New Year's Day at JUNGLE BELLS--San Diego Zoo.

We returned to the San Diego Zoo for our second attempt to view JUNGLE BELLS. Typically, the Christmas lights have been at the Wild Animal Park, but they moved it this year to the Zoo.

The red panda was alert and active during this visit.

The otter posed for our pictures.

The male orangutan was entertaining the crowds.

It looks like he's wearing a hairy robe.

Everyone seemed to be having a fun time together.

There was a stunning sunset that evening. We wished we could have viewed it from the sky buckets, but the line was way too long.

They had a special ice sculpting show with a contest, music, and humor.

They used chainsaws, chisels, and shovels.

They also used a blow torch!

Joseph's Christmas hat.

Engery efficient LED Christmas tree.

Amara . . . as Rudolf-ina.

The kids participated in a fun interactive Christmas Caroling show. These are the props for "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Aleya took on the role of the fiercesome polar bear.

This little boy stole show as he took on the role of the polar bear's paw. He continuously repeated, "Claw, claw, claw" in a very intense way as he brought the paw to LIFE!

Aleya enjoyed riding the Zoo mini train with me at the end of the night.

New Year's Eve 2009/Happy New Years 2010

Still New Years Eve (the girls are already in bed).

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

This year's party poppers were AWESOME!
(please ignore the embarrassing mess on the floor)

The boys banged pans to wake the neighbors . . . and pretty much DESTROYED the pans. I forgot to tell them not to bang them together or on the ground . . . just hit them with the wooded spoons, duh!

After Christmas Family Fun 2009

Christian took the boys golfing during Christmas break.

Our family headed to the Zoo to see "Jungle Bells," but we unfortunately picked a day when it closed early . . . so we decided we'll have to return in a few days.

Dancing at the zoo.

We enjoyed the full moon tonight as we left the zoo.

Christmas Day 2009

We begin all our Christmas mornings by lining up behind the sheet. NO PEEKING or you lose a present!

Merry Christmas, family!

Joseph's stocking stuff and Santa gifts.

Orrin's stocking stuff and Santa gifts.

Amara's stocking stuff.

Amara received a High School Musical singing game for the PS2 from Santa.

Aleya's stocking stuff.

Aleya received new princess dresses from Santa.

Dad received a giftcard to Panda Express and fortune cookies, among his other stocking gifts.

Mom received a new purse from Santa (but no money in it :0(, sadly).

New feather pillows for the boys with new comforters for their beds.

Our family received a karaoke machine. YAY! Family Karaoke Night!

Joseph received his most highly desired Ipod Touch (but the catch was that he had to pay half the cost).
Orrin received a cell phone (for its entertainment, photo, video, and music properties). He cannot get cell service until he is 11 or 12 by showing responsibility.

Amara enjoyed making treats for the family with her cotton candy machine. It actually was a pretty positive and fun Christmas Day. Everyone seemed grateful for the gifts they received.

Christmas Eve 2009

Every Christmas Eve, our family acts out the nativity, as Christian reads from the bible. We also take turns filling the various roles in the story.

Mom and Dad were Mary and Joseph this year.

Aleya wanted to be the Angel this year.

Amara wanted to be a shepherd with Joseph.

Curtain rod shepherd stick.

Orrin represented one of the three wise men.

It never goes off terribly smoothly, but it is an important tradition to continue.

The Angel loved baby Jesus.

Christian helped the kids finish the gingerbread house. We always like to add in leftover Halloween candy.

This year we added a musical Christmas train set to our Christmas decor. The kids had a lot of fun with it.



The kids opened up their new pajamas, again. It is an unhappy tradition for some (he'd rather get something else). The boys just received pajama pants this year. AND NOW . . . OFF TO BED! Actually the boys didn't finally fall asleep until around close to 11:30PM (talking in their room). That meant that I was up wrapping, surprisingly with Christian's help this time, until around 3:30AM. Ugh. I need to wrap more things ahead of time in the future. I'm getting too old for this.