The Aquarium

Aaron and Jenn and their family, Mom and Dad, and Ryan and I all went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach right after Christmas. It was SO fun! Ryan had never been before, so it was even more fun for him! (At least that is what I think).

Ryan and Sydney making funny faces at Lunch.

Scary shark from Nemo!

Super tiny Jelly Fish! They really were amazing. Haylee wanted to touch them... I told her they sting like a bee... Not sure if she was convinced.
Just one of the HUGE fish tanks. It was so fun to watch the fish, sea otters, rays, seals, turtles and all the other sea creatures! We had such a great time! You should definitely go if you haven't been before!

Our New Tree

Ok, so I borrowed this photo from someone else online, but this is what we hope our new tree will look like this spring! Anyone want to guess what kind of tree we got? I am so excited! We found it at CostCo! I think I love CostCo...

Family Pictures

We took family pictures over the holiday break and they are SO many amazing pictures! I can't even decide which ones I like best because there are so many good ones! Here is one I like. More to come.

STOMP

Ryan got me tickets to go see STOMP and it was amazing! I have always wanted to see the group perform, and it was SOOOOO worth it! I am going to say that it was the BEST dance type performance I have EVER, ever seen! (Ryan even liked it)!

If you ever get a chance to see them perform - DO IT! They are here in Orange County until the 11th. I am tempted to go see it again - it was that good! (I already checked and there are still tickets available. If anyone wants to go - I'll go with you)!

GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

So, a few months ago Tiff & Eric were over at our house and a football game was on the TV. A P.A.T. attempt was missed and then Tiffany announced, "I can't belive he missed that! I could even make that!"
So, it was decided at that moment that we would have a field goal kicking competition at Christmas.

Jace was so cold we put some extra socks on his hands to try and keep them warm. Good thing that kid wouldn't hold still! At least he attempted to keep warm by running the entire time!
Even Mom came out to the field! We were all so cold we tried to stay close together...

We all had to squeeze through this gate at the Thousand Oaks High School field. There were all sorts of locked gates but this one was the only one that we could all fit through...

Even though it was freezing cold and windy, AND the field was all locked up, AND the sun was about to set - we attempted it. This was a Christmas Day event that will not be forgotten. (Mostly because of how we had to get into the field, and how cold it was...)

In case you were wondering - Tiffany DID make that field goal! Way to go Tiff!

Christmas in Thousand Oaks

This year we spent Christmas with my family in Thousand Oaks. It was great fun except that Ryan had to work Christmas Eve, the 2 days after Christmas. We had a good time nevertheless. There were so many fun and funny events I am not sure how to even post about them all. I'll do my best. (This is assuming that other people aside from my own family look at my blog and care about what we are doing... If only my family looks at our blog, well then, you will obviously get a great re-cap of our adventures together!)

In no particular order... and definitely not in the order it all occurred...

We held the baby a LOT. He was just so darn cute! Plus all he did was eat and sleep so it was really easy to hold him. This is baby Camden (called Camden Yard by the cousins). He is Stacey and Heath's second boy.

Stacey and Heath blessed baby Camden on the Sunday after Christmas and it was so great to have everyone in our immediate family there plus extended family too!

Aaron and Jenn AND Tiff and Eric brought their Wii games. We played a LOT of Wii. Lots of Mario Cart, golf, tennis, bowling, pool, shooting, and so many more! After a few days of that Eric complained of "Wii elbow." We all had sore arms after all the fun games we played!

OH, and how could i forget ROCK BAND! We all took a turn at something. The little girls found flutes to chime in as well! Even Jace had a turn on the drums!

Of course we played a ton of other games like roof pong - (shirts made by Ryan)

Lego's...

Baseball... (Love the outfit Haylee! )

Frisbee Golf at the park...

And some climbed trees...

Most of all we had FUN! Although not pictured, we ate a ton and cooked a ton too! Jenn made the best rolls EVER and we were treated to all sorts of yummy dishes like french toast, pancakes, enchiladas, soups and amazing desserts! We also opened a lot of presents, slept a lot and laughed even more.

Thanks for a fun week in Thousand Oaks! We miss you all already!

All the Bells on Earth Shall Ring

Last night I went to a Christmas concert put on my the Orange County Mormon Choral Organization. It was amazing! Everyone is a volunteer, including the 2 brothers who lead the individual adult, high school, youth, children and sunbeam choirs, AND the orchestra! Such talented people! It was a night filled with Christmas music and some special arrangements of their own. They also performed the well loved MOTAB arrangement of I Believe in Christ.

One of my favorites was the song below which they did not sing in English. It was so sweet. I was grateful that the put the translation in the program because the simple lullaby is so sweet.

You should all put in on your calendars for next year because this year and last year it was fabulous! Something not to miss! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

O Magnum Mysterium:

O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in præsepio.

Beata virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt

portare Dominum Christum, Alleluia!

Translation:

O great mystery
and wondrous sacrament,

that animals should see the newborn Lord

lying in their manger.

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy

to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!