My beautiful family

Christmas with my in-laws

Christmas

Jesus' Birthday Party

On Saturday our church decided to have a birthday party for Jesus. We had about 25 kids total. The kids did crafts, listened to the story of the Candy Cane, decorated cookies, and spent the afternoon together. Ella had so much fun. I'm so glad we were able to be a part of the celebration.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!!

Snow in Elsinore

Yesterday it rained all day and by the evening the temperature had dropped to 30 degrees. So through the night it snowed!!! When I woke up this morning and looked out my mom's back door, this is what I saw. Just a little snow, but enough to cover some of the Ortegas. I thought I moved away from the snow???

Baby's first Christmas

Ella's first Christmas
Noah's first Christmas

Gingerbread House

This year we thought it would be fun for Ella to decorate a gingerbread house. Gabe and Ella spent about an hour putting all the candies on the house. I made the snowman that is in the front yard. It was so much fun for her that I think this will be one of our family traditions.

I turn 25!!!

My Mom's lasagna

Me and Noah with my cupcake

For my 25th birthday I asked my mom to make me lasagna and instead of a cake I wanted cupcakes. This was the first birthday I have been in California in four years. I spent the day with Gabe and the kids at the mall and then spent the evening with Grandma, Grandpa, Kathy and her kids, my mom, and my family. It was a great birthday. I'm so thankful for these past 25 years and can't wait to see what the next 25 hold for me.

Santa

Ella and Noah with Santa
Noah's first time with Santa

Yesterday we took the kids to go and see Santa. Ella was great she didn't cry, like many other kids we saw. She sat on his lap and told him she wanted Sleeping Beauty toys. Noah just sat and looked around.

Birthday with my in-laws

My beautiful kids
My delicious cake, yum!!

This Tuesday we in-laws threw me a birthday party. Gabe was in Texas doing training for his new job so me and kids went up to my in-laws for dinner and cake. My brother-in-law, Tino, was so sweet, he got me balloons, hats, and pink roses. My mother-in-law made green enchiladas and rice, my favorite dish that she makes. My mother-in-law also bakes me a yummy cake, chocolate with strawberries in the middle. Everything was so good!!!! Thanks to all of my