and Christmas Day!

Oh yeah, this is the last of the catch up posts! Then I can start posting normal stuff...forget Valentines and St Patricks, I don't have any pictures anyways, so all that's left is the future, YEAH!

So, we came home on the early flight Christmas morning so we could make it in time for Christmas dinner back in Utah. This has worked out great the last 2 years, might become a family tradition to hit 2 states in one day!

The kids found all of this:

Stocking stuff, lipgloss, nail polish, candy, and of course oranges!

Oh LOOK! Keilani got her coveted MP3 player!

and Vivian got one too!

Tasha got a video camera she'd been wanting, where is it now, Tasha? Kids and their toys!

Kalel opening his toys!

Zane and his toys!

Vivian got bunches of earrings and jewelry too, love her expression! She's the fashion queen!

Tasha playing with the toys already! Oh the fun of Christmas day.

Ken

and me...

My globe I carried all the way back from Cali on the airplane....found it for $15 at Ross and wasn't going to take the chance the Ross in Utah would have them....they're the perfect colors for me, although Kalel noted there is no water, ha ha!

and the mess afterwards, guess who cleaned this one up, yeah, ME! The kids had all scattered to play with their toys!

Christmas Eve......

Of course you wanted to see Christmas pictures on the first day of Spring, right!

For Christmas Eve we went to Aunt Marie's house in Concord:

Natasha

Zane (adorable, I know!)

Kalel

Uncle Mikie

and baby:

The uncles being as normal as Applegates can be:

Ahhhh. new Mommy and Daddy:

The whole gang!

The kids all in bed...we're about to head to UTAH Christmas morning!


Thanks Marie, we love staying at your home, it's like a home away from home! Even though we crash it and fill it up to capacity!

While we were there...

Tasha turned 11! She always ends up with Birthdays in California! I've promised her since she didn't get a party I'd take her and a friend to NYC this year, lol!

The family went out to eat at the hotel restaurant, Getting presents:


Drawing on the kids paper placemats:

With her Aunt Marie, they look like mother and daughter!

The real mother (ME) and my baby Zane (who by the way turns 4 tomorrow!) I treat him like such a baby!

They brought her cake:


But we also HAD an ice cream cake up in the hotel room afterwards for everyone!

I loved catching this photo afterwards, you can tell where we're going from here, right? Teenage years and always worried about appearances!

Are you going to San Francisco?

Yes, we did, for Christmas....

View from the airplane:

at the airport:

waiting for our hotel shuttle

The reason we came...to see this little niece:


Kei at the window:

view from the window: (love palm trees)

Zane watching tv:

Kalel watching tv: (what else are vacations for but to relax, right?) I know I did my fair share of crossword puzzles when I forgot to pack a book!

Swimming at the pool!

Then we decided to go on a public transportation trip into the city, we're in the cable cars in this one, in which Zane ate some cashews and had an allergic reaction. I had to stop myself from jumping off and calling an ambulance, what IF he stopped breathing! But it ended up just being a puffy face and rash, and went away in an hour, but still....we'll watch him and nuts from now on!

Downtown Union Square, I loved this sign:

All the uncles and grandpa with Ken:

And oh, I love this picture, there's Zane. But do you see Kalel in the background? He's just so tired, we're in a food court waiting to get some food, and still have to take the MUNI back to the house, then onto the hotel. Long night, but FUN to experience city life in dowtown SFO at NIGHT!

and Thanksgiving...

My brother and his family came back to Utah for Thanksgiving, we had the typical feast but our family was so big now, we held it at Timpview in their Home Economics area with a kitchen and dining room 4 times the size of a normal home.

Here's the kids chowing down:




Playing outside on the playground:

White elephant game:


Trynig to get family pictures: