Santa . . .

Lex finally had a Saturday off. I can't remember the last time he was able to be home on a Saturday. We asked the girls what they wanted to do . . . Desea said, " I want to go see Santa!" I was so excited! Usually kids are scared of Santa, but not my girl. We went to Grossmont Center to see Santa. We waited in line for about ten minutes, and the whole time Desea was talking about seeing, talking, and being with Santa. Finally it was the girls turn to sit on Santa's lap and take a picture. Well, apparently waiting in line and seeing Santa was enough because Desea waved to Santa and said bye bye. Hence no picture for this posting! We stood in line for 10 minutes and that was enough. I guess when she said "I want to SEE Santa!" that is really what she meant:)

Thanksgiving . . .

We went to Gordon's Well for Thanksgiving! My Dad is a hard core desert rat. Every year he spends certain weekends and holidays at the desert no matter what. This year Lex came up with the idea that we should join him. It turned out to be a little family getaway, minus Brad and Ashley. My parents took Desea with them on Wednesday, which gave me a little bit of a break, thanks Mom & Dad. Lex, Jazzy, and I went up Thanksgiving morning. We grubbed on some good food while we were there and enjoyed watching the little ones play morning, day, and night. They loved it so much that we stayed an extra night. Desea loved our house (the tent) that we slept in. Our girls couldn't get enough of the sand and Papa's dune buggy. They both cried when it was time to leave. It doesn't get much better than good food, great company, and making memories.

Papa and Nama with the kids

Jazzy loved just sitting on the desert toys

Desea tried on all the helmets and other desert accessories.

What do you think?

We have a name for our baby girl. I'm am so excited that I found one this early. This is my least favorite part of having a baby. Lex and I pray for months and ponder and pray some more. However, Lex left it all up to me this time. The only problem is ... Lex HATES the name I picked out! I am SET on the name and refuse to change it. I have prayed about it and actually changed one of the middle names because I didn't feel it was right for her to have the one I orginally chose. I think that it is beautiful and he thinks that it sounds OLD and doesn't FLOW!

Ciela 'Elele Hope Olayan

Pronunciation: See-ella (Ciela) Uh-lay-lay ('Elele)

In Spanish, Cielo means HEAVEN. Because I changed the "O" to an "A" it no longer means heaven, but it does in my mind. 'Elele means MESSENGER in Hawaiian. So my translation of her name means heaven(ly) messenger of hope. I LOVE it! Lex didn't help me find it and hasn't come up with something else, so this is it as far as I am concerned. Just curious as to what you think :)

Veteran's Day

Both of my parents had work off for Veteran's Day. The fam decided to head up to Julian for lunch, pie, goodies, and quality time.

Our little HAM!

Crazy face!

Jazzy and Nama

Reef and Taije
STUDS!

Mommy keeping Jazzy from running into the street

My Dad doing what he does best ... Papa! The kids LOVE him!

More Halloween ...

We started the weekend off celebrating Josh's 28th Birthday! It was fun to dress up and hang out with friends and family.

Ballerina, Tinkerbell, Daddy, and Ladybug

Trick or Treating in the Collins' neighborhood

Jazzy was happy running on the sidewalk and knocking on the doors, she didn't care much about the candy.

Desea was feeling under the weather, but she still had it in her to grab hand fulls of candy!

Late as usual ...

Another one of our FHE Halloween Festivities included pumpkin carving and caramel apples. The girls loved it!

Desea didn't mind getting her hands slimy from the pumpkin seeds

Jazzy, on the other hand, couldn't stand the feeling :)

Our finished product

Our apples half way done

The finished product covered in caramel, white chocolate, and butterfinger or heath bar.
YUMMY!

FHE

For FHE this week, a bunch of us went to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins to carve next week. The girls loved finding their own pumpkins, feeding the goats, and going on the rides. It was a great family outing!

The three little pigs

Jazzy, Reef, and Desea
(Desea wouldn't smile in any of these pics because her mouth was full of cookies that her Auntie Ashley bought her)

Our Jazzy Fe

Our Desea

Papa and the girls

Feeding the goats