy was asked to be Santa! They got him a new suite and everything. He had to punch a new hole in the belt so that it would fit him. I think he looks pretty cute in the Santa outfit. After we got home I made him listen to the "Santa Baby" song. He just round his eyes.

Teased him and said that you have to wonder about a thin Santa!
Bradley loved him! He kept trying to sneak up and see him before it was his turn. After Andy changed back into his uniform Bradley said, "Dad, you was Santa!" He only asked once about Andy being Santa and now he just talks about the candy he got from Santa.

Daniel didn't want anything to do with Santa. He cried and wouldn't go near him. Even when Andy tried saying things to him that only Daddy says.

Even when I held Daniel he wasn't sure about being so close to Santa. I think the picture of me turned out pretty good though!

Daniel couldn't believe that he saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause...even without the mistletoe!

Dec. 19, 2008

Oakland Temple Lights

On the 18th of Dec. we went to see the Christmas Lights with a friend at the Oakland, CA Temple. The lights were beautiful and we were able to enjoy the company of CJ and her son Aiden.

Bradley and Daniel at the visitor center.
Bradley loved running up and down the sidewalks lined with bushes full of lights!

Daniel is also a big fan of Christmas lights.

Daniel and Aiden taking a breather.

I love the cheesy smile! Bradley is starting to do them more and more.

Daniel finally has some teeth you can see when he smiles.

I know the picture is kind of dark, but you get the idea of what it looks like.

Lighting Ceremony & Gingerbread House

On December 1st the Air Force Base held a Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremony. It was fun to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate while listening to the live Air Force Band play Christmas Carols. Then they talked a little bit about history or meaning of the Christmas tree and the Menorah. They did a count down and then lit all the trees by the gate. It was really fun and the boys love watching the whole block light up!

This is the Christmas Card the Dental Squadron made. You can't see it very well in the picture, but some of the rein deer have braces. They are so cute!Santa made an appearance in one of the AFB firetrucks! We were on the side walk next to the street so the boys got to see him really well. We didn't stay long enough for the boys to sit on Santa's lap, but we plan to see him sometime before Christmas.

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I found this foam Gingerbread House kit at Michael's and had to get it. It was harder to put up than I thought it would be. We put it together with our cousins. Who knew that three 3 year olds would be so entertained by a foam gingerbread house. I think Bradley, Jake and Seth did a great job...with a little help from their mom, Angie.

A Christmas Wreath

A talented lady in my ward offered to teach anyone interested how to make a wreath. She gave us ideas of what kinds of things to get to decorate the wreaths. I went to the Dollar store and to Michael's to get everything I needed for my wreath. Luckily for me Michael's was having a sale on their Christmas stuff and I got 40-50% off each item! I love sales.

Some of the items for my wreath wrapped with floral tape and ready to attach to the wreath.

I could never have made this wreath without the creative tips and suggestions!

First I attached all my very favorite pieces.

Then I had to decide on the bow.

Once all my favorite things were in place with the bow I started to add all the little fillers.

It is still missing something.

This is the final product!

I had so much fun buying all the frills to put on the wreath, and even more fun assembling them. I could never have done it with out the help of Sheri B. and Brenda T. Thanks ladies for giving me helpful tips and the much needed second opinion. Thanks again Sheri for opening up your home and helping me so much with the wreath. I am excited to start on the next ones!

Alcatraz

We recently went to San Francisco and decided to take the Alcatraz Tour. We took a ferry out to the island and then spend a couple hours touring the prison. The boys loved the "ship-boat" ride, as Bradley calls it.

Once you reach the prison on the top of the island they give you head phones for an audio tour.

Entering the Main Prison door.
This is Bradley with his head phones taking the tour. It was nice because you can push stop and stay in one area longer if you would like. This allows you get all the info about the tour at your own pace. It also kept Bradley busy. He felt so big having his own head phones. (I think they gave him one in Chinese.) This is in one of the cell blocks.
This is one of the regular cells. It is really small! The solitary confinement cells are much bigger.

During the tour they talked about some of the escape attempts. This one shows how three prisoners made wax heads to fool the guards, then they widened the hole for the vent and escaped through the maintenance area to the roof. They never saw or heard from them again. The guards thought they drowned in the bay, but the inmates think they went to South American.

This plaque talks about another escape attempt where some guards where killed. Some of the prisoners who planned the escaped where killed after a long stand off with the military, and the remaining prisoners where tried and executed.

This shows the most famous prisoners who were sent to Alcatraz.

This is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge on the left and Alcatraz on the right as we were leaving on the ferry. Alcatraz is only about a mile out from San Francisco. I can understand why the prisoners tried to escape by swimming. The prisoners could hear the sounds of the city especially at night or on New Years. It must have been hard for them to hear people laughing and enjoying life while they were stuck on the "Rock!"

Alcatraz Island or the "Rock!"

Alcatraz is behind my large head! I don't know why the boys wouldn't smile they really did have fun on the boat ride.

After our trip to Alcatraz we explored Pier 39. Our favorite thing were the seals! They were just camped out there sun bathing. Some of them were really big!! That speed boat in the background is actually a tour boat. It will take you all around the bay.

Bradley looking out at the seals.

Daniel was mesmerized by the seals. He cried when we made him leave.

Looking down at San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Starting to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge.

This is at a park on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge looking back south.

San Francisco definitely has some thing about it that draws you to it. If it weren't for all those people! We enjoyed our trip and plan to go again.