Merry Christmas from Truman, Amy, & Elle Weston!

Well. Here it is. Our first Christmas card! There have been many changes in the Weston Family in 2013!

We moved back to our hometown, “A Special Place to Live”, good ol’ Cameron Park, California.

It’s been fun living next to both families and sinking in some roots here. We bought our first house in January! It’s the perfect starter home but we are decidedly less-awesome after unfinishing and putting off most of our DIY home project aspirations with a toddler running around.

 

Speaking of running around…Elle is doing just that! Our sweet baby girl Elle Candy Weston sure knew how to turn our life upside down and then really pump up the jam. Our little 15-month old has a vivacious attitude toward life. She can say a myriad of words, gives big “huggies”, and can juggle. Well, not juggle –but that would be cool. Maybe next year.

I love my job of getting to be a Stay-At-Home Mommy! Elle keeps me on my toes, on the edge of my sanity at times –nothing a little retail therapy can’t fix ;), and she keeps me smiling. I also get to use my degree and other set of skills doing dental hygiene two days a month for a wonderful dental practice in El Dorado Hills. I am currently serving in the primary presidency in my church working with the kids and they are quite fun. I occasionally even squeeze in some crafting, blogging, sewing, or cake decorating when I get a chance!

Truman summited a 15,000 ft. peak covered in snow, which was a major accomplishment for him! I got exhausted just watching him pack for the trip. He sure loves adventure! After spending hours upon hours swimming, playing basketball, running, lifting weights, P90X, Triathlons – Truman has decided his new passion is mountain biking! Phew, I think this one’s here to stay. The biking shorts and spandex are still going to be an adjustment for me.  Truman loves working with his Dad and the one-on-one feel of doing personal taxes. He is also finding great joy in his calling at church working with the young men. 

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Love, Truman, Amy, & Elle Weston

Ride in the Pack Pack

Elle got a new pack pack (or should I say Mommy and Daddy got a new pack pack??) and LOVES it. She has been sick after sick it seems, poor little sicky wicky girl! A ride around in this was requested and appreciated. She's not smiling in the pics but she was in Heaven. Sometimes you have to do whatever you have to do to make a sick baby happy. 

Park Fun

My little sweetie Elle loves to go to Cameron Park Lake for walks and especially the playground! She loves to go on the swing and say "weee" as you push her, it brings the biggest smile to her face. Elle is very adventurous and has a go-getter personality. Before she goes down the slide, she'll say "un, too, wee". We sure love the simple joys she so appreciates. 

Disneyland & California Adventure Family Vacation!

Well the stars aligned and we were able to make a family vacation happen to Disneyland! Not everyone was able to come but my sister Rachel and her family, plus my brother and his wife (from Utah), my parents, plus Truman & I were able to make it down there for some good theme park fun!

Let me just say, it is a LONG LONG 7.5 drive to Southern California with a 14-month old. Haha. I know others have done much more but the furthest I've ever done with Elle is 2.5 hours so this was pushing it! haha. We took a couple of breaks and this rest stop was sent straight from Heaven --there's even light shining down from Heaven to prove it. 

Elle practiced her walking skills and happily tip-toed around the playground

She LOVES slides and swings right now!

After the eternal drive, we checked into our Best Western Hotel. Ell was just happy to be out of the car seat! We then met up with my parents at Red Robin for dinner. Elle was a little thrashed afterward. 

Selfie by Elle. 

The fun started before we even got to the park because Allison (Marshall's wife) decided to be super awesome and throw a darling birthday breakfast for Aurora --Disney themed of course! She had cute placemats, blowers, gift bags, she made Disney cookies, signs, there were bangles, rattles, whirly pops, and so much more! Aurora was one happy girl! 

Allison pre-bought a wig and accessories to do Aurora up like the princess of her choice for her birthday present. Aurora chose Merida from Brave and she was adorable! 

Elle and River wearing the Minnie Mouse outfits Allison got them for their birthdays and also a Minnie headband/bow she had waiting for us there at breakfast.

Time to go to the park!

Classic park entrance pic

The first stop was at City Hall where Aurora got her birthday badge. The Disneyland workers were all so sweet to her and kept telling her "Happy Birthday!" and "Hello Merida!" as she passed. 

All growing up my family would visit Disneyland during the summer months, but I've had a new treat the last couple times I've come. When Truman & I went 3 years ago during September, it was decorated for Halloween! This time in November it is decorated as "Holidays" and cute Christmasy things everywhere!

