A San Diego Christmas

Here's some pictures of our visit to San Diego in the days leading up to Christmas. Ethan couldn't get enough of all things Christmas this year and it was fun to see the holiday through the eyes of a child again. It was also a special year because my sister Danielle and her husband Chris came from Florida for the first Christmas in four years. She came up to Irvine to see our condo, Will's office and the Newport Beach Temple, then we headed south for some fun in San Diego. Luke spent some quality time with Grandpa Rose wrestling. He is ALL boy and likes nothing better than to throw a good punch.
A Happy Headlock!
It was good to catch up with Danielle and have her around for some of the traditional Christmas activities we did growing up. One of those is the Calder Family Progressive Dinner. Here's Danielle with my cousins Tricia and Jamie at the salad course stop of the dinner. Isn't Danielle photogenic?!
Luke getting to know his Aunt Danielle (or Aunt Yell, as Ethan would say). The last time Danielle saw the boys Luke was a colicky 3-month-old and Ethan was 15 months old. After her visit I think she has new empathy for me when I tell her the boys are CRAZY! Now Ethan regularly asks me, "Where Yell?"
We spent a gorgeous day on Coronado Island checking out the Hotel del Coronado's famous giant Christmas tree and eating BBQ by the beach. No White Christmas here!
This Little Tykes slide in my parent's backyard provided endless enjoyment for Luke.
Look at that grin!
Another big grin. Ethan gets spoiled by his Grandma.
Lounging on the couch at Grandma's watching Christmas movies. It doesn't get more relaxing than this!

Twas The Night Before Christmas

We celebrated Christmas Eve with the annual Rose Family Party. This is a picture of my Mom's gorgeous Christmas Tree. I wasn't brave enough to attempt a tree in our condo this year with two crazy toddlers (a tad bit "grinchy" I know), so luckily Ethan got his Christmas tree fix at Grandma's. Luke did some very creative re-decorating on the bottom half a few times, but I don't think any ornaments were actually broken, or at least my Mom didn't tell me if they were!
So happy together!
Curl ribbon is a toy in itself!
A rare shot of all three Rose siblings together: David, Danielle, & Audra.
After dinner my Dad leads us in a round of Christmas Carols. One of these years we need to start memorizing the second verse of a few songs!

Here is my 91 year old Grandfather, Guy Rose, with all of his grand-daughters who were in attendance this year. In keeping with tradition, Grandpa always puts a bow from one of his presents on his head to make us laugh. We all miss Grandma Rose a lot and feel her presence with us most at big family gatherings, where she loved to sit around the dinner table and chat(and eat See's chocolates!).

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Christmas Day 2006

Ethan & Luke made it onto Santa's Nice List this year (although they definetely have their Naughty moments!).
Santa left Ethan his first train set, complete with moving windmill and remote control. It took "Santa" some time to assemble this train track the night before. Ethan's reaction: a big "OH WOW." He loves his "choo choo" set until Luke comes and sits directly on top of the track.
Santa left Luke his very own shopping cart! Stainless steel no less--a very masculine shopping cart. He likes to use this cart like a bumper car and crash into anything that gets into his path. Go Lukey, go!
This was one of the boy's favorite Christmas gifts this year from Grandma & Grandpa Rose. It doesn't get any better than a long, flexible tunnel to crawl through, tumble in, and throw a ball down. Gotta love the quirky Ikea toys!
It didn't take Ethan long to figure out that there were toys unders all those bows and wrapping paper. He made sure to "help" anytime anyone was opening a present.
If you don't want to open your present, you can always use it as a reading chair.
One advantage to giving your children names on the Top 20 Most Popular Baby Name lists: their Nana can buy them adorable personalized ornaments! Thanks Grandma! I will let the boys hang these ones on the tree next year.
Initially Luke wasn't too sure about this moving pony from his Great Grandparents. Now he loves the noises it makes and he and Ethan ride it around the living room. Giddee up!
We spent Christmas Evening with Will's parents back home in Irvine. Here's Luke getting his toes tickled by his Papa Bollard.

Here's Dr. Ethan checking Grandma Bollard's heart beat. We also regularly get our blood pressure and temperature tested now that Ethan has his Fisher Price Dr. kit.

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 6th Anniversary!

Today is our sixth anniversary! Yes, we were one of those crazy BYU couples who cram in Christmas, a wedding, a reception and a honeymoon during the two week break from school. I always promised my mother that I wouldn't have a December wedding, but true love intervened (although my brother did tell me that I "ruined Christmas" that year for everyone). Six years later we've had six different addresses, four different cars, produced two cute kids, and are still happy we found each other. Happy Anniversary Will, I love you!

And, for those of you who know the story of our first anniversary--celebrating in the backwoods of Keokuk, Iowa at the fine dining establishment of Ma & Pa's Kettle-- thankfully we have reservations for a slightly nicer dinner tonight :)

Elfamorphosis

Check out Luke as an elf:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=e19c61ec889db825c19a6d6G06121820