Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 Santa dear came to visit us. We followed him on Norad to make sure we were fast asleep by the time he was heading our way. Note: Santa likes snickerdoodles.

 Pasadena In-Laws host a delicious and family filled Christmas Eve dinner. We always have a grand time eating yummy food and popping Christmas crackers.

 Many helpers this year made the evening go by so fast. The company great as was the nosh. Love being surrounded by the people you love!

 Christmas morning brought patient present opening (I don't have any rippers and tearers here). Stockings are free game as we wait for everyone to be up and ready. We breakfasted on french toast souflee´ and cinnabuns while opening gifts. We decided not to exchange gifts as adults this year but instead to focus on how much we enjoy the time of season and company of one another. I was surprised with treats from my Santas even still, what a lucky girl I am.

The Big Guy himself stopped by for a bit bearing ice cream sandwiches (you're the best SC) to take a few pictures. We then headed over to our LB Booth Family and visited for a bit before ending up the day with our Imbach Ohana in Ontario. Our tummies were SO full as were our hearts. We love this time of year. It was wonderful and could have only been better if our poor Jack Jack was feeling better. Thanks to blessings of the priesthood and lots of rest, he's on his way.
Here's wishing you and your family all the love, peace and joy of the season this Christmas and all year long. We're thankful for the love of our Savior and the opportunity to contribute goodness to the world.

Happy Birthday Dear JT

Introducing our hilarious and smart, precocious, clever, loving, kind and empathetic son has turned SIX years old! JT decided earlier this year that instead of having a party for his birthday, he wanted to spend the night at Disneyland. We spent two rainy days and one rainy night at the Grand Californian Hotel. Upon check in, JT was given balloons and an autographed picture from Woody and Buzz! We had a family room that had bunk beds and a trundle bed as well as a queen size bed. Our room looked out over Grizzly Mountain in California Adventure and the Monorail went by every now and then. We bundled up in jackets and ponchos and enjoyed time together wearing our "Celebrating" buttons.

 On Sunday morning after waking up, 6 years old in Disneyland, Maga, Breeze and Neilio met us at the StoryBook Cafe for a Character Birthday breakfast. After which we ventured in to the wet to meet Auntie Amber and GK in Disneyland. We hung in until about 3 o'clock at which point we were too soaked to continue. After a lunch at the Pacific Wharf (JT's favorite place to eat) huddled under a bread factory window hang, we finally threw in the towel. We had a wonderful time though and I think he'll always remember it.

 Before school let on on Friday, I sent goodies to JT's class and they celebrated his birthday (since he wouldn't be there on the actual day)! New crayons for everyone!

Monday night, for family night we had some of our close friends over for "Homemade Cards and Cupcakes". I got a giant cup cake silicone pan and so at the lilloman's request, we had mint chip cupcakes and watched Despicable Me.
We sure do love this boy and are so grateful for what he brings to our family. We LOVE you JT!

JT's IV

Poor J.T. has been fighting yucky viruses for weeks now. I took him in to the doctor to get a note for school and they said he was super dehydrated so they put him on an IV for a few hours. He was so incredibly brave and barely flinched when they drew blood from his hand and then had to insert the IV in his arms. He did breathing techniques on his own and was such a trooper. We spent a few hours watching Iron Man on my iPhone. He felt much better after getting the fluid treatments but has since been fighting another virus over the winter break. Here's hoping that my lilloguy feels much better soon!

Holly Jolly Parties

We celebrate the whole winter season long! We hosted a new and also a traditional party this year. For our new party...

 Our company, Rock Steady, had it's first Christmas Party at the Outback Steakhouse this year. We enjoyed dinner, stories, laughs and good times with some of the people we've worked with over this past year. We're so grateful to have talented, creative and dedicated people working with us and making us look good. Thank you Rock Steady crew... you're Rad.

Each year we host an Ornament Potluck party. This year, I'd decided to skip and keep things low key around the B's house. Maga was so disappointed that we made a plan to have the party but keep it very small and intimate... 60 guests and TONS of food later, we ended up having a grand time. Kiddos playing and decorating sugar cookies (prepared by the Lovely Mrs M), old kiddos mingling and munching, chatting and singing. Grown men and women stealing ornaments from poor children, well mostly just poor Abby. It ain't a good party unless somebody cries. Haha, just kidding. I ended up minus the beautiful geisha ornaments but with a lovely duck in a hunter's outfit to accompany the wonderful "chicken" ornament my hubs won at our first party ever. Lucky me. Good fun and good company, bring your ornament and something yummy next year for a good time... you'll see the chicken ornament i'm talking about, he hangs out near the star.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: the Eagles Silent Auction

