Happy New Year- Welcome 2012!

2011 was a wonderful year! We welcomed Laney on Jan. 25, and keeping up with two little ones became the focus of our days. Nights were for recharging, and each season brought new fun and adventures. We spent a lot of time getting to know our newest little one, as well as watching the interactions grow between brother and sister. This was a lot of fun for us since we are both "onlys" with no siblings of our own.

In May we celebrated my parents' 40th anniversary with some cousins on the Queen Mary in Long Beach and visited the Long Beach Aquarium.

Over the summer we traveled to Costa Rica to visit Derek's dad Joe, and had a grand Central American adventure for ten days!
During the trip we spent several nights at a beachfront hotel, and Owen really enjoyed his beach experience!

We spent the Fourth of July at home, bringing the kids to our hometown parade in our very own little red wagon, both dressed in their red, white, and blue (yet another dream come true for this momma).

We enjoyed local parks, libraries, our pool and of course My Gym classes all summer too.

On July 30, we celebrated our 5th family birthday with a visit to Castaic Lake and a yummy Thai dinner at Mom Can Cook in Canyon Country.

We had a visit from Uncle Dallas and Aunt Susie at the end of the summer, and were able to go to San Diego (without daddy, sadly) for two days to celebrate Dallas' birthday and also to visit Sea World for the first time with Owen, Alice, Oqwe and of course Grandma and Grandpa.

Spring and Fall we were pretty much in survival mode around here, with momma and daddy both working we really depended on Grandma and Grandpa to keep things in motion on the homefront, and boy did they ever! Busy happy blossoming kids is what we are enjoying this month.

We did all go to Circus Vargas on momma and daddy's birthday in October, and both kids had a blast.

We also took a big family trip with Grandma and Grandpa to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving week, had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with lots of family and then an anniversary fete for my parents the next day.

The holiday season this year has been pure magic since Owen understood more about what was going on this year. Little Miss Laney had her share of fun as well, enjoying her first ice hockey game and foray onto Candy Cane Lane. We stayed home this year, and have been relishing some down time and time to dig deeper than survival level (eat, sleep, bathe) with our family of four.

We have so many dreams and hopes for 2012, and wish a blessed year to all.

Christmas Day 2011-Laney's First Christmas

Christmas Eve

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's to celebrate Christmas Eve.
Appetizers


Laney and daddy


Checking out the cookies Owen decorated


Serving holiday punch


Playing with(or eating) the wooden nativity











Christmas Eve pajamas











Making reindeer food





Santa's treat


Owen read daddy's Night Before
Christmas





And to all a good night


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First day of vacation

A little bit of this


Two hours of this


A moment of this


First time doing this


Yum!


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Putting up our angel

Picking our Christmas Tree at Frosty's

Ever since we moved to Santa Clarita in 2007 we have been picking our tree at Frosty's just down the street. This year we went on Saturday, December 17. There was no one else there when we arrived and later one other family came to pick a tree. We went with an 8 footer this year. Owen just loved his "big tree". Laney was all smiles too.

Iphone pix of Pittsburgh for Tday

We had a grand adventure to Pittsburgh. Some of the highlights included:
*Two great flights
*Jeanie, Owen and momma walking to St. Andrew's (where momma and daddy got married) to watch the bagpipers.
*Owen picking fresh carrots for dinner for Jeanie's garden.
*Playing at Highland Park with Sam and walking at the Reservoir with momma and daddy.
*Helping Uncle Bruce work on his bike.
*Peeling apples with Grandma for apple pie.
*Raking leaves and jumping in them with Jeanie.
*Playing with Ben
*Visiting Tia Kim, Anthony and Katie in Ohio and meeting up with old friends at a fun reunion at Tia Stephanie's. While there, we visited the new Hudson Library too. Grandpa accompanied us on the two day trip. So fun to see Michelle and her beautiful Angie, Kim M. and her two awesome growing boys Matthew and Andrew, and Stephanie with her son Bryce. Owen, Anthony, Katie, and Laney all had a blast and can't wait til the next adventure!
*Thanksgiving Day at Connie's with Uncle Walter, Lillian and Buzz, Donny and Susie, cousins Connie, Ed, Susie, Syndee, Canaan, Evan, Chris, Joan, and Dallas, and so many family and friends!
*Grandma and Grandpa's 40th anniversary party
*Pizza lunch with everyone (30+) on Saturday
*poor Laney's first ear infection :( (not a highlight- but very memorable. Luckily she was not in pain on the flights.)
There are lots more (and better pictures) from daddy's camera and other friends that I will hopefully be able to post soon. In the meantime, here are some from my phone. Enjoy!