Christmas 2009

Yes, I'm finally getting to my blog and posting pics from Christmas.  Alyssa was apparently very good this year cause she received lots of gifts. She received a new pink kitchen from Grandma and Papa, which she loves and a table and chairs.  She loves her new puzzles and her dollies and doll stroller from Santa.  She had a cold and cough, so she was not feeling the best Christmas morning, but she had fun with all of her new toys nonetheless.

We spent Christmas Eve with Doug's family.  Doug and I were Mary and Joseph this year in the re-enactment of the nativity.  Christmas morning we spent at our home with my parents, my brother David and his fiance Kristin.  We then spent the rest of Christmas day and evening with Doug's family. 

Alyssa and Santa

While in Hawaii we took Alyssa to see Santa. She would not sit on Santa's lap and put a death grip around Doug's neck when he tried to set her on Santa's lap. So funny.

Hawaii 2009

For Thanksgiving this year we went to visit my parents in Hawaii. We had so much fun! Alyssa loves the beach. Doug and I hiked Diamond head this year, I've always wanted to do it and so we made sure it happened. It was a pretty quick hike and had an amazing view of Waikiki beach and the coast. Doug rented a long board and would go surfing just about everyday. We spent just about everyday at the beach. One day we went to North Shore with my parents and cousin Laurie to watch the Gidget Pro tour. Bethany Hamilton (the girl who had her arm bit off by a shark) was surfing and she did amazing. Very cool! It was sad to leave the warmth and sun and return to the freezing cold weather in California. I guess it just gets us ready for Christmas.

New Moon

A few ladies from our ward got together to see the midnight showing of New Moon. Some people (including some women from our group) had been camped out all day (thanks Michele and Jolene!). Teens were camped out with chairs and lap tops playing "Twilight". I showed up later after Doug got home and it was a bit chilly waiting in line. The line for Starbucks was just as long as the lines to see the movie...total craziness. They let us into the theater at 11PM and our show started at 12:05AM. It was nice to thaw out before the movie.

New Moon was so much better than Twilight (hard to believe, I know!). I totally give props to the dad who was sitting next to our group. He brought his two tween daughters to see the show...he was one of maybe 5 guys who were there with their wives, girlfriends, or daughters to see the midnight showing. Anyway it was lots of fun and hilarious to hear some of the tween girls' comments throughout the movie. We are already planning to go to Eclipse in June 2010. I should be recovered by then and thank goodness the weather will be warmer!

Happy Birthday Doug!

Happy Birthday Doug! This weekend we drove out to AZ for my cousin's wedding. We arrived late Friday night at the Nielsen's home (Amy and Eric let us stay at their home this weekend..thanks so much guys!) and stayed up way too late talking. Saturday we went to the Tempe Market Place and grabbed so lunch at CPK and a few cookies from the Paradise Bakery- -so yummy! Saturday night was the wedding. Amy and Eric were so nice and watched Alyssa for us while we went to Chris and Tiffany's wedding. The wedding was beautiful. After the wedding we went back to Amy and Eric's to find Amy's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and cheesecakes from the Cheesecake factory to celebrate Doug's birthday! My new favorite is the white chocolate blueberry cheesecake..it's SO good! Doug loves the vanilla bean. Thanks Eric and Amy...the cookies and cheesecakes were amazing! We finished up the night and early morning talking and watching "the Proposal". Sunday we traveled back to California and had dinner with Doug's family. Doug's birthday dinner was roast and mashed potatoes and homemade rolls from Rachel. For dessert we had mint ice cream pie...so good! I think Doug and I gained 5 pounds each from all the tasty treats we ate this weekend.

GI Joe, a pink fairy princess, and a flashback to the 80s

For Halloween Alyssa was a pink fairy princess. She absolutely loved her costume and would twirl and spin once we put it on her. Doug dressed up in some army fatigues and I dressed up as a girl from the 80s. Sadly 90% of my outfit was found in the women's clearance section at Target (I guess the 80s are back!). I did however still have my old hair crimper from the 6th grade and some fingerless gloves...classic!

On Friday night we went to our church's annual trunk-or-treat and then on Halloween we went to the OC and trick-or-treated with my grandparents (Aly's great grandma and grandpa DeLancy). We also stopped by Doug's parent's house and the Bruschkes to hang out. We had lots of fun and Alyssa loved going trick or treating. She would lift up her pumpkin and say "treat". It was very cute!