Our Charter school hosted a Silent Auction/Spaghetti Dinner before school let out for the winter break. Monetary donations were collected from each class and then items to fill themed baskets were purchased. Room Parents put their classrooms themed items (our class was Lego based) in a basket and prettied them up, wrapped them in cellophane and listed and described the contents and set on display. The baskets were then posted on line and bid on for 4 days before the live silent auction began. We meant to only place a couple of bids and then leave for the evening so we went pretty early. The baskets were so amazing and our inner competitive nature came out. Mr B and myself ended up stalking our baskets the whole night. Needless to say, it came down to the 1 minute warning call but we won two of the baskets at the auction. 1 filled with AMAZING baby gear (a special treat for our wonderful friends the M's who are expecting lillofella number 2 in June) and the other an Italian themed basket... for $200 we got a $50 italian restaurant gift card, $250 in gift certificates to the Bellagio in Las Vegas, cook books, olive oils and balsalmic vinegars, pasta and bottles of italian soda! We felt like awesome winners and we supported the school too. While we boringly walked laps around the stage, Breeze and Neilio hung out with the lillo B's and did free crafts, listened to music and hung out with friends. We had a great time together kicking off the winter holiday!

Love Love Love Love her, Happy Birthday B!

Happy Birthday Breezer! Baby Sister and BFF Breezer Bean turned 22 and we CELEbrated! Maga of course decorated with streamers and balloons and signs all around her bedroom door. We breakfasted on Birthday Breakfast of pumpkin and custard pie. At our house, we'll stick a candle in anything and sing birthday songs! Our friend Neilio was visiting for the week and so they went shooting at the range with Mr B and the Imbachs, she has the bruise on her shoulder from the shottie. We had dinner at the Roy's in LA before being hosted as guests of our Amazing Magical Friends, Andrew and Maria at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. We saw some wonderful performances and Breeze was a part of all three shows! I'm so easily entertained and amazed and have zero interest in being skeptical so I'm a good audience at magic show. We spent some time listening to Invisible Irma who is the private victorian era castle's only current resident. She can play just about ANY song requested if you ask nicely. We heard Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Elton John's Rocket Man, Styx's Come Sail Away, a little Katy Perry, Bob Marley and even some Mele Kalikimaka! We had a great time celebrating such an incredible woman. She is bright and canny, kind and witty, sarcastically hilarious and bursting to the seams with love and talent. Happy Birthday Breezer, we love you as much as you think we do and more.

AGA Holiday Show 2010

AGA Holiday Show 2010Both Bugs enjoy gymnastics at the American Gymnastics Academy in Signal Hill.

Last weekend they both performed in the Holiday Show at AGA. JT's Mighty Tumblers group did a routine to "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and HeaBug's Mini Tumblers did a little obstacle course where she demonstrated back bends, forward rolls, backward rolls, jumping into hula hoops and over "french fries". They both did a great job and we had fun at a family date at Jamba Juice when they were all through!

They enjoy going to classes once a week and have felt really welcomed by the staff/coaches at AGA!

Winter Ball

Breeze was in charge of decorating for her YSA Lakewood First Ward Winter Ball. Thankfully, she knew a guy. haha. It was beautiful. I love that she has vision and I love that we have the capability of turning that to reality.

Older and Wiser... maybe just older.

The day before my birthday, my MIL treated JT and I to an afternoon at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens! After church he and I headed up by ourselves and met Gramma K then enjoyed strolling around the beautiful and sprawling grounds. At one point, I got "Lost" while they ventured to find a bathroom and standing in the center of the vast herb garden I enjoyed a few minutes of complete silence! Happy Birthday to me!

After it started to rain, we headed back to the car and waved goodbye to all the amazing Yellow trees that dot San Marino. As soon as we got home, I was treated to cards and gifts (including cowboy boots! and some great cookbooks, and charms for my BoothKids bracelet) and then we were off to a "surprise location" for dinner. Claim Jumper was definitely awesome with my parents, both my sisters and my little B and Imbach Fams. I was far too stuffed to order my own dessert so I "sampled" everyone elses. haha.

The next day brought lunch with my sister and girlfriend and so many messages on Facebook that a girl couldn't help but start to blush. I felt very celebrated and loved, it was overwhelming. Because my wonderful friend and fellow blogger Mrs. Frost had such a great idea of sharing those messages for her birthday, I'm following her example:  

Cynthia Dier: Hope you had a fabulous birthday surrounded by people who love you!!
 

