Surprise!!

No, no. No announcements here. Some of you know, we go to Utah for a much needed snowboarding break during the week between Christmas and New Years. After all, who wants to be in Vegas for New Years Eve? Well, virtually everyone that doesn't live here. But this year we had a different plan. Much to the disappointment of the grandparents, there was no convincing us to come home for Christmas. However little did they know we were doing a little plotting of our own. After church and family festivities on Dec 23, we told Kelsey we were going to drive to California Christmas morning to surprise grandma and grandpa for Christmas. And since we did a countdown till Christmas paper chain, there was no lying to her. Sorry we had to lie to all the family so they wouldn't suspect anything and wouldn't leave us with all the leftovers either!! We told her Santa was making a special trip the day before Christmas because we would be getting up very early Christmas morning and be driving so he couldn't find us. She quickly agreed to getting her presents a day early and what 3 year old wouldn't? So we woke up Christmas Eve morning and had our Christmas and here's a few pictures of the things Santa brought.
Katelyn wanted nothing more than a baby she could call her own because Kelsey has a couple but they couldn't play with them together. I'm learning with two same-sex children in a row, you need to have two of everything. It's worse than having twins!! It's hard to tell, but she was smiling so big when she saw what was in the box.

And now the tears come when you just can't get all the wrapping and packaging off fast enough!!
She loves her baby. "Baby" was both Kelsey and Katelyn's real word (after mom, dad, dog, Kelsey of course.)

Kelsey got an ipod shuffle and was beside herself with excitement. No worries we didn't splurge. It was passed down from her cousin who was getting a nano for Christmas herself.

Katelyn got a "grow 'n' go" trike so she can ride with Kelsey.

Isn't her smile priceless?
The girls got to open their stockings first while I was making breakfast and of course the chocolate didn't disappoint. We left them in the family room while we opened the presents, but after every present Katelyn opened, (she couldn't be bothered with what Kelsey, mom or dad was opening), she ran back into the other room and snuck a piece of chocolate. She even got quite good because she took bites at first, until Dave caught on to what she was doing and he stole the rest of the piece of chocolate from her. But then she outsmarted him. He caught her in the act of stuffing a whole miniature in her mouth at once. And then ran away laughing!! Haha. It's hard to tell, but around her mouth is the remainder of the chocolate that she wouldn't wouldn't let him get near enough to wipe away.

Trying out the new wheels. It's a little big, but it's supposed to be 18-36 months. Perfect for spring and summer!!

Katelyn got a princess chair too and they are just two peas in pod. Or partners in crime as Dave likes to call them.

And the grandparents were shocked. We fooled the best of them and no one had any idea. We had a great time playing with cousins and the grandmas and grandpas. They all agreed it was best Christmas present. Sidebar: It is possible to make it home in 4 hours with kids (just leave at 6 am Christmas day with no bathroom breaks).