Christmas 2015

It was another wonderful holiday season, filled with all of our favorite traditions, including Light Night at the Ormsby's and a choir performance by Luke (he had an incredible solo)!!!

Mimi's house in Christmas Eve was especially fun, with Bumpa's music and a special visit from Santa Claus!

I had fun eating appetizers with my tiny hands:

On this night, Santa came to our neighborhood and Luke got a chance to say hi:

Luke also made this awesome yoda snowflake, thanks to instructions from his science teacher, Mrs. Doty:

And we went mistletoe hunting with Bumpa!!!

Christmas is a magical and fun time for the Family Altenberg!!!!

Cabo

Once again, nana and grandpa Hal treated us to an amazing adventure, this time in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. For seven heat-filled glorious days we ate sushi at the all-inclusive Bonito Rose. The best part for the kids is the time they get to spend with their cousins, swimming in the pool, playing at the beach, hanging out in the rooms looking at technology or playing spoons and other card games. We went banana boating, played ping pong and tennis, and walked to the movies to see Ant Man. We watched fire dancers at the Mexican fiesta and beat the piñata.

 Below, Luke, Kiki and nana engaged in some water ballet as a warm up to the daily water aerobics class.

Several nights, the "adults" went out, and we hung Chloe upside down at the Gighling Marlin. Salty and I also stumbled upon the Swing Bar on the beach. 

It was another awesome adventure!

End of the school year 2015

It's hard to believe that Nate is going to first grade and is now an accomplished reader. It's even harder to believe, though, that Luke is headed off to middle school. These are pictures of the kids with their Towers elementary friends on the last day of fifth grade! 

Nate and the incable Mrs. Miller.

Catalina

We were fortunate enough to spend Memorial Day 2015 in Catalina. Bumpa rented us a house on Eucalyptus, just a couple blocks from downtown, and we took Catalina express over for the weekend! We were blessed with beautiful weather and we seem to always miss the dinner crowds! Below, we posed after a fun round of miniature golf!Here, Luke and Mia enjoy dinner at the Lobster  Trap:

We took the tram over to Descanso Beach and ate lunch. The boys practices skimming rocks in the water and then we walked back into town for some ice cream. 

We took a golf cart up to the botAnic gardens and all around the island. Here, Nate and I cuddle on a tree branch that looks like a natural bench.

And here we are near Wrigley Mansion.

The highlight of the weekend was fishing off the pier. The kids caught about 15 fish alongside Bumpa and Salty. Theyearned to pull them in and how to safely throw them back. 

These are some golfers:

These are some more fishermen:

These are the hikers:

Fish!!!!

And there was a lot of this! We ended up really enjoying eating at fisherman's wharf, and then seeing an evening concert on the beach by an all girl 80s band

And this also happened! We took a glass bottom submarine to see the sea life in one of the protected coves

The highlight, of course, was the family bonding. The kids had a great time together and it was nice to be together as a family. This park was just a block from our rental

We are really looking forward to hopefully someday heading back to Catalina. It was a wonderful vacation!!!!

Red Rock spring break

This year we headed to Red Rock Casino Resort for spring break with our friends the Garriotts and the Ormsbys. We had a great time hiking in Red Rock Canyon, hanging out by the pool, and eating the days away!

Nate's Birthday

We celebrated this guy's 7th birthday with a football party at S House!!!! The men perfectly orchestrated a flag football game- and each payer had their own black shirt (donned by Natey, below).

Matthew and Aubrey enjoyed the game!

All the kids lived the competition

And breaking the posters, of course....

Cake and pizza were served!

And all the auntie's got to hang out.... Even though the football siren was too loud for sweet Mia!

And the ladies loved announcing in the booth! 

In all, the birthday boy had a great time!!!!