So the month started off crazy and just got insane by Christmas. We hosted Chris's office party and the boys decided to dress up as "elves". As elves they came up with signs pointing out where the food is and they also came up with some party rules that they put on the front door: 1. Enjoy the party 2. Have fun 3. Don't be boring 4. Listen to the rules! I swear they came up with these jewels all on their own!
My party Elves
Ben the elf that ate all the shrimp
Food is this way ^
Chris and I in front of the tree...no it wasn't 20 ft tall this year...just 14 ft!
(check out January of last year to see the Clark W. Griswold tree from last Christmas)
Even with all the craziness of the season the boys were still working hard in their karate classes. Ben is now a proud Orange belt on his way to Red. And Jack is now a Green on his way to Purple (I think) next month....and April, the end of our contract is almost here...please, oh please let them stop in April!
Big Ben
Jack with Master Yoshi Joslin (I think)
Mid month the boys and I went out to Napa to join Nana and Papa on the wine train for a breakfast with Santa. The boys got caught in the headlights when Santa came around...when asked what they wanted for Christmas all the boys could come up with was Pokemon cards...Santa then suggested a Playstation 3...I could have killed him!
Thanks Santa for your great suggestions.
NanaPapa and the boys
Jack checking out the streets of Napa
In case you didn't hear the news...the Beeman family has two new additions...LAB PUPPIES! Santa called on Christmas eve to tell us he had left something out in the driveway (didn't want them to get too cold on the sled). We ran out there and found a yellow lab named Max for Jack and a black lab named Champ for Ben. They are TOOOOOOO cute, very smart and night and day different from one another. You might ask, why 2?? Well, why not? I don't think anyone has ever accused Chris or I of not ever going for it...I mean if one is good, two has got to be better!! Every boy needs his own dog growing up...or at least that is the story I keep telling myself to keep sane.
The boys love them and are surprisingly helpful....the only area no one wants to help...poop patrol...so somehow I got that job...the dry heaves are finally started to go away-ugh!
They are settling in just fine. We are crate training them and they are doing great at night, and they are slowly getting the hang of the whole housetraining thing. They are growing VERY fast...we think Max is going to be a BIG guy...I will keep you posted!
Reading the letter from Santa
Max and Jack
Max is a lot like Jack...bigger than his brother...mellow, likes to hang out...when something is new or different he waits for Champ to check it out
Ben and Champ
Champ is very curious about everything...doesn't like to sit still for too long and LOVES to bug his brother Max...a lot like his owner.
Look at that face!
All the boys
Ebony and Ivory
What do you want?
Later that night we had a little open house to see some friends and neighbors and visit with family. Ed and Evelyn (Chris's parents) were here for a few days and my parents popped in too to enjoy the excitement.
Evelyn, Cindy Jones and Ed
NanaPapa and Karen Neal
A bunch of partiers!
The Beeman and Neal kids
Snuggling down for a long winters nap
After Christmas and all the excitement of the puppies, Chris and I really needed to get away. So being the responsible pet/children owners that we are, we high tailed it out of town after the first of the year and went to Maui, Hawaii with NanaPapa in charge of all the fun.
Actually I need to clairfy...Chris won the trip from work...so we HAD to go...they practically forced us to go... but we made sure that my parents were ok with taking care of the puppies before we got them. They all did a GREAT job...although I think my parents were ready for a LONG vacation after we got home!
Self portrait...can you tell?
We went on a rainforest hike the first day and this picture is also responsible for my weight goals for the year...wow when did I get so dumpy?
These are the lovely shoes we got to wear in the water parts of the hike...they felt about as good at they look...but they "supposedly" keep you from slipping on the rock...I still managed (I guess that is why I have the nickname crash!)
A view from the hike. We also kayaked and golfed at Kapalua while we were there. Great trip all around.
Alrighty then, I think that sums it up for December, hope you weren't too bored. Just in case you were...here are some more pictures of the puppies...nobody ever gets bored of puppies! (look how much they have already grown in three weeks)
