New Years Eve

Today was a great day and a perfectly kick-back way to end 2011. Everyone slept in after a late night wedding reception. We played with all our new toys for a few hours. John ran to the grocery store. I made a quick trip to The Home Depot. And we just enjoyed each others company.

This evening we went to the Keil's Housewarming Party and then stayed to ring in the New Year with them. It was perfect. Their new home is stunning. I'm so excited for them. This has been a really great year for their little family.

As the parents all sat around and visited the kids were watching movies and checking out Kyle & Drew's new Christmas toys.

And as midnight got closer the excitement began to build...

2011: A Look Back

This year has not gone as planned. As a matter of fact I think the only thing that we expected to happen and actually did was Jacob starting kindergarten. Everything else was a big surprise! Still being in California -- at my mom's house, John still working at Nielsen, still attending V1, and the biggest surprise and greatest blessing of all-- Alice.

Sometimes life takes you on a different path than you plan for. Sometimes there are things you need to learn and experiences you need to have that you weren't up for. That's how I feel about this past year.

We've been blessed far beyond our imaginations and yet things have not gone at all like we had hoped. It's still our plan to wind up somewhere else, but getting there has been quite the journey.

Here's hoping we've learned what we needed to and things start moving in the right direction! Whatever that 'right' direction is.

In 2011 we had a lot of fun.
January- brought new Primary classes: Jacob- CTR4 and Georgia- Moonbeams, trips to Disneyland and a weekend at Sea World, and snow in the valley for the first time in 20 years.

February- we celebrated Jacob's 5th birthday, had a week with Danielle here where we played and played and played, Naomi celebrated 9 months old, and we discovered I was pregnant... again.

March- we had a couple of trips to Disneyland: one included Papa & Grandma, a trip to Newport beach, and Georgia Ann turned 3.

April- took us to Atlanta for a week to see Ben, Lisa and the kids as well as experience the Atlanta Temple Open House, Jacob started t-ball with the White Sox, Naomi started walking and climbing.

May- Naomi had her first birthday, Jacob finished up Lunch Bunch and preschool, we announced we were expecting another baby sometime in late Fall, a trip to Toni's was made along with seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, John finished teaching early morning seminary, and we ventured to Laguna Hills to watch Heather run her half marathon and spend the afternoon at the beach for Memorial Day.

June- on my birthday we found out we were expecting another girl (probably), we took a big time trip to Disneyland--complete with staying at Paradise Pier hotel where we were upgraded to a suite with a park view, t-ball was in full swing every Saturday morning and came to end at the end of the month, and there were many trips to the pool and the beach.

July- we celebrated the Fourth with the Keil's & Wilde's just as we have the past few years, we went blueberry picking for the first time in the Santa Barbara hills, as well as spent time at the beach and the pool.

August- Jacob started kindergarten -- that brought a grinding halt to our full-time play, John celebrated another year, we bought a new car (new... 2007 GMC Yukon XL), and marked 30 weeks pregnant.

September- Georgie started preschool, Jacob lost his first tooth, we spent a few days at Disneyland with Dan, Megan, Hadley, & Alec as well as Papa & Grandma, and John & I celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss.

October- brought General Conference and Mel & Tom for their annual visit, Halloween & baby preparations, John went to Dallas for a couple of days, my due date came & went, and Halloween festivities kept us busy.

November- Naomi marked 18 months and started in the nursery at church, Alice Kay was born, we celebrated Thanksgiving and reflected on all we have to be thankful for, and we met with Jacob's teacher for our very first parent/teacher conference.

December- Alice continues to entertain us and bring more joy than we ever hoped, we planned for and celebrated Christmas with all its magic, Jacob won an award at school, and we're looking back at a year full of good times and lots of love.

It really has been a great year. We have so much to be grateful for. Our lives are blessed.

And we're looking forward to whatever it is 2012 will bring...

Happy New Year.
Love,
The Meldrum's
John, Kelsi, Jacob, Georgia, Naomi, & Alice

Visiting Friends

This afternoon we met up with some friends visiting from Arizona for the holidays. It's always fun to get together and catch up on life's adventures, reading it through their blog is one thing, but being together face-to-face is always more fun!

{moi & alice, carrie, heather, mandy}

I met Carrie and Darren when we were all in the Santa Clarita 2nd ward together... back before any of us were married. Darren had just gotten home from his mission and Carrie started investigating the church soon after. Neither John or I were very close with either of them, but once we were all married we were in the Mint Canyon ward together and got to know them better.

