Christmas Eve Festivities

Nanny and Jessa are waiting patiently to start the gingerbread houses.  Well, Nanny was patient anyway!

Weechee decided he was one of the Christmas presents.  He stayed like that for almost an hour.  Such a strange little guy!

Mike got his creative juices flowing by making a simple and easy Brie wheel.  He cut his Christmas tree by  hand and was very proud of it.

Neither Nanny or Papa had ever decorated a gingerbread house.  Mike, Jess and I are practially professional.  We had 5 done before they finished their one, but it was really funny to watch since they couldn't get it to stick together!  They must have put it together at least 6 or 7 times.

 Their final result.

Our Christmas tree was pretty loaded up!

 I'm not really sure why this is out of order but here's Jessica's gingerbread house.  According to Jessa more is always better!

Merry Christmas!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE CRUZ FAMILY!!

Photo Shoot Part 2

This one was at the community center.  Not a very photo opportunistic place, but we did our best.

Still turned out cute!

This one is just against a random building downtown.  I think it may have been the side of someone's house, but I'm not really sure.  We whispered so as not to get arrested for treaspasing.

But we were lucky no Ripon cops in sight (a rare occurence to be sure) while we treaspassed!

Same building.  Different part.  Jessica said "Mom it's like a castle wall!"  Kids are so funny!

Photo Shoot Part 1

Saturday Jessica got dressed in her Christmas outfit and we drove around Ripon taking pictures at random spots.  We just needed to get one good picture to send with our Christmas cards and instead we got tons.

Stouffer Park is always a great picture place, but of course Jessica is a beautiful girl and that helps make the scenery even prettier.

I like the red berries in this one.  Very Christmasy!

She was laughing...priceless!

This one is my favorite I think.  The trees are so beautiful they look fake.

It was hard for her to look at the camera for this one because some boys came to the park and of course she had to keep one eye on them.

Shannon turns 30!!!

On Friday December 9, 2011 Shannon turned 30!!  Since Shannon loves to travel so much Connie and I decorated her desk with an around the world theme.

 She got a great book on all the state parks for her birthday.

 Shannon and Kim smile in front of the Christmas tree. 

Happy Birthday Shannon!!!!

Apple Hill

A couple of weekends ago we visited Apple Hill.  It really wasn't everything I'd hoped, BUT that could be because we missed the apples.  The scenery was pretty though.

Mike and Amy amongst the half dead apple trees.

Couldn't get a good picture of the kids because they were restless after 2 1/2 hours in the car and the sun was in their eyes everywhere they stood.

We didn't stay at Apple Hill very long instead we decided to hit Folsom Outlets.  We had a really good time.

What If

Jessica had to write her own version of a Shel Silverstein poem yesterday.
My little girl's poem is pure creative genius.  A must share!


What If


Last night while I lay thinking here,
Some what ifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old what if song


What if I get a beagle?
What if I get attacked by a seagull?
What if cookies have been made?
What if my cousins are at the arcade?


What if I go to the zoo?
What if I see you there too?
What if I get a Christmas tree?
What if its not full of glee?


What if I fall on a brick?
What if I get a tick?
What if I get hit by a bus?
What if I meet a guy named Gus?


What if I lose all my hair?
What if I see a bear?
What if all these what ifs are true?
What if you have what ifs too?


Everything seems swell and then
The nightime what ifs strike again!

Canopic Jars

Jess recently had to make canopic jars for school.  Oh what fun!

Basically, Mike and I got to devote almost an entire weekend helping her make these.  We had fun doing it but weren't thrilled that she had such a time consuming school project.

I don't know that they are the most beautiful canopic jars ever, but she did get an A

Final result...stunning!