The 12 Days of Christmas

 It's CHRISTMASTIME!!

Which means a million and a half parties + gifts to buy + places to go + festive things to do + people to see + presents to wrap + cards to send + food to make + fun, exciting, and stressful days.

This year I decided to simplify big time.  

And I'm so glad.  

We cut out a few expectations, removed a few things from the list, and tried to enjoy the season.

So here are our best 12 Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, we went to the girl's choir concert where they both blew. our. minds.

Brooklyn even had a surprise solo on the finishing number that was pure magic.

On the second day of Christmas, we went to our final Anesthesia Christmas Party.  It's always a highlight of the year, and this time was extra special for us.  We'll miss this residency family so much.

On the third day of Christmas, the girls ditched school and went with Grandma to Disneyland.  Merry and bright, indeed.

 On the fourth day of Christmas, we went to a Hawaiian Christmas luau.

A. LO. HA.

On the fifth day of Christmas, we celebrated at our Smith family Christmas party with the annual Nativity Show, Mexican feast, and White Elephant exchange.

On the sixth day of Christmas we got a special visit from our favorite old neighbors, Rod and Tami.

They really are the sweetest.

On the seventh day of Christmas (and every day actually), we got to enjoy the antics of our sneaky little elf Zoey.

On the eighth day of Christmas, we got a visit from Chelsey and had a blast at High 5.

On the ninth day of Christmas, we all started barffing our brains out and stayed in the house the entire day.

 On the tenth day of Christmas, we had the girl's soccer team party at a bowling alley where we learned they got FIRST PLACE this season!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, we took it easy and rode bikes in the beautiful California winter.

On the twelveth day of Christmas (Christmas eve), we headed down to Huntington Beach for a walk down the pier.  It was so windy we almost blew right over.

 We stopped for shakes at Ruby's and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner with the great grandparents.

 Christmas morning was magical, as always.

We had a great time opening presents with family and spending the day with grandparents and loved ones.  The girls got bikes and we went on a couple of rides, Luke got a laptop, Bailey got some huge animals and about 7 baby dolls, and Cameron scored with his firetruck, Nurf guns, and remote control helicopter.  And I got a surprise vintage camera from Luke and the kids that I LoOoOoOoVe.

Merry Christmas!

Love, the Webb's

 This year's Christmas card was a last-minute-I-have-to-do-it-because-I-do-it-every-year-guilt-trip.

But I got it done and though it wasn't the cutest card of my life... guilt trip averted.

(P.S. The day of our family pictures (which we haven't taken in 3 years cause of.... BRACES), we were 15 minutes late, couldn't find the right spot, forgot to bring Luke's shoes, didn't realize my skirt had two extremely high slits till I got there, and Luke almost missed them completely.)

 

 

 Luke and Ashley

Luke recently landed his dream job in Idaho Falls & is excited to get “back home” in July.  He ran his 3rd marathon, was “Academic Resident of the Year”, & is looking forward to having time to golf (and sleep).  Ashley hopes to get back to doing some Interior Design in Idaho & swears this is the year she will finish her children’s books.

 

Brooklyn

Brooklyn was elected to her schools’ Student Council (as the proud Publicity Chair). She enjoys playing goalie on her soccer team & singing in her schools‘ Advanced Choir.  When she’s not helping in the kitchen, she’s busy being a great big sister and keeping us all entertained with her unmistakable laugh. 

Aubrey

Aubrey is our spunky little 9 year old firecracker.  She earned the title of “crash-test-dummy” on her soccer team this year .(Pass the bubble wrap please.) She excels at gymnastics (& someday we’ll figure out how to get her to stop flipping on the furniture.) She is a great little helper & a tender-hearted kid.

Cameron

Cameron began Transition Kindergarten this year and loves lunch + recess + “everything except the work”. (His words.) We discovered that soccer may not be the sport for him and are on the lookout for one that requires far less running.  (Send suggestions.) We love his quirky sense of humor & his playful nature.

Bailey

Bailey is our snuggly, hilarious, shy & determined little bear.  She has a knack for finding markers (hide the Sharpies) & candy (hide the sourpatch), and legitimately thinks she’s one of the big kids.  Her minions will do just about anything to see one of her handful of tricks (and she knows it!). We adore her.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Love,
The Webbs

Aubrey Nine Nine

 Aubrey was born nine years ago today.

Nine short years.

Aubrey was an angel baby.  She NEVER cried.  Like, never.  She slept through the night on her second day of life.  And every day after.  She was the easiest, go-with-the-flow kid of all time.

And she still is.

And here are the Nine Greatest Things about Aubrey.

 #1: She is Hyper.  When she gets in a certain mood, she is unstoppably, out-of-control, weak in the knees HYPER.  The term "bouncing off the walls" was invented about her, I'm fairly certain.

#2: She is Competitive.  Not in a slit-your-throat kind of way, but in an always-tries-her-best way.  She works harder than any nine year old kid I know to be her very best (and it pays off).

#3: She is Helpful.  She's learned so many skills and is always willing to help out around the house.  Some days she just follows me around and offers to do all my chores.  Those days are my favorite days.

#4: She is Generous.  A few days ago we lost our mail key and it was $56 to get it replaced.  She insisted on paying for it.  I obviously wouldn't hear of it, but what nine year old offers to pay for something like that?  Not sure if she needs money-management classes, or if she is really just the most giving kid ever.

#5: She is Mature.  A few weeks ago we were having some prayer time issues with Cameron and he was consistently getting in trouble during prayer.  (insert eye roll emoji here.)  I found out later that she had created a calendar and had worked out a secret system with him where she rewarded him for good prayers and made him loose his reward for bad ones.  If I die soon, I'm pretty sure she'd do a better job than me at raising my own children.

#6: She is Fun.  I love taking Aubrey places with me cause she is fun.  Fun to talk to.  Fun to listen to.  Fun to be with.

#7: She is Bright.  She has such an intellectual mind and is always thinking and saying the most inspired things.  She could be a philosopher someday.

#8: She is Spunky.  SP. UNK. EEEEEY.

#9: She is our little Aubrey and we totally adore her.