Azineth Briones: Happy Birthday!!

• Jerrina Imbach: happy birthday krys. you are by far the most beautifully positive woman, wife, mother and friend i know. thank you for you influence.
   

  Robert Booth: Happy birthday babe I love you so much!!
   

  Nate Hicks:Happy Birthday, old-but-not-old friend! I hope it's wonderful : )
• Kryssie Booth:Feeling very loved, blessed and um, pretty... due to all the amazing wishes sent my way. Thank you for your sweet words, as an official grown woman I'd like to share just how... Super crazy cool and totally wicked awesome you've made me fee! Been blushing all day ♥ thanks guys! 

  Ulu N Mia Tui: happy birthday Kryssie! wishing you the best on your special day:) 

  Ronald Ah Kiong: Happy Birthday my Tree House buddy!! Those were the days...
  Helaman Taaga: Happy birfday crissie lol I totally forgot that u had da same birfday with my sister lol but anyways happy birfday ( :

  Crystalee Webb Beck

  hope your birthday's as wonderful as you are, Kryssie. You're beautiful. I'll never forget singing Aladdin songs with you when we were little girls. You were one of my first role models.

  Neil Riddoch

  Happy Birthday!

  Darien Naomi Kamae

  Happy Birthday:) I hope your birthday was nothing short of amazing : )

  Elizabeth Anderson

  happy birthday kryssie!!! miss you and the fam!! ♥

  Jada Crofts

  Happy birthday hottie! Hope you have so much fun!

  Cyndi Kelley

  Happy Birthday Pretty Lady♥

  Phatboi Aiono

  HAPPy BiRTHDAy BUDDy : )

  Leann Murphy Cuenca

  Happy Birthday Kryssie! I hope you are having a wonderful day!!

  Shaun Gabe Johnson

  Happy Birthday Cousin!

  Juliet Mckim

  HAPPY b-day to u...Enjoy ur day....

  Katie Booth

  Happy Birthday! : )

  Heather Gordon

  Happy Happy!!!

  Adriana Schlarb

  Happy Birthday darling ♥ You know we love you!!!!!

  Beau James Thompson

  yo happy bday! shoutout from utah : )

  Shirley Lowery

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY DEAR, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER

  Amber Scott

  Happy Birthday Beautiful Sister-in-Law! Hope you have a wonderful day!

  Jenna Cox

  Happy Birthday Mrs. "B"eautiful Lady! Enjoy your day w/ your blessings! Luvya!

  Greg Vogel

  Happy Birthday, you gorgeous thing!!

  Kainoa Brandow

  happy happy birthday from all of me to you! I wish it was my birthday so i could party too! hey hey :) may ur special day of so many throughout the year be a blessed one love you bunches!

  Christina Cable Martinez

  Feliz Cumpleaños, Frhlicher Geburtstag, Gratulerer med dagen, Manuia Lou aso fanau, Tanjobi omedeto, Saengilul ch'ukhamhamnida, and a VERY EXTREMELY, TERRIFIC, WONDERFUL, EXCEPTIONALLY Happy Birthday to you!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

  Jerome Taaga

  hakuna matata ;D

  Brianna Aiau Mabry

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a wonderful day, you deserve it! Love you! ♥

  Brina Kamae

  What day is today? It's Krys's birthday! What a day for a birthday... Let's all have some cake! And you smell like one too hahaaa!'

  Joanna Palagonia

  Happy Happy B day to you Lady!!!! Now go get spoiled!!!! ; )

  Andrew Malave

  Hope you have a Wonderful day...Happy Birthday terrific lady!!

  Samia Taylor

  Happy Birthday BEAUTIFUL LADY!!!!
  Hope you have an absolutely wonderful day! Know that you are loved by many many people. : )

  Heidi K. Brandow

  Happy Birthday Cousin! Hope this year is filled with all kinds of awesomeness. X's and O's!

  Chia Lehua Kamae

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRETTY LADY! Have a great day ... let them SPOIL YOU BIG TIME! May your have many many more!

  Rebekeh Kamae

  Happy Happy Birthday!!!! Hope it is a GRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT day!!!

  Liz Kamae

  I want to be the first to officially wish my girl a super, duper, terrifical, outstanding, incredible, wonderful birthday. Those are just a few of the hundreds of words to describe you! Happy Birthday, Kryssie Krys!

   Then of course... here was my icing on the cake!

  Thanks for the love

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

We're going on a tree hunt...

