Speaking of Lagoon

My 3rd Eye - Day 14: Family Lagoon Day

My heart is made of this:

My Big Happy Family!

Home SWEET Home

In my opinion,

graham cracker/gingerbread houses are to Christmas

as carving pumpkins are to Halloween

and dying eggs are to Easter...

...except way more delicious!

Yum!

Happy Holidaying to you all!

That's What It's All About

I'm not referring to the Hokey Pokey.

Thanksgiving brought the marvelous flood of happiness and excitement for the holidays and I simply can't wait!

I can't wait for our annual Christmas Movie countdown. We watch a favorite Christmas movie every Sunday till Christmas, ending with "It's A Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve. I love that movie! Others favorites include: Muppet's Christmas Carol, Miracle On 34th Street (1994), The Santa Clause II, The Nativity, Scrooge, White Christmas, etc.

I can't wait for the semester to be over so I can just spend time with my family and drink in the warm and happy spirit of Christmas.

I can't wait for Christmas parties with family and friends.

White elephants, talent shows, Santa Clause, and laughter...lots and lots of laughter.

I can't wait for holiday shopping. I find it strangely addicting meandering through the crowded malls and stores in search of gifts for friends and family.

I can't wait for Christmas stories that Madre reads to us all bundled up in blankets by the fireplace. She's the best narrator ever.

I really can't wait to see this or these! Christmas would not be the same without them.

I can't wait for snow! Snow forts. Snow angels. Snowmen. Snowball fights. Sledding.

Amid the hustle and bustle of outrageous and fantastic traditions,

I can't wait to reflect on the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I went and saw this last night with Andy and it was amazing. I cried a little!

I just love this time of year and am so grateful for our loving Savior and his humble birth.

That's what Christmas is all about:

Happy Holidays to you!

Zing Zang Zoom!

Yes, that was the theme of this season's Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

It was catchy...for the first minute or so, then I was about ready for them to stop singing,

"DO NOT TRYYYYY...THIS AT HOOOOOME..."

over and over again! *shudder*

Other than the music however, the circus was spectabulous!

In fact, one might even say it's "The Greatest Show On Earth"!

They had the animals out beforehand so the kiddles could seem them up close.

Magnificently Fierce Tigers,

We saw two of them jumping at each other in their cages and growling ferociously through the bars! Those things got some serious teeth...eeesh!

Enormously Awesome Elephants,

and adorable Sadster

Elegant Zebras,

(What? I think they're pretty!)

Witto Mini Ponies,

Brilliant Show Horses

(not dumb ol' donkeys, Brian Regan anyone? Forward to 2:35/7:57)

Talented Dogs,

and other such animals.

But that was not the best part of the circus!

No, I dare say that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey could never conjure up anything comparable to what I loved most about the circus...

Can you guess what it is?

It's all of these adorable and hilarious children that make my world go 'round.

I affectionately refer to them as

my n&ns

because they melt my heart, not in my hand...something like that :)

Yes, I'm sure this was "not allowed" but we boosted them up so they could climb on the statues of John Stockton and Karl Malone in front of the Energy Solutions Arena.

I love this picture of Whittles holding John's hand

And Jaker hugging Karl's calf!

Love the shoes. The 80's are coming back!

Speaking of shoes :)

Then, it was time for the circus to begin. We collected our tickets from Dad and proceeded into the ESA. The guys at the door saw my massive camera and stopped me (oh no!),

Mr. Ticket-Taking, Dream-Breaking Man: "I'm sorry ma'am, the zoom of your camera is larger than 55mm, we're going to have to ask you to check it in."

Me: (forlorn) "What if I just don't zoom? I won't even take pictures of the circus, I just want to take pictures of my nieces and nephews."

Mr. TTDB Man: "I wish there was some handshake that we could do to guarentee that, but we just can't, I'm sorry."

Me: (in my head, mumbling as I walked to the check-in desk) "Stupid...rules...zoom too big...Mr...check it in...stupid..."

So, reluctantly, I proceeded to check in my camera.

They gave me a little ticket and taped the other half to my camera...

nay, to my child,

and placed it in a cabinet which they locked "safe and sound"...

[ and scene ]

That was super obnoxious!

But I determined to take lots of mental pictures of the kidlets:

"ooo-ing" wide-eyed at the tight rope walkers

and the mind-boggling, disappearing elephant,

"aaah-ing" at the two ladies they shot from canons across the arena

or the courageous "tiger-tamer" with a phony accent,

and laughing adoringly at the hurdle-jumping poodles

or the slipping, tripping, and flipping clowns!

The circus was absolutely magical and brilliantly entertaining,

but as Dad and I discussed in the car on the way there,

"The best part is being together as a family."

I love my n&ns! I love my whole wonderful family with my whole heart!

(Kim & Rogan's clan, Pete & Emily's clan and Heather & Joseph left before this picture was taken sadly.)

(The Paul & Jill clan were at Disneyland...lucky!)

Thank you Dad & Mom,not only for taking us to the circus, which was amazing,but also for having us, raising us, giving us opportunities to get together more oftenand for the greatest opportunity of all
to be together forever!

P.S. In case you were wondering, I got my camera back free of any scratches or nicks. Phew!