Christmas

This Christmas, we opened presents on Christmas Eve at my mom's house since she would be leaving for festivities in Salt Lake super early.  On Christmas, we opened the rest of the presents at my sister's place.  The kids had a fun time and spent the rest of the day playing with their new Wii games.  Good times were had by all! 

Cousins at Grandma's house

Seriously took so many tries to get a decent photo on both occasions

Gorgeous Dana and David

Happy Birthday, David

Yesterday, my baby turned three!  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  Of course, as an annual "celebration," he got sick again.  This time, I held off of going to the ER, but it came close.  Four days of throwing up, diarrhea and no appetite can do wonders to a mother.  He got very dehydrated, but luckily, I was able to start a make shift IV and get fluids in him...just kidding.  I do however want to give a shout out to Pedialyte and some random Pediatrician's website!

This is the first year where David really was able to enjoy opening his presents.  It was very cute watching him get very excited over every present.  He wasn't the most gracious, though, about sharing.  I guess being an only child, so far, can do that to you.  Which brings me to my other news.  I'm------wait for it-----not pregnant.  Got you going there for a minute, huh?  As I was typing though, I could hear my niece in the other room saying she had a dream that I was pregnant.  I just had to laugh!  Kids say the darndest things!

Anyway, my son had a lovely birthday yesterday, Lightning McQueen cake and all.  Unfortunately, I had my camcorder recording the festivities for Billy and forgot to take pictures.  Here are a couple of him comparing how much difference three years can make.



How did he go from this





to that?



Just a bit in love

It's been a little over a year since I moved to 29 Palms and it's taken me that long to discover Joshua Tree National Forest.  Thanks to my sister, Grace, we took a jaunt up that way for her birthday.  Can I just say I fell hopelessly, helplessly, and incandescently in love!  I can't believe it took me this long to find it!  I've been up there a couple of times now and it's amazing how much stress is lifted off of my shoulders.  I feel so relaxed and at peace up there.  It's beautiful! The air is so fresh and clean, and there's so much to explore.  The campsites are gorgeous and sandy so sleeping on the ground doesn't seem like too much of an ordeal. 

David loves it up there, too.  So much so, that he's willing to go out of his comfort zone to pose for pictures.  For David, that is a huge deal!

View from the Keys Views.  By David's head, you can see Signal Mountain which is right on the California/Mexico border 94 miles away!  Sadly, you can also see the pollution haze.

The rocks are so much fun to climb and have great traction for little ones. 

My son the photographer.  David told me he wanted to take pictures so I amused him and let him have a go.  Not too bad for a beginner, eh?  Every rock we came to he would say, "Climb the wock.  I take a picture."

Such a pretty place.  I'm excited!  I've found a haven to go to during this deployment!  Yay!