Patriotic Football Fans

Tonight Britt was getting ready to watch football and the national anthem was starting. Nicole grabbed her sister's hand, put her hand on her heart and the two of them stood there through the entire song. Britt and I are pretty proud of our young Americans!

Snow Ice Cream!

It snowed again and, this time, school was cancelled. We took the girls sledding (I'll post pics/videos of this later) and, later in the day, made snow ice cream. This is the second time I've made it and will definitely keep this as a family tradition. The kids (and the adults) loved it!

This stuff melted like crazy! So we just kept adding more. : )

Davis Christmas

We had an eventful Christmas this year. Britt's poor dad had to have his third retina surgery just days before Christmas. So the family cancelled our Coarsegold Christmas and headed to Sacramento for an all too short but still wonderful early holiday together. Poor Papa had to keep his eye covered and his head down but he still managed to keep up with the commotion.

Allyson made sure to point out Papa's "owie."

The night before going to Sacramento the girls and I stayed with Uncle Daniel, Aunt Angela and "baby" Morgan. The girls had so much fun playing with their cousin. This is one of my favorite videos with Morgan laughing after playing "Rosy" (Ring around the Rosy).

The girls also cuddled on the air mattress together, making faces.

We had lots of food at Papa and Nana's thanks to Dusty and Angela! The chicken tortilla soup and Chile Verde were my favorites but the girls especially like Angela's dessert on a stick!

Of course, presents take center stage at any Davis Christmas and this was no exception. Papa, Nana and Aunties went overboard! The girls were so excited to get many favorites from their wish list.

Just watch Nicole's reaction when she opens this one!

Hugging her Easy Bake Oven.

Loving her scrapbook album!

Allyson was happy with just a bag!

Or a box.

But she also liked the presents!

Here Allyson says "Thank You Dusty!" So cute.

Thank you Aunt Dusty!

Another favorite gift of Allyson's was the baby doll swing. Well, we asked for a baby doll swing. But, of course, Nana and Papa went all out and got the complete set: a swing, high chair, stroller and accessories. She loves them and uses the stroller constantly.

Nicole was also excited about giving, too. She earned money through chores and went shopping at our local library with a list of names. A woman helped her shop and she walked out with two huge bags of completely wrapped gifts. Nana got a tape measure and Papa got a key chain.

Morgan got a tea set from us and, being the sweet and dainty girl she is, seemed to like it. 

Morgan in action.

Dusty was thrilled to get a newly embellished Christmas sweater...the one she gave me last year. I wish I would have taken a picture of the actual sweater. It is just gorgeous! : )

I got a horse whip from Britt. Seriously. But there is a good explanation. I've been telling him I'd like to learn how to ride English and jump horses. So I guess now I better get crackin'! You know, I could think of some other uses for this little gift.

Nicole thought Chase was so cool. She tried climbing the walls (literally) just like him!

We cannot believe how big Chase is getting!! Britt was happy to have some special time with him. Britt had about a week with his family before the girls and I flew out to join him. He and Chase went to the movies together and were able to just hang out.

Here Allyson is beginning to get a little tired and I tried to use bribery to get some of her cute Christmas spirit on video. She loves to watch herself on video and that usually works if I want to get her to say something.

Just as we were getting ready to leave I got to spend a little time with my beautiful mother-in-law. Saying goodbye to both of my in-laws was especially difficult with all that is happening in their lives. While we were talking Allyson decided to come in and "get some work done," providing just the right amount of comic relief.

The presents and food were wonderful but I think what we will take away from this Christmas was the joy of being together in spite of circumstances which could easily have kept us apart. Watching my father-in-law hold Allyson in his arms was Christmas for Britt and me. Get well, Larry. We love you.

Random Wandering Down Memory Lane

I've been itching to post but didn't get a chance while on vacation (doesn't make sense, I know). Now, since I think I've left my old one in California, I'm waiting on a new cord to download all of my pics from the camera. So, I decided to take a little trip down memory lane and post some older pictures.

Since we were just with family and my sister-in-law, Angela, got me started on this whole blogging thing, I thought I'd start with this picture of her holding Nicole at our home in Chowchilla. Nicole's wearing one of Angela's old baby outfits. Hard to believe Morgan and Allyson weren't even around yet!

Here's some favorites from Nicole's first trip to the pumpkin patch.

Baby's Got Back!

And her first Halloween. I bought the Dorothy costume in Vermont while I was still pregnant and Aunt Leona helped me alter it and make the wig. Britt and I spent way too much time putting red glitter glue on those little shoes!

My good friend Jadine and I would swap pregnancy stories while we were expecting. We started taking Lucas and Nicole to California Pizza Kitchen which has now become a favorite tradition.

Oh, the days when we only had a dog. This was when Britt and Marrie and I rode on Britt's motorcycle during the halftime homecoming game in Chowchilla.

Our first Easter as parents!

Grandma Ardell meeting Nicole. Wish she could still be here for all of the kids!

Another person I wish was still here: my sweet Uncle Duke. Fortunately he got to meet Allyson.

One of my favorite family trip pictures. Sedenko kids are thumb suckers!

Nicole becoming a sister must be an all-time favorite memory. I couldn't have hoped for her to be a better sister.

These are just a few random pictures I came across still sitting in folders on my computer. Waiting to be scrapbooked or at least printed. It's sad how these important memories can sometimes be set aside and forgotten. I think I may do some more posting on the past. Hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane as much I did.