The Jesse and Amy Fox Family: December 2009

Smoked Oysters 12/09

Every year Santa brings Jesse and Julia smoked oysters and kippered snacks in their stockings. I'm always amazed that such a cute little girl would eat something like this.

Not appetizing to me, but I'm glad they enjoy it!

Christmas Eve at our house 12/09

When we got home from the party on Foxhill, I asked Julia to take a picture of Jesse and me by the tree. Pretty good for an 8 year old!

I returned the favor and took a picture of her.

Annie with the plate of Santa cookies and the picture she drew of Santa in his sleigh.

We spent Christmas Eve at Jesse's parents house, "Foxhill" as we call it. They are great hosts! We had appetizers/desserts for dinner.

We had a grand time, singing carols, and put on the traditional talent show. The kids did a cute puppet show Nativity also.

Annie and Jessica doing ballet for their talent.

She loves "deh-up" (dress-up).

Jesse's sister Samatha, husband Michael and her family of NINE children sang and were accompanied by her daughter Priscilla on the violin. It was very nice.
(The two youngest boys were running in and out of the song.)

This is what John likes to do at Grandpa and Grandma's!! Street Fighter and Final Fantasy are his favorites!

The girls by the fire....no chestnuts.

Home Sweet Home 12/09

Annie's room.

This post is for my family who want to see where we're living.

This is the house we're renting. It's nice, the outside isn't my style, but I like the inside better. We had a little snow, enough to sled one day, but it's melted now.

This is a bedroom we use as a playroom.

Jessica is such a girl.

The master bath.

The master bedroom.

More pictures will come when I get organized!

Ho! Ho! Ho! 12/09

Hard to see Santa what with all the kids.

We crashed my Sister-in-laws ward breakfast for a chance to see this guy. :)

Jessica was serious, but not scared on Santa's lap. She says "nanta" and "ho, ho, ho". She was really fun this year with all the Christmas festivities.

Jessica after church 12/09

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of Jessica. She's so cute!

Thanksgiving 11/09

Apple-cranberry and pumpkin pie.

I always say Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal of the year. I was especially excited because we got invited to TWO dinners. One at 1pm and one at 5pm. Of course we said yes to both. I made pies, and other food to take to them only to wake up Thanksgiving morning with pink eye that my kids had had a couple of weeks earlier. I wanted to go, but that's some contagious stuff, so I stayed home and sent Jesse off with the kids to both. I got a lot of housecleaning done, and he brought me some leftovers, but I'm hoping next year I'm healthy.

Goodbye!! 11/09

Late at night the moment we were driving away with the truck and van full of kids, our neighbor Haven ran out of his house to hug us all goodbye. He was always ringing the bell hoping to play. The kids will miss him. He's a sweet boy.

Jessica 11/09

She gets crazy happy playing with cocoa.

Grandpa Harrington's house 11/09

We were able to visit my Grandpa Harrington in San Mateo. He's lived here since October of 1978.

Ghirardelli and Boudin 11/09

This is the Ghirardelli Chocolate restaurant. They have the BEST hot fudge sundaes! This is another childhood memory. My kids were happy as clams eating their huge bowls of ice cream.

Jessica at the Ghirardelli Square fountain.

They have some chocolate making machinery in operation there.

These bread sculptures are in the Boudin Bakery window. They make the best sourdough bread in the world! We brought home a big box of loaves to freeze and sadly they're already eaten. :(

San Franscico 11/09

I have many memories of visiting here as a child. It was great to take our children there so they can create some memories of their own.

My Mom's fiance Dave, my Mom Michelle, Alexis and Julia after a crab dinner on the Wharf.

John had to get a picture by this shop!!

Uncle Kelly likes pirates too!!

The Jelly Belly Factory 11/09

Since we had my brother Kelly with us, we had to stop here. It's between Sacramento and San Francisco. Kelly has always loved Jelly Belly's so it was a perfect thing to do together.

These are a couple of mosaics made completely with Jelly Belly's.

We had to wear these silly hats during the tour. The lady who took our picture should have come in closer, and I don't know how to crop on blogger.

Now that's sweet!!

Tutti Frutti?

The Wedding 11/09

The happy couple.

My mom and a Sue Bowen (Paul's wife). She is my Grandma GG's first cousin. Her father was Henry Stevens, my Great Grandpa Claude Stevens brother. (That's for me to remember.)