Another Tradition...

The Slide show below is from Sunday night! We had our Annual Gingerbread House decorating and Sound of Music Sing-a-long! This is definitely one of my fav traditions! We all decorate gingerbread houses while we watch "Sound of Music"! We don't just watch. We sing. At the top of our lungs. Even Micah. Everyone has their special parts they like to sing the best ( I of course love them all) Since Kimmy has joined the family though ( I can't believe she still did after witnessing this tradition) I must say I love when she sings "How do you solve a problem like Marissa", the song my mom used to sing to me when i was little! :) Everyone did a wonderful job on their houses...(I tried to post everyones, but the slider was getting mad at me) We usually vote on who's is the best but everyone got sick of me winning so they stopped that!! And we even got to celebrate Aunt Kathy's 29th b-day! We had a blast! I love my Family and that we still do all our crazy traditions! Thanks to my Mom who has brought so much fun and memories to our family!! :) Enjoy the show....

The GingerBread Challenge/Sound of Music sing-along!

*Christmas Boat Parade *

It's tradition to go to Balboa and watch the boat parade! It's so fun to see all the boats and gorgeous homes decorated! My mom always brings Hot Cocoa and donuts and we get all our warm cozy gear on and stroll down the boardwalk! It's one of those things that really gets you in the Holiday spirit!

My sweet little family! :)

Ceej and I didn't even plan this! She said it matches us perfect...because she has white hair (platinum blond, same thing) and I have brown! Aren't we just the cutest?

The two little Braithwaite men! Ben was not into picture taking at the moment:)

My kids really do love each other...most of the time!

Cashel and Tio Alfredo! She is so excited they are here for Christmas!

December Randomness!

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

O' Christmas Tree. O' Christmas Tree

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!!!

Kobe's two front teeth have been loose for FOREVER!He wouldn't let anyone touch them but he finally got sick of them because at Kimmy's bday party he let her try to pull it out! He was really brave and she really pulled and wiggled that thing!

Kimmy is a professional tooth puller so Kobe felt confident in her....you can tell by the look on his face! He would clap his hands if he couldn't take the pain anymore!

Well Kimmys fingers couldn't get it out, so Baca wanted to try his ole' dental floss trick....

Let's just say after a traumatizing few seconds that didn't work either....

After all that hoopla it finally came out the next night, after biting into dinner! He just needed mom to make him some hard-as-rock food as normal! (just kidding...I'm an excellent cook... ask anyone...hot pockets are hard to make...jeesh)

Now we need to just work on that other one....

"Goth guyths, whaths tho hilariouth?"

I taught him all the hot looks of course.

For those who are interested....

My Dear sweet darling daughter has decided to start her own blog! I think its mainly to have her collection of youtube clips in one convenient place....should be interesting...and hilarious. It is of course titled - www.avalondepp.blogspot.com...check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Attack of the Lorakeets!!

I know everyone has pics with Lorakeets but i just love them. They are so pretty and even though they are a little scary how they just attack sometimes I can't resist going in their lair...

Cute little love birds! awww...

Cashel is my brave one! She wanted them all over!

Baca was our wrangler...he kept catching them and putting them on the kids! He is a bird whisperer

"Why are you making me take this picture?...I can't take my eyes off these things for more than a second mom...."

I'm a wuss and have to use my sleeve. I fully admit it. But look at him. Totally trying to peck off my arm.

This bird totally flew down and attacked Papa!!! He was like "what the...!" and started swating at it with his hat! So hilarious!

Cashel with two!!! She rocks, not even scared. well, this picture looks like shes freaked out a little....ok, i forced her to put them on her...kidding :p

The day before Thanksgiving we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific with Mimi, Baca, Mima and Papa! there was hardly anyone there so we had a blast seeing everything without the crowds. We have an annual pass and the kids really enjoy it there. It's not as big as Sea World , no Shamu or dolphins, but it has great sea life and a lot of hands on exhibits.

Marissa, Avy, Mima and Kobe watching the seals and sea lions

Mom's really excited about those Seals....

Kobe petting the baby Hammerhead Shark!

The petting tank with rays and sharks!

ummm...scary.

The crew in front of this 3 story tank!

My future marine biologists!

This Sea Turtle was trying to kiss Kobe!

Da dum, da dum, da dum

My Little Red Rattlesnake!

6 Things About Me Avalon

Yo! this is Avalon and my mom tagged me so uhhh............... this is six things about me even though I have no clue what to put.

