Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we went to Temecula and stayed with Heidi and Nolan. My parents took the long trek from Utah to spend the holiday with the "California-Connection", as my Mom would say.

Our gracious hosts

Heidi made the most amazing Thanksgiving feast! Dinner featured: Turkey, gravy, ham, green bean casserole, fresh rolls, cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes, and an amazing pumpkin coffee cake for dessert! SO GOOD!

Full tummies = Happiness & Sleepiness

So that weekend Nolan opened the garage door and invited my Dad and Josh to come defeat the rat. My Mom and I had big eyes on while we listened to the hooting and hollering from the garage. Josh came in with a proud face saying, "I killed it with a swiffer mop!"



This is a swiffer mop if you are not cultured in the mop world. Pretty impressed now?

Back to the story, it was a fast little thing but not fast enough for the enraged and excited "gentlemen", if you will.

After Josh's paralyzing blow Nol followed with a few swift smacks of the broom.

0 points rat--5 points gentlemen

Heidi's birthday falls on Thanksgiving every so often, every 7 years to be precise, so we celebrated with a little girl theme! Pink, popcorn, tiaras, little girl toys, bubbles, pin the tail on the donkey, and serious streamers were to be had for this event.
It was awesome.

She was pretty stoked.

We were so excited when we got an email from Kali saying, "[I'll be] in Temecula, but I don't want to get your hopes up if I can't see you when I come out. It will only be a few days..." I called her right away exclaiming, "WE WILL BE IN TEMECULA!!!"

We got to see the whole family, even ones we had never met. So once again, the gang that had once hung out in Hawaii got together to enjoy each other's company and exchange lots of hugs!
We love the Barlow family so much! We really missed seeing Louis.

The week following Thanksgiving we went to Disneyland, it was awesome!

Channing woke up mid the Aladdin show. Actually, he woke up just in time to see Jafar turn into a huge 25 foot serpent. He was pretty impressed.

Channing thought he would be able to ride Soring Over California for sure this time. He was pretty disappointed when he didn't measure up but the aviators waiting in line sure enjoyed his loss.

Christmas time at Disneyland is the best! The Haunted Mansion, Small World, and the whole land is just decked out!

This is one facial expression we can always count on getting from Channing. Whenever we pull out the camera he is so interested in looking at it, but not smiling at it.
We should just have a family picture with big eyes.

Papa loves the newest grandchild and always wants to hold him...

...except for when Nana wins and takes him.
They both thoroughly enjoyed It's A Small World.

Awe, Mele Kalikimaka everyone!

Hey, its Lilo and Stich!

It is hard to see, but if you tilt the screen just right you can see Channing in awe of the fireworks.

The night ended off with a Mickey caramel apple and pumpkin fudge! We had such an awesome time! Come back soon Papa and Nana! We miss you!!

He Eats! He Rolls Over!

At Channing's 4 month check up we told his doctor that he eats anywhere from 6-9 oz every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. His doctor said to try him on baby food. And he LOVES it! Life is better for all of us! He sleeps better, longer, and is happier! Poor kid is just so over being a baby!

We cannot shovel food in his mouth fast enough! We have tried holding him, putting him in his bumbo chair, and putting him in his bumbo chair in front or TV.


But what seems to work the best is the high chair. One of us takes turns feeding him while the other one is distracting him with Josh's birthday balloon. And boy can he eat! Most of the time he eats 1/3 to 1/2 of a babyfood and 4 ounces of fomula with the oatmeal.


He rolls over!
Josh found Channing all mad and crying Thursday morning on his tummy! The rest of the afternoon was spent with him rolling onto his tummy and getting mad until someone would roll him back. It is amazing to watch him grow and learn! Babies are such miracles!

Josh's 25th Birthday!

On Saturday we celebrated Josh and Nathan's birthday with the Wilbur family. Josh had a delicious ice cream cake. After all, ice cream is Josh's favorite food group. There is chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, peanut butter, rocky road, phis food, hazelnut, etc.

Oh happy day!



We went to Disneyland in the morning and got a gift card equivalent to a 2 day hopper pass because it was his birthday. They also gave him a Birthday pin with his name on it and a pin for letting everyone know that "I'm celebrating!" Channing got a "1st time" pin.


We thought Channing would be interested in the large steam boat passing by. Rather, he was more interested in the small ducks paddling in the current. How silly of us to think he would be more interested in man's creations than God's creation.


For the first time we went to the Pirates Lair, formally Tom Sawyer Island. This pirate took quite a liking to Channing. Perhaps he wanted to commandeer him.

We love it!


The boys chillin' on a big pile of pirates booty. Sadly not the snack food.

After a diaper change we are feeling great!


We got to see Santa and his real reindeer! They looked so plush and pretty.

Since Josh had already got an ice cream cake over the weekend the day of his birthday he wanted brownie. So I made them extra fudgey for the birthday boy!

He said he made a good wish.
He has a tendency to having his wishes come true. The night we hung out for the fist time we stayed up all night and watched the sun come up. When we were out on the point in Laie watching the sky turn from a dark royal blue to a soft blue we made both made wishes on a star. I told him what mine was, it was something shallow and not memorable, but he would not tell me his wish. It drove me crazy! After a few months I finally got it out of him. He wished that everything would work out between us. Whatever that meant; either being really good friends, or married with a kid 3 1/2 years later.

Happy Birthday My Prince!
You are the best father, friend, husband, and example. We adore you!

California Adventrure! And it was sure an adventure!

It was a beautiful sunny day so we thought, why not go to Disneyland again!

Channing was super excited to be out and about amongst lots of faces and people.

He got to see and sit on Santa's lap for the very first time!
He was pretty stoked as you can tell.

This is Channing's experience most of the time at Disneyland. The other half is split between eating and being held looking at everything and everyone.

After sucking down a bottle Woody came over and played peek'a'boo with the little guy.

It was really sweet of him to stop as the characters do not seem to stop for anyone, you have to stand in a long line to get a picture and signature from them.

Channing was so happy after he stopped by. This was his facial expression.

Thanks Woody!


We had a family first as we went on the ferris wheel.

One of our favorite places in California Adventure is A Bug's Land.

Bad news: they are taking out A Bug's Land and making it A Car's Land. BOO! We are pretty bummed. So the "bye" sign is going to be permanent goodbye.

After California Adventure we went to Disneyland.
It was the first official day of Christmas at the parks!

So they had their huge Christmas tree up! It was so beautiful!!
Garlands and wreaths adorned Main Street leading to the castle drizzled in lights, snow and icicles.

They officially lit the castle for the first time for Christmas and fake snow fell from the sky. It was so charming! As my Mom would say, "the best of the human experience."

We waited and finally the Christmas parade came. It was the longest parade we had ever seen at Disneyland with just about every character, gingerbread men, snowmen, elves, and of course the main star, Santa!

Hey look, its Woody again in the parade!

This was Channing's expression during the parade.

"This is awesome!"

As we walked back to the car we were able to enjoy the beautiful lights in Downtown Disney.

What an awesome day!