Holiday cheer .... starring you

Funny Tim 1
Funny Tim 2
Funny Pinedas
Funny Montejanos
Funny Arroyos
funny mom & Cathy
Check these out these performances.....and see which is the funniest!

Traditions...Traditions (you know the songs so sing along)

It begins with the normal marshmellow... and ends up a sticky nightmare....We call it CHRISTMAS SALAD...

This year was Abby's initiation. It came sooner than later in life. It was inevitable. We have handed down the ancient secrets of those that have gone before us. We tried to stall by seeing how many marshmellows would fit into our mouths, but that only made us sick. It did leave a few less marshmellows to cut up though.
This beautiful Christmas salad with it's marshmellows, walnuts, pineapples, whipped cream, and pineapple sauce has delighted crowds for years..... and the Powers' family dinners for as long as I can recall. When making it you can't cut corners. No, you have to cut the big marshmellows into small pieces, since Mom believes using small marshmellows sabatoges the whole recipe.

Abby and I were sticky for hours... okay actually Abby only got through 1 whole marshmellow before she ditched out and made me cut the entire 2 bottomless bag fulls... before we went on to the rest of the preparations.
It was really fun measuring, chopping, and watching her taste the new tradition we created on Thanksgiving morning.
Later that day we ended up at the Pineda home for the feast. Talk about THANKSeatalotoffoodGIVING! It was great. We also celebrated Kati's bday (it was her bday that day) and Joey's bday (earlier in the month). We had a blast and missed all of you that weren't there. Mandy, your sweet potatoes rocked!

Cathy, the big winner!!

Cathy scored some Disneyland tickets from a contest on KOST radio. She won 4 tickets to the 25th celebration of the station at D-land, and happily shared them. The crazy 4 some (Cathy, Mom, Robert & Abby) ran around the happiest place on earth from 9-1 am. They had a blast! Abby's been once to D-land, but not at night. I think her eyes were as big as grandma's as they check out the beautiful Christmas decorations. Grandma hadn't been there for many...many years. ....seeing D-land through Abby's eyes made even Robert enjoy it. Thanks Cathy for a great time!

Smith days...

• Halloween dress for Amelia & Sydneys 2 parties (on the same day)
• Amelia & her friends after the mummy wrap (toilet paper)... lots of fun
• Ian realized that when you clapp your hands while swinging on the swings, it's very important to remember to hold back on or your face meets the ground!
• We had a crazy hair & make-up day. Declan doesn't have to work on the attitude... it comes naturally!

Fun-a-plenty

We had a great Halloween season this year. We actually went to a farm for the pumpkins and apples. Abby loved the farm. She got to feed the animals and stomp around in the fields. She's definitely a cowgirl at heart.




You see Robert's been busy acquiring new skills.... I don't know if I should be worried....



Halloween was fun! Robert had to work, so I did my part and dressed like a crazy rocker for Abby's entertainmet. Lanie was the littlest fairy and Abby was a rah-rah cheerleader. We treated this year.... no tricks...except for our pumpkins. We painted them instead of cutting them since there's too many lights around the apartments to let the pumpkin really glow. Abby's pumpkin is the scary daddy longleg spider!!! ooooohhhh....creepy...