1. One thing about me is that I am in Jr. Guards. I have been in it for 2 years and this will be my 3rd. I don't want to be a lifeguard I just did it because my mom said I had to do it for 3 years.


2. Another thing about me is that I am in love with Johnny Depp like no other man in the w (except my family.) I always have dreams that we will get married but someone like my mom wakes me up when we are supposed to kiss. Curse you ending dreams.

3. My two worst sicknesses are pneumonia and something when I had cold sores galore in my mouth. When I had that thing I couldn't drink or eat juice. I know pure agony!


4. When my mom was pregnant with me she got in a car accident and she split her forehead open. I of course survived and thank goodness I mean what would everybody do without me. Everybody always say that I'm crazy because I hit my head on the steering wheel.



5.When I grow up I want to be a marine biologist. I did want to work with Shamu but since Shamu "played" with the trainer I think I will work with the dolphins instead. I also want to work at the Aquarium of the Pacific before Sea World.




6. Something I have always wished to happen is that scientist found a way for people to fly. Face it though they won't come out with that till 6043. I hope not.


Who I want to tag is Alfredo, Baca, Hannah and Beca.

6 things you never knew you wanted to know about me...

So, my ole' friend Lara invited me to her Blog. Little did I know it was an ambush to "tag" me with blogging 6 somethings about myself...anything. And then I have to tag 6 more, so beware fools...if you don't want to be tagged I advise not reading the rest of this. To those daring, you are in for a treat...



1. When I was 8 I fell off a swing set and cut my leg open, resulting in 20 stitches inside and out...and a nice check-mark scar. Talking about it hurts. Really. It's throbbing right now. I can even tell when someone is looking at it from across the room, which my evil sisters always love to do. Stop thinking about it... all of you!! Right now!



2. For those of you who don't know, next week I'm going back to school!!! I'm going to be an esthetician! I'm really excited and a little scared at the same time..but looking forward to a new adventure in my life! I guess making all my brothers and sisters let me pop their zits finally payed off!



3. One of my crazy little dreams/fantasy's is to be in a starring role on Broadway. Not just in the ensemble. THE star. Let me tell you why...First of all I heart my Ipod. It is the soundtrack to my life. I have a different theme song everyday. (It's usually "Baby-got-Back", but it changes sometimes.) And I sound A-Ma-Zing when I sing along with it. Well...until the earphones fall out and I can hear myself and then I'm like "Who's THAT singing!" Yikes. Second, I can dance like it's nobody's business. I mean, it means your good if your mom says "Marissa!" in that completely horrified tone, and you can make your kids laugh/be embarrassed at the same time, right? So I came to the conclusion - I was born to be on stage.


4. My Five crushes are:

Jack Sparrow - Yes I know he is a character. Yes I know he is a dirty pirate. But somehow he is so delicious at the same time.


Justin Timberlake - Something about this man makes me swoon. I loved him in N*Sync. I loved him when he sang "I can take
it from here" just to my heart. I fell even harder when he did
Saturday Night Live. I love him. He completes me.


Michael Vartan - Probably the most gorgeous man on this earth. He is who I would pick to play Edward (If he was a little younger..) I would definitely be his first kiss. And his last. And all the ones in-between.



Zac Efron - Ya, I know he's a youngn'. But every young boy needs a Cougar. I can be that. He can sing, that makes him hot. And when he winks at me....holy-moly.



Conan O'Brien - Ya, I said it. Conan O'Brien. Who wouldn't want to run their fingers through those luscious locks? I most certainly would.



5. I have a Sugar Glider as a pet. Her name is "Sugar"...I know, real creative. It was all Cashel. Anyways, she is the cutest thing you have ever seen. (If you don't know what they are look them up. I've already written like a novel here...) My favorite thing about her is letting her lick honey off my finger with her cute little tongue! Someday I hope to train her to cruise around the house.


6. I can fit 10 quarters in my Belly Button. Yep, 10. I know...It's a rare talent. Maybe someday, if you are real lucky you will get the pleasure of witnessing it. Though I usually only pull out that trick on special occasions like weddings and Bah mitzvahs. (I'll have you know that I could do this trick even before I had babies, so it's not just because I'm a fatty.)



Alright...so there are 6 interesting facts you may not have known about me. I now pass the pleasure onto Avalon, Kimmy, Cierra, Aunt Kathy and Valerie. 6 things guys...whatever you want to say!

PS - I was trying to get creative with the fonts and pics...I know it's jacked up. I tried.