The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Ok...so I've been a LITTLE excited about this movie coming out.  The past few years at Comic Con, they have been talking and talking about it.  This year, we got to see an amazing panel and 16 minutes of footage. Then, on December 14th...it arrived!!  I bought tickets in November, the day they went on sale to the public for the midnight showing in San Marcos.  On Thursday, December 13th at 5:00 PM, I got in line with about 8 other die-hards for the 6+ hour wait in the cold & rain!  Woo Hoo!

 All of us in line were saving spots for our big groups that would be joining us later in the evening.  Here's our Hobbit-y group:

10 PM...2 hours to go!

 I'm so glad I got there so early, because when they finally let us in the theater, we got awesome seats!  We saw the movie in regular 2D at 24 fps.  It was AMAZING!  The movie was so beautiful to watch.  And the music was fantastic.  Everything about the movie was perfect!  Of course there were some changes from the book, but I believe they complimented the film.  I had a smile on my face and tears in my eyes the whole time!  And even though it was almost 3 hours long, I wanted it to go on...I couldn't believe it was over when it was.  Can't wait for the next installment next year!

So, of course, I had to go and see it again!!!  Last Saturday, Gavin and I went and saw it in 3D w/ the 48 fps.  My Mind was Blown!!!  It was even better!  It was so clear and so much easier to watch this way.  Now we are going to have to see it in IMAX!  But until then, we hit up Denny's the day after Christmas for their Hobbit themed menu....Just me and my boys!

What I had....so delicious!

 Gavin and I were the only ones who got items from the Hobbit menu, so we only got 2 packs of trading cards.  But the boys were happy!

We are such nerds!!!! Yay & so Happy!!!

2nd Annual DACP

Danny's Girl!

 Low-Key..

That's this year's theme for the Holidays!  I Love It!  We had a smaller group this year, but it was still so fun!  Tash & Dave were in town, and they are pretty much family, so I invited them to join us.  Mark & Tracy came and so did Jordan & Kerrisa and Nici & her kids.  We just hung out and talked while all the kids played.  I thought we might bust out some card games or Just Dance, but everyone just enjoyed visiting with each other.  It was really nice...

Greetings from the Playroom!

Yep...that's a hot dog topped with whipped cream...Yum!

 Happy DACP!  See you all again next year :-)!

11 years old

Tuesday was also CALI'S 11TH BIRTHDAY!  She broke the promise she made to Daddy when she was 5.  She told him she would never get older than 10!  Oh Well!  Once the gifts of Christmas were opened, we switched gears and threw up the birthday banner.  We started her day with her breakfast request-Cinnamon Rolls, Bacon, Watermelon and Oranges and Hot Chocolate.

I told her she had to wait for Nana & Papa to come over before she could open her presents.  She was a little bummed, but that changed when she opened her gift from Aunt Becky...

Then, after dinner it was PARTY TIME!  We started with presents...

DS Pets Game from Gavin

Board Game from Luke

Webkinz kitty from Brody

 Once Upon a Time book from Mommy and Daddy!

 Nana has made her a beautiful quilt (no picture) and got her lots of stuff for her American Girl Dolls:

Look at Scrac!

 Thanks Nana & Papa!!

 Then we turned off the lights, put 11 candles on her homemade chocolate silk pie w/ oreo crust...

 It's official!  My Angel is 11!

 Here's my happy girl...

 Happy Birthday Cali!  We Love You So Much!

Christmas Day!

 Daddy was the first one up (as usual)...followed closely by Brody around 6:15.  Then the kids slowly trickled in to our room and at about 7:00-we were ready!

 Everyone was so excited to see what Santa brought them!

 This year, the kids and I came up with a cute idea for daddy.  Each child thought of something they either take a lot from Daddy or have broken of his!  Each wrote a little clue note on the gift that he would read before opening the gift.  Gav's:  "because yours always become mine..."

Socks-

 Cali's-"because I really want some, so I got you some..."

Slippers-

 Brody's-"because I always take yours..."

GUM-

 Luke's-"because I broke your last one..."

tape measure-

 Then Cali had either made or bought gifts for everyone (w/ her moolah bucks at school).

Here's a surfer she made for daddy-

 She got Gavin a football-

 Brody got colored pencils and a crazy straw

 Luke got a notepad and pen

 She made me a ceramic frog!  She is the sweetest thing!  

Then it was my turn for gifts...

 Oh Yeah!

Here's our gifts from Gav & Shawn & their family...

"Patches McGnome" & Just Dance Disney

 Then Luke gave Brody a special present he made just for him...

 A wreath ornament with his picture in it!  He was so excited to give it to Brody!

 Then it was time for the big gift!  I put 6 little gift boxes around the house, each containing a puzzle piece.  They had to hunt down the pieces and put it together to find out what their gift would be...

 A 3 Day/ 2 Night Disneyland Vacation and Annual Passes!!!!

 They are so excited!!!! And Daddy is too!  For Reals!

 3 of Becky's kids had mine, so we skyped and the cousins opened their presents.  

Becky reading the book Cali made for Clover

 It was such a nice relaxing Christmas.  We spent the rest of the day enjoying our gifts and each other...

Building his first real skateboard

Club Penguin 3 month Membership

Lego Heaven

Programming the alarm clock

 Zac showed up in the afternoon and brought me my gifts-

 Sherlock Holmes DVD

 AND Washington Irving Storybook collection!!!  Thanks Scrac!  And we match!!!

 Look at our pretty Christmas Sunset-

 Cali wanted Roast Chicken for dinner.  So I went to the store and tried to find a whole chicken...but they were out.  So, I cheated and bought 5 of the already cooked rotisserie chickens.  I'm so glad I did, because I got to enjoy the day and not spend it all day cooking.  I did make a pie and the side dishes, but that was easy.  And I was so excited to use my Christmas plates and cups!

 Nana, Papa & Zac joined us for dinner.  It was such a nice, low-key day!  We are so blessed and were very grateful for this day we got to spend together celebrating the birth of our Savior. 

Merry Christmas!

To see all the pics...Click HERE.