Christmas! 2011

 Christmas morning we woke up and made an omelette and played while we waited for daddy to get up and out of bed. We had a pretty relaxed morning, waiting to open presents and stockings until after breakfast. Little did I know I would be sick that morning. It was my own fault for taking a vitamin along with my thyroid medicine. Silly, me. So after a few hours of yuck, we finally got to open stockings and one gift for Nara. It was a new Sunday dress that I wanted her to have for church that afternoon.

Dinner was amazing! Cornish game hens with a cranberry glaze, fresh salad, stuffing, and coconut yams. Mmmm! The memories. It was my first time eating the hens. Yum!After dinner is when we FINALLY opened up gifts and Nara got to see what Santa brought her. I don't think we could have pulled off the lateness of gifting any other year, but Nara was cool with it. 

Thanksgiving games

Nenna and I came up with some games for the kids to play while we were all staying together at home. There were 16 of us for a few days and we didn't want the kids to go crazy.  We came up with some fun things for the kids to do like games and park trips, where Nara loved climbing on the jungle gyms. One of those games we came up with were boat races just like the Pilgrims did so long ago. Okay, so they didn't race, but we sure did, for about an hour it was race after race. We made some origami boats, attached straws and a balloon to the back and raced them along a piece of thread in Mom and Dad's backyard. It was so much fun for the kids as well as the adults.

  

Blowing up the balloons to get ready for the race. We raced until the balloons popped.  They were just the cheapy balloons that lost their elasticity.

After the two little girls' balloons broke, they entertained themselves by playing in the garden dirt\ out.  

Taking a break from playing at the park

Lovely ladies

Another day, we went to the park. The weather was so nice that week that we played

outside everyday.

These girls loved playing tea party together.

All together 

Nara loved playing with baby Hailey. She is so excited for another baby in the house. They played together a lot, Nara crawling after Hailey, and Hailey trying to get away :) 

Seal Beach 2011

Running down Main Street after Nenna

While in SoCal, we stopped by Seal Beach, shopped on Main Street and played at the beach. Nara had such a great time going in the shell store. Daddy found a shop entirely devoted to olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Needless to say we left with a few souvenirs from Seal Beach.

She loved chasing after the birds. Never caught one. 

Nara holding hands with daddy. She ended up getting hit by a wave or two. Good thing we found her a new outfit on the street.

She loved being with herr Nenna and Papa

Playing with cousins in the sand. It was the first time all the Boothe siblings were together since Ryan got married 10 years ago.

She always has time for a big cheesy grin for the camera.

After the beach, we went to the Long Beach Aquarium where we saw some amazing sea creatures ranging from seals and sharks to sea horses and crabs that rivaled Chris'. Nara loved the fish. She was enamored with all of the tanks. I don't think I have heard her giggle so much while looking at animals.

Okay, Here it comes Lolo and LoLa

This is for you Lolo and Lola!
To begin...

These pictures were taken at Thanksgiving in the fabulous SoCal with the family. We even managed to get a pretty decent Morgan family shot. What do you think. It's kind of late now, but I have more pictures to post TOMORROW!! Watch for them :)

Trick or Treat

Nara loved "sweeping" up the leaves at Grandma Great's with her broom.

Halloween was so much fun this year. Although we spent it without Chris, who was away on business, it was so great to take Nara around trick or treating. She was such a cute little witch this year in her handmade costume complete with hanging spiders and nylon sleeves. She loved running to the door, handing out candy, and telling the kids "Trick or Treat" and "Happy Halloween". Even when we were Skyping with family, she couldn't resist running to the door calling out, "I get it! I get it!" Here are some pictures of the holiday celebrations between Grandma-Great's, Kim's, a neighborhood parade, and trick or treating.

Happy with Daddy before he flew out.

Love the socks

Running around the yard

"Cheese"

At the Morgan Halloween Party. Everyone smile...ok, just look in the same direction...how about sitting down.....no, oh well. Happy Halloween!

At the Morgan neighborhood costume parade. The kids walk up and down the street trick or treating.

Nara was full of "oo's" and "ahs" when we pulled off the top of the pumpkin. 

She had a ball scraping the insides and telling me how it felt "gwose" and slimy.

Make a face like the pumpkin!

Where did all the seeds go?

All dressed and ready to go trick or treating.

Playing Dress Up

Hello All! I just wanted to post some pictures of Nara playing dress up the other day. I found this Snow White costume in the Foster Care box and thought Nara would love it. She did. She was twirling and whirling, running and dancing all over the house. I figured if I didn't try it on her now, before we pack up, then she will never be able to wear it. As you can see, it barely fits as it is. At least she got to try it once. 

Nara was given a bike from the downstairs neighbors. Although too small for it this year, she loves riding it. She would ride around saying, "Whee"! Here she is with Mykenzie.

• 1 cup onion, minced
• 1 cup carrot, minced
• 2 (10 1/2 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup cooking sherry
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• fresh chives, minced
• salt
• 1/2 lb raw lobsters, chopped or 1/2 lb lump crabmeat
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 1 1/4 hr

1. 1 Saute onion and carrot in 2 tablespoons butter until soft. Set aside.
2. 2 In 4 quart saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter and add flour, whisking constantly over medium heat until roux becomes light brown (about 5 minutes). DO NOT BURN!
3. 3 Slowly add chicken broth, whisking constantly to ensure mixture stays smooth.
4. 4 Add onions and carrots, cover, and simmer for 1/2 hour.
5. 5 Add cream, sherry, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, salt, and lobster or crab and simmer an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
6. 6 Garnish with fresh minced chives if desired.

Nara loved it too!

 

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Coming in Second

This originally started as a letter to my in-laws, but I decided to follow their advice and UPDATE MY BLOG!
In short we are moving and I have been getting ready and packing all day...every day...day after day... Here is the letter that I was writing:
So we've been packing today and I thought I would take a moment to rest and drop you a note. So I was packing Chris' shirts today, and may I say...Holy cow! When did his shirts start to grow and multiply? I would think they are trying to replenish the earth, something I thought not possible. I also  think that he alone could keep the entire cotton industry going by purchasing his shirts. Actually they are cotton/poly. I wonder if there is any worth in the stock?  His shirts (just T-shirts) took up an entire box. To illustrate, I am [posting] a few pictures four your pleasure. 

If Chris' shirt box and my were to get into a fight, who do you think would win?
 I do believe that I would come in second on this one. My cute little dainty box would be swallowed whole and destroyed by the ominousness of the Goliath towering over it. You know Chris, everything has to be big. 

While I was pulling out all the shirts from the closet, I laid them out on the back of the recliner. the weight was so much that the back of the chair actually reclined. Silly me, I didn't get a picture of that. Anyway, when I was finished I came out to see Nara in her chair reading a book. I love this girl so much. I love Chris so much too, I just have to give him a hard time about his massive T-shirt collection.

P.S. There may have been a little forced perspective used in this post to illustrate a point...   :D