30 Day Challenge - Dana Point

Since I have been depriving my blog I decided it would be good for me to do another 30 challenge. Not only have I not been posting as often, when I do post I noticed I hardly write anything compared to how I use to write. So hopefully I can handle this challenge and it will get me into writing on my blog again. My challenge is just going to be a picture a day. 

DAY 1

Day 1 is actually a "real" post because we went to the tide pools in Dana Point today. I suggest if you haven't gone to go. It is so beautiful and the kids loved it!

Craig showing James the muscles. I had never seen so many in my life!

There wasn't a lot of creatures to see but there were a lot of sea stars.

Jake touching one.

James touching a sea anemone. I was surprised that James had no problem touching them. And Jake didn't want to touch them!

The tide pools were right below these cliffs.

The boys <3 p="p">

Walking around

Having so much fun!

Looking for rocks.

Gorgeous

 It reminded me so much of Mexico that it made me sad. I miss Mexico so much and it makes me really sad to see how much fun the boys had today in the tide pools and how they don't even know what it is like at the house in Mexico.

I could have sat on these rocks till the sun went down!

 We all had fun today and we will definitely be doing that again! I can't wait!

New Years Eve

Once again for New Years Eve we were safe and sound spending it at home with the boys!

My girlfriend Courtney and her husband Ryan came over after dinner to hang out. 

Jake all ready in his gear!

James in his!

We were so glad that CNN showed the ball drop at East Coast time so we all could ring in the New Year! James did all the poppers.

 Jake wanted nothing to do with it. He hid behind Craig's leg! The older he gets the more scared he is getting of things! James was glad he got to pop all of them!

 Jake fell asleep at 10:00 on the couch and James stayed up until 1:00!! We couldn't believe WE were up that late!

 Good-bye to 2012 and Hello to 2013!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Toys :)

James got a huge lego type set where you can make a skyscraper. It turned into Craig doing the whole thing by himself! He enjoyed it though!

 The new craze is a skateboard that is called a Pennyboard. Brianna got one for Christmas. It soon became a toy for everyone! 

 We were shocked that James was interested in trying to ride it! He has never been interested in riding a skateboard and he is usually timid about new things. 

 He did so well we were shocked!!

 Painting with new Angry Bird books

Loving our new toys!

Christmas Day!!

Christmas morning was so much fun this year! It gets better and better every year as the boys get older!

We were glad the boys didn't wake up at the crack of dawn, like they usually do at Christmas. James woke up about 7 and we had to wake Jake up. This is Jake finally waking up!

 Looking at all their toys! James noticed Santa didn't wrap the gifts this year!

 Ready for stockings!

 Brianna got a giraffe in her stocking! Silly Santa!

 Ricky got a new toy that he chewed up that day. :(

 Putting toys together

 Nerd Rope. Yum!

I have always thought it would be fun to have footsie pajamas. Craig bought me these!! LOL! 

 After Santa presents at our house and breakfast made by Craig and I we went to Chris and JP's house for Christmas.

Brianna opening her stocking.

 Mitchell & Jake

Amy came home from Afghanistan that day! She brought home a burka and everyone had to try it on! That is Craig under there!

 Then we ended our day with dinner at my Mom's with the Giuseffi's.

Jordyn & Brianna

Opening gifts!

 All the kids did lots of coloring

 Craig and DJ playing with the kids toys. They were these things that you fling up into the air and light up and they went outside with all the kids to show them, but didn't let any of the kids try it! #absorbedintheirownfun

 Later the kids all went in to watch Elf on the Shelf!

 Group picture!

 We had such a wonderful Christmas with our family!! So blessed!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at my Mom's house celebrated with the Stull side of the family.

This year we heard that Roni had already gone shopping for the boys and then my Brother Jimmy was at Toys R Us getting something else and came across a great present for the boys! So I was a little nervous knowing my Brother's tactics at gift giving. And they wanted them to open them first! Oh-No!

 But I was presently surprised that is was nothing that made obnoxious noises or took up a ridiculous amount of space!

It was huge dinosaurs! Jake loves dinosaurs and both boys loved them!

 James got a metal detector! He was pretty excited. 

 Jake got a remote control Finn.

 About a week or so before Christmas I asked Jake what he wanted for Christmas, he told me a rocket. It was the first time he had said this, so I was shocked. He was so happy when he got this rocket ship.

 The girls made out this year with jewelry. Bracelets to be specific!

 Happy, tired boy!

 After lunch James was glued to his legos. He must have done them for hours until we went to church! 

All ready for church. Brianna went to an earlier mass and so I forgot to take a family picture!! So sad!

Someone fell asleep on the way to church and slept half of mass. (thank goodness)

When we were ready for bed James and Jake put out cookies and milk for Santa. James wanted to put them right on the mantle so Santa wouldn't miss them. He also wrote his name to let him know they were from him and drew an arrow in case he saw the sign and didn't see the cookies! Then he wrote another note and left it on the coffee table saying, close the door. Just to make sure he closed the door on his way out. I guess he assumed he comes down the chimney but goes out the door!

 Here was another note James made at school and he hung it on the fireplace!

Looks like Santa came!!!