For the last few years, we've hunted for our tree at the Snowy Pines Christmas Tree lot. This year Heabug and JT enjoyed running up and down the aisles and hiding in the super tall trees. We sipped (very) hot chocolate, got candy canes from Santa, listened to live music and rode the train.

This is the stuff memories are made of. We always have a great time!

B's are AWESOME!!

We heart us some Yo Gabba Gabba in the B household. In June I found out there was going to be a "Party in My City" and I swooped up some tickets. I tried doing the V.I.P. passes where you actually got to meet Muno, DJ Lance and the gang because they were only about $10 more per ticket. You got to dress up and film your cool tricks. But those were long gone!

The day after Thanksgiving, while the crazies were out shopping, we embraced a different kind of crazy and sang and danced and partied with the Gabba Gang!

Perks of being neighbors with Mia Reed!

 We LOVE our MAGA!!

 The New York Kamaes

 Fam Bam

BABIES!

With her beautiful eye and camera in hand, Mia Reed of Mia Marisa Photography has once again blessed our lives and been an amazing friend. Thank you for sharing your talents with us and helping capture our memories on film. We LOVE YOU!!

Because I have been given much.

In my countdown to Thanksgiving post, I mentioned some of the things that we are grateful for.  The lyrics at the beginning of the post are from a song that Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sing in White Christmas (My FAVORITE holiday movie).

Our Thanksgiving was spent surrounded by family and friends. My wonderful Hubs, Mr B secretly flew my Brother, his wife, their baby and their very close friend out here to Long Beach from Buffalo, NY where they moved a year ago. Maga and Tutu made it out there to visit this past summer but aside from Facebook and cell phone pics, we hadn't seen them in SUCH a long time.

Needless to say, we were thrilled to have them here with us for 5 days! Here are some pictures of our fabulous Holiday!

 SO surprised to find Keola, Amanda, Anthony and Michael posed in the garage at midnight! Bad weather delayed their flight in Detroit so instead of a 6pm arrival, their plane didn't land until10ish. We had a heck of a time keeping up for seemingly no reason but were over the moon when that "no reason" turned out to be our wonderful family! THANK YOU HUBS!!

How cute are HeaBug and AnthonyMan? He's so tall, they're the same size and she's six months older! They had such fun together.

 Beautiful setting for a YUMMY dinner!

 My Thanksgiving Day team (some of them anyway, so not opposed to a kitchen FULL of helpers)! Stuffing in the Le Creuset, Beautiful 21 pound bird slathered in truffle butter, olive oil and herbs de provence, Gravy and Breezer's delicious last minute pumpkin pies!

Dinner for 30... including 6 mish who serenaded us with Because I Have Been Given Much, one of my faves! (Riddoch, JuiceBox, Reece, Klein, Serrano and Roberts)

B's at Rubble Mountain with Mia Marisa Photography

 Our AMAZING friend, neighbor, and photographer Mia Reed shot our fam in an abandoned lot on Signal Hill. These are some of my favorites! To see her faves as well as other moments in time that she captures check out her blog here!

 Hea Bug

 

JT

 

Mr and Mrs B

Counting our Blessings, one by one.

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

Following the example of my wonderful friend Mrs. Frost, I am using this blog to count down... up? hmm... the many wonderful things that our family is grateful for as we approach Thanksgiving. We work hard to live a life that we want and savor most seconds of the day. Often getting caught up in the daily grind, I will enjoy the time I spend each day asking my family what things they are most appreciative of...

November 1, 2010
I'm thankful for my family. All of them of course but especially my little Booth Ohana. Me, Mr. B, JT and HeaBug. Through the grace and wonder of God and his wonderful plan, my ETRNLFMLY is what I am first and foremost thankful for in all of this entire existence. -Mrs. B.

November 2, 2010

You. You're the thing I'm most thankful for. -Mr. B

 November 3, 2010
I'm thankful that you let me go to chess masters, and that you cook us dinner every night, and that we get to play on Thanksgiving. Not you guys, the children. We get to jump on the trampoline and stuff and eat pie. -JT

November 4, 2010
My awesome, funny, crazy (like make me want to pull my hair out) daughter, Ms HeaBug. She definitely keeps us on our toes. She's busy and smart. She's got an infectious laugh. She tells us she loves us out of the blue (both Booth Kids do) and she can do the Robot... need I say more?! -Mrs B

November 5, 2010
My Auntie Nini. She's a good Aunt and she teaches me how to pick up stuff with my toes and on Lego Batman, she does a level for me sometimes. I'm kind of missing her since she is here in Las Vegas. She's not going to live here right? -JT (from the Molina wedding in Las Vegas, NV)