The whole gang heading toward Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Merida and Merida

Elle attractively picking her nose

My sister Rachel, her husband Dave, and their younger daughter River

Aurora, Mom, and my brother Marshall

Waiting to go on the jungle safari ride

Tarzan's Tree --Why is it so hard to get this baby to look at the camera? Haha. 

We had park hopper passes so Truman & I headed over to CA Adventure for a bit with Marshall & Allison while the rest of the fam took a break. They watched Elle for us while we went on Tower of Terror (Truman's favorite ride).

This was probably one of Elle's favorite parts crawling around at the CA Adventure Wilderness Explorer Camp. 

Elle trying to navigate the park...

And licking a pole...

And being cute...

And crazy!

Marshall & Allison also watched Elle for us while we went on Soarin' Over California --probably my favorite ride!

Pretty Christmas Tree at CA Adventure

We all met back up at Disneyland that evening and my parents treated us all to a pizza place in the park.

Marshall, Allison, Me, Truman, Elle, Mom, Dad, Dave, Rachel, Aurora, and River chillin' in the front.

Tea Cups Luminarees

We went on The Matterhorn while my parents watched Elle, then while everyone else went home for the night we went to go check out the Cars Land at CA Adventure. 

Radiator Springs looked just like movie, they did a fantastic job!

Later we went back to Disneyland to get some ice cream and catch the Holiday Fireworks and fake snow for the show. Elle was so done at this point she would only let me hold her and I carried her in the Bjourn. She fought sleep so bad and wouldn't go while in her stroller or Bjourn and then at 10pm on our way back to the hotel from the fireworks, she finally passes out in the Bjourn. 

Tired baby! Elle usually goes to bed at about 7:30pm so this was quite the stretch for her!

DAY 2

Elle was a little cranky waking up on Day 2! She actually slept in pretty well though, we all got ready, and headed to breakfast at our hotel. 

First item of business was to go on "It's A Small World"

then Teacups...

We headed over to CA Adventure for lunch and Elle luckily conked out in her stroller for a half hour. We took turns going on the Screamin' California roller coaster and then headed over to the big ferris wheel.

Huggies for Daddy's head

Watching the roller coaster and fingers in Daddy's ear. Haha. 

She sure loves her Dada

Ferris Wheel/Gondola

Mader!

A Bug's Life catepillar ride --it was short but super cute. There were yummy fruity smells when you went through the watermelon and juice that squirt out at you and cookie baking smells when we went through the animal crackers box. You've got love the attention to detail that Disneyland does!

We then took a break at the hotel --Elle fussed it out for a nap, we rested, and then for dinner we drove to Cafe Rio! Our favorite restaurant in the whole world! We had a long overdue pork salad and burrito and it was worth the drive!

We came back in the evening and took Elle on the carousel. She started out on her own like you see here then ended up in Daddy's arm holding him tight. 

Disneyland even redecorated "It's A Small World" like a gingerbread house and redecorated the inside with Holiday decorations for all the different countries. Instead of the typical "It's A Small World" playing, it was "Jingle Bells" in all the different languages as you passed. Very cute! It was Elle's favorite ride actually so we did it twice!

This was actually the only ride she wasn't scared --this and the Tiki Room. She never cried or made a peep on all the rides but she would hurriedly turn around and squeeze and snessle into your neck. We could only guess this meant she was scared/nervous. But this ride she watched curiously the whole time and would talk as she pointed to things.

Please take me home... zoner!

Truman is going to be in a world of hurt if he keeps that up! haha. 

On the drive back from Disneyland we stopped in Clovis to visit Truman's brother Joe, his wife Tracy, and their 3 kids. The next morning when Penny saw what jammies Elle was wearing she ran to her closet and changed into matching ones! So cute! I think they definitely look like cousins or even sisters! This is the best picture we could get but they were adorable and hammin' up together!

I can't believe we didn't get any more pictures together but we had a great time with them all! Tracy made us a yummy home made pizza, croissants, and cinnamon rolls! Then whole wheat pancakes from scratch the next morning. Wow! We got to catch up and spend time with the kids and we were grateful to be able to stay with them.

We took another break on the way back and stopped at Toys 'R' Us and Elle was pretty much in Heaven. In fact, we joked she probably liked it better than Disneyland! Ha! Oh well! 

It was a great vacation with family, fun rides, and was great to be in the fun family holiday atmosphere of Disneyland!