Build a Bear

This year for Christmas (like last year) I got the kids gift cards to Build A Bear and we went together to make them. Unfortunately around Christmas ended up not being the healthiest time of the year for the kids (you know he was sick when Jake missed his Christmas party at school) so we had to wait for the first day Jake had off school in January. I have to admit I accurately guessed what Jake was going to pick but never in a million years would I have guessed Brooke's selection. I thought for sure she would go with Brittany (from the Chipmunks) or any of the pink and sparkly animals they have. Instead she wanted a plain black bear upon which she did put a pink sparkly dress. She was also very original and named her "Rella" (ie short for Cinderella) and that has now become a common name for many of her stuffed animals.

Jumping on one foot with the heart in the their hands

Kissing the Heart

Gotta make sure they are squeaky clean

After Build a Bear we went to the park inside the mall where they each played with their new friends

Jake making sure that Alvin's sound was working

Yes his Alvin is wearing an army hat

Then while Brooke was sleeping Jake and I took his game Quirkle (actually a really really fun game, especially for adults) and used the pieces like Dominos

Yes it worked (I have a video of us knocking it down but I'm not tech savy enough yet to know how to get it off my camera and upload it!) and I might add it took us probably 4 or 5 tries before we were able to build that without knocking it down halfway through :)

New Year's Eve

We returned home from our holiday travels on Thursday which gave both Kris and I a chance to recharge a bit before starting back to work. Saturday was New Year's Eve and we had a big day planned. First off we met up with Melissa and Jeff (who were in town from CA!) to see the Ice! Show. As I mentioned previously the theme this year was Madagascar and I was blown away as usual. Here are tons of really great shots that Kris took (quick side story....every year we have to make sure to have fresh batteries in the camera as well as extras with us bc the cold temperature inside the exhibit always drains the batteries really fast.).

The slide room this year

Melissa and Jeff...slight temp change from what they are accustomed to in Davis, CA!

After returning our parkas we headed over to the Gaylord Hotel for lunch and just to look around. That hotel is always decorated to the 9's for Christmas and going over to look at their decorations has become as much of a tradition as going to the Ice! Exhibit. If you time it correctly they actually make it "snow" inside and do a bunch of different light displays.

Of course we had to take a picture of Po, Kris's favorite! (and no I'm not kidding at all!!)

After saying goodbye to our friends we headed home for a little chill time before the night time festivities began. This year we had a very special party to attend on New Year's Eve. Tracy, (the mom of the family I work for) turned 40 this year on New Year's Eve and Craig, her husband threw an all out birthday party for her. Of course I had been in on the surprise from the beginning and tried to help Craig out as much as I could (including hiding a lifesize cut out of Tracy from her at the house!) The night was such a special gathering of all of Tracy's friends and family and I know how much it meant to her. I was also very lucky because Craig's Mom agreed to watch the kids so I actually got to attend the party without having to work!!! We had an awesome time and it was a very memorable way to ring in the New Year.