Carrie & Darren

The weekend John and I moved into the Mint Canyon ward was also the weekend Heather & Miles moved in. We all spent two years there before moving into the Valencia 1st ward about a month apart from each other.

Heather & Xander

In V1 we met Mandy & Brandon.

Mandy, Brandon & Michael

Eventually Carrie moved to Ohio and Mandy moved to Utah. They became 'friends' through blogging and eventually they both found themselves in Arizona where they are friends for real!

It was fun getting everyone together and knowing we all know each other and have stories to share.

While the women visited the kids all played.

{Naomi & Jack share a birthday and a birth weight... and apparently hair color. They were so cute together!}

After spending a few hours catching up it was time to come home and get ready for John's cousin's daughters wedding reception in Arcadia. The kids weren't all that excited to be heading out, in church clothes, on a Friday night at 7:30 but I'm so glad we went. Craig & Ronda were so fun to visit with and Breanna was a beautiful bride.

It was a late night, but we all had a good time in the end...

Beach Plans... Foiled

The weather here has been amazing the past few days, it's so nice and reminds me why I love Southern California -- with all its problems.

Heather and I decided today would be a great day to head to the beach for the afternoon. We got everyone ready and took off for Ventura and as we passed through Fillmore I noticed Heather made a quick left turn into the McDonald's parking lot. I pulled in the other entrance to find her & make sure everything was ok.

It wasn't. Poor Drew had thrown up.

I tried my best to help Heather clean it up because I'm a pro at cleaning up after sick kids in the car, but I just could not do it. I was starting to lose it myself and so Heather took over. She was struggling to hold it together as well. We must've been quite the sight: two woman repeatedly gagging over a cute little boy covered from head to toe in barf while 4 other kids looked on laughing at him because he wasn't wearing any clothes.

It was such a bummer.
Poor little guy.

I thought about continuing on with just my kids but quickly decided that me alone with four kids under the age of six at the beach probably wasn't the best idea. All it would take was someone needing to go potty and the trip would be over. At this phase in our lives I need another adult to venture to the beach. Someone who can either run potty trips or stay and watch kids while I do.

Instead we turned around and headed straight for In-N-Out for Neapolitan shakes and burgers and then came home and swam for hours in the spa. So, although our beach trip was foiled, we still had a great afternoon and enjoyed this perfect weather!

Christmas

Our morning started with stockings. The kids were so excited that Santa had come. Everything they opened was followed by, "oh, I love it! It's just what I wanted!" It was adorable.

Once stockings were opened and Pillow Pet's played with it was time to get ready for church.

{of course this is the picture the kids wanted!}

Church was really nice and helped me feel the true spirit of Christmas. Jacob sang with the Primary, Sister Halverson gave a beautiful talk, the ward choir sung, the Bishop spoke, and the spirit was there. It was beautiful.

Once we got home the kids were more than ready to see what Santa left them.

{gift from Jacob-- a cash register}



{we bought both Jake & Georgia scriptures and had their names printed on them, they loved them!}

{Papa & Grandma M. sent this adorable Hawaiian dress for Georgia. Na got one too, it's pink}

Opening gifts was magical. It was exactly how you dream it will be for your children. They were so excited about every gift they opened. Their faces were just what I hoped they'd be. I loved every minute of it. And we're pretty sure they did too!

The rest of the day was spent playing with every single toy/game/trinket they got. They went from one thing to another and back all afternoon.

At bed time Georgia started to cry because Christmas was over and wouldn't be back again for another year.

Hopefully next year will be just as magical for all of us!

Christmas Eve

We started the day making Grandma M's (& now Daddy's) famous sugar cookies.

Next we completed our Advent calanders and opened Christmas jammies before heading to Papa & Grandma Cheri's for Christmas Eve dinner.

Everyone was very excited about their new jammies!

{Jacob- Mario, Georgia- TinkerBell, Naomi- the Muppets, Alice- Santa loves me}

And then we were out the door for dinner and gifts with Papa & Grandma.

Cheri made a very tasty Italian dinner with homemade lasagna, spaghetti, salad, and rolls... and then dessert --- oh! dessert-- the best pies ever!

When it was time to open gifts the kids were very excited.

{Naomi, Bailey, Georgie, & Jacob}

Georgia was shocked when the biggest box under the tree had her name on it!
{so were we!!}



{Papa & Grandma with our sweet little babes on Christmas Eve.
Naomi's face is classic these days. That's her "cheese" face. So silly!}

Eventually it was time to say goodnight and we came home with four sleeping kids in the car. Before crashing into bed I took a couple pictures of what awaited us in the morning.

Merry Christmas to all...
and to all a good night!