November 6, 2010
Work. Busy is good. -Mr B

November 7, 2010
My sisters. I know that I've written, posted, blogged, status updated, and any other form that I often use of saying stuff I want to say, about how much I LOVE my sisters. They make my crazy moments feel a little more normal. Never awkward silences because we all have too much to say and if for whatever reason we are being quiet it's because there are some things you just don't have to say out loud. They are my best friends and partners in crime. They will go see Twilight movies with me at 11:30 at night, they will talk me off a ledge and be talked of ledges by me. Besides my guy, these are my it people. I love them and am so appreciative of their love. -Mrs B

November 8, 2010
To elaborate on the Hub's thankful for on 11/6... I am thankful for Rock Steady. I'm thankful that God has blessed us with such success that allows us to work full time for ourselves. I'm thankful that I believed in this dream (along with all the others but REALLY glad this one took off!) and for all the people in our life that are still believing right along with us. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be of service to others and to share the success and growth that we enjoy with other families. I REALLY miss being a full time stay at home mom but I know how lucky we are and when you work for yourself, you can never complain about too much work! -Mrs. B

November 9, 2010
My Grandparents. They taught me a lot about hard work. -Mr B

November 10, 2010
School and my friends at school, and my teacher Mrs. S. I love Mrs. S. I am thankful that I got a math award and that I had a lot of blue slips and got picked by Mr. A to get a pencil. I clean up a lot of stuff to get those blue slips. -JT

November 11, 2010
Technology! I lost my iPhone in Las Vegas and literally felt lost! Through my phone I'm able to keep track of everywhere that we're supposed to be for who and what time. I hardly know any telephone numbers by heart and receive all my personal and work emails on my phone! Thanks to craigslist and my hubs, I'm back with my iPhone and in full swing. I cannot imagine daily life, home or work or play, without access to the internet or phones. I'm almost ashamed at how dependent I am! Well not really, just glad to recognize it. I can talk to loved ones in other countries through video chatting and email. I can stay in contact with friends and family via facebook! I am SO grateful for technology!! -Mrs B

November 12, 2010
Did I say you already? I'm thankful for my wife. Enough to use up all my thankfulness days. -Mr B (side note... man I love this guy)

November 13, 2010
As busy and time stretched as I feel on most days, I'm really thankful for all of the opportunities and experiences that we are able to offer our kids. Gymnastics, jiujitsu, piano, chess, baseball, Spanish, charter school, art, culture, food... People might think we're a little crazy sometimes but it's all worth it for these kiddos. We just love them so much and want them to experience LIFE! -Mrs B


November 14, 2010
Prayer. That direct line of communication between you and the Lord. It's amazing. -Mrs B

November 15, 2010
Music, occasional Xbox, pumpkin pie and my cowboy boots. -Breezer

November 16, 2010
Pictures. They really say a thousand words. I have 30,000 on my computer alone. I'm taken back to very specific moments and memories when I look at some of them. They'll tell the story of my life, those before me and those after me. I love my pictures. -Mrs B

November 17, 2010
Mothers. Motherhood. The challenge and the reward. It is the best thing I've ever done. It's the best thing I've ever seen my mom do. My mom is the best mom and it's through her example that I am confident I can be a great mom to my kids. -Mrs. B

November 18, 2010
Music. We like it. Our kids like it. Makes us feel good. -Mr. B

November 19, 2010
The comforts that we are able to enjoy. We work very hard to live a life that we want. We work REALLY hard and feel blessed by the Lord with the work that has come our way. We are grateful for the ability to work and we are grateful for all the things it enables us to do.

November 20, 2010
Talents. We have been blessed with many talents and enjoy sharing nurturing them and sharing them with others. We know that our lives are blessed when others share their talents with us.

November 21, 2010
Friends. Good Friends are the best and we love them.

November 22, 2010
The thoughtfulness of my husband. He loves and adores us and puts so much thought into things for our family. He knew how much it would mean to everyone to see my brother and his family so he (and Brina helping) flew the NY Kamaes out for Thanksgiving! He's SUCH a good man!!

November 23, 2010
The kids in our life. They are full of life, joy, mischief, ideas, imagination, kindness... They make us happy and we love spending time with them.

November 24, 2010
The Plan of Salvation.

November 25, 2010
Food, Helping Hands, Loving Family, Friends and Neighbors. Warm Homes, Good Company, Smiles and Songs, Surprises, Patience, Kindness of others, Prescription Sunglasses and iPhones. lol

We have a LOT to be grateful for.