Christmas Day

I know...I know...still behind...OH well!! Enjoy anyways....

This year Christmas Morning was so different...It was magical looking at it through the eyes of a two year old!! We each spoiled each other and Santa made sure to tell Alison that she was a good girl this year.

After we celebrated Christmas morning together, we quickly got dressed and headed over to Pops & May May's house. Boy do we love that they live so close now!! We ate a delicious breakfast and were showered with some great gifts!! Ali's loves the shoes "that Popies bought me"!

From there we headed to Aunty Michelle & Uncle Babe's house for Christmas with my Dad and sisters! We at some yummy appetizers and again got some awesome gifts!!

We paid a visit to Maxine & Dave's house in the later afternoon. It was so good to see some of Greg's family as our visits have grown to only a few. We participated in a BIG family gift exchange. Even though I didn't get to keep the scarf that I wanted, we still got some good gift certificates!!

We had a great Christmas thanks to all of you! We love our family and felt SOO loved with all the love, food, and presents we shared!!

And this my friend.... is my last entry for 2009!!

Christmas Eve

We started off Christmas Eve at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's house. We had a delicious breakfast and then we were all spoiled with some very special gifts!! Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for everything!

Lil' Miss Diva

She got a new tricycle...

Cousins...

After this celebration, we headed to church and then off to Grandma Nana & Aunty Sandy's house for some yummy TAMALES!! Greg was in heaven! Ali was spoiled there too..and we even got a "special visit" from a man in red!! and of course...he still wasn't jolly..even with his candy cane and Barney video!!

Any guesses who can impersonate the Jolly Ol' Man so well??

Baby Ella just chilling on Santa's lap

Thank you Alvarez Family for another great traditional night!

Cardona Christmas Disneyland Trip

This year due to lots of big events coming up (2 weddings, a house remodel, new trailer purchase, etc..) we decided to for go our annual trip to the mountains with my mom's side of the family. (BTW: We missed it terribly so we may have to do it next year before my withdrawls get the best of me!). Since a majority of us have annual passports to Disneyland, we decided to all go as a family! We were excited that get a good majority of the family there! (Missy, UT, Erik....no more excuses....come be with family!) ;)
It was a long day but well worth it!

Here's a little advertisement..if you need a good tour guide or camp director...My COUSIN KENNY is who you need!! He is great! Check out our fun filled day! Can't wait to do it again...and let's not wait a whole year!

Happy 27th Birthday to...

Some of Ali's World's Two Best Aunties!

**Don't worry she LOVES all her Aunties just alike!!**

He still isn't so Jolly

Alison has a hard time with characters. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the Easter bunny..you name it. However, there was one time that we ran into Alice in Wonderland, and boy did Ali love her!! She sat on her lap and everything. I figured that it was because she was real looking and not in a big scary costume. So this year it thought she would be ok..not great but ok with Santa. Besides..he is real...no mask..no big scary costume. Right?!?!..WRONG!! We went to Bass Pro Shop again because the picture is free...thank goodness I didn't have pay for this. We talked about Santa being our friend..and not needing to be scared. She told me she only wanted to stand by him not sit on his lap...which was fine by me. I tried to prepare her as much as possible. This girl was all smiles and filled with excitement until Santa was within 6 feet of her. Poor Santa....his feelings had to be hurt by the way she responded! Santa was so kind and gentle..and very clean too! He told me not to torture her...so he got up from the chair and wanted us to sit with her. He said he would just stand in the back...but get her to look away from him...NOPE she wasn't having that either!!

!

One day...she won't be scared. I haven't had a chance to scan in the official one from Bass Pro Shop but I figured I better get this post up before its too late!! She walks around looking at the picture and says "Baby Ehwa..big girl..no cry..Alsin Lu...baby..I cry..oh well!" Ayi that girl!!

Tree Trimming

This is year decorating our tree took on a whole new meaning! We had an extra handy helper!! Greg and I have never had soo much spending time trimming the tree. Alison and Daddy were so excited. They did most of the work while I captured the moments with the camera, which was just fine with me! Our tree has lots and LOTS of ornaments 3 feet and below! I was so surprised that she didn't lose interest. This girl trimmed the tree until EVERY ornament found its perfect place!

Putting Tinker Belle on top of the tree

Here's an example of her wonderful decorating...4 ornaments on the same branch...and you know what...I let her keep them there! That's where she wanted them so that's where they stayed!

Her and I decorated the trees dedicated to Gramma Cinny...She too enjoyed every moment! We talked about where Gramma Cinny was...how much she is loved by her Gramma in heaven...and how much we love her! It truly amazes me how this innocent little girl could truly love someone she has never met here on earth.

This year Greg decided to set up the Disney train around the bottom of the Christmas Tree...Oh let me tell you...that thing has gone around that track more time this past month than it has in all the years we have had it. It is her and Daddy's special thing to do when he gets home from work. Thank goodness I don't have to hear it all day long..only when Daddy is home! Check out their special time together...

Our house and tree has never had the special touch of a 2 year old's decorating specialities before...and we think it looks beautiful!

A Grandma Cindy Visit & Santa Barbara

Alright..alright..ALRIGHT! A 1000 apologies for not posting in like FOREVER. Don't lie...I know each of you wake up bright and early check to see what I have to say...NOT!! hehe..ok..I'll flatter myself and let me continue to believe that! So these posts help prove that some things are better later than never!!

We didn't get a chance to go visit Grandma Cindy on her anniversary death so Greg promised that we could stop by on our way out to Santa Barbara. I had wanted to sit awhile and have a picnic but it was WAY too cold, especially on the concrete. We used to have picnics at my grandmother's grave as far back as I can remember so I thought it would be neat to share that with Alison. This little girl constantly amazes us..she showed Daddy that she knew EXACTLY the path to Grandma Cindy. That made my heart happy!
Alison had a hard time because there was a wreath on my mom's headstone and she couldn't see the picture. So we temporarily moved it during our visit. Greg and I laughed because as soon as she saw the picture she turned to us and said.."Where's the Cramra?" I think she thinks she has to have her picture taken each time she is there..So Daddy went back to the car so we could capture a few shots.


We headed up to Santa Barbara for a few days before Christmas to spend time with Aunt Linda, Uncle Will, Grant, Mark, and Nikki. We love going and spending time up there! We watched the season finale of Survivor together as a family, visited the zoo, ate and ate some delicious food, and rode on a trolley ride throughout the city looking at Christmas Lights. It was so much fun!! Alison was spoiled with some gifts and lots and lots of extra love! Thanks Aunt Linda and Uncle Will for a great visit. We will be heading back up soon...real soon!

Some landscape around the zoo....

a waterfall at the zoo....

The trolley ride

Well here's a start to quite a few posts this weekend..enjoy!

Gingerbread House

One of Greg's most favorite memories as a young child was when he and his two brothers got to build a gingerbread house at his Aunt Linda and Uncle Will's house in Lake Tahoe. So this year he decided he wanted to build a house with Alison this year. May May came and helped us out. It was neat to see the three of them create a very yummy creation. The only problem they had was that Ali kept trying to eat the ingredients instead of helping! Oh well...it still turned out cute!! She was very proud of their creation!

Our final project...taking a picture of it....

Ut oh...look at what Swiper did...got caught in the act!

We can't wait to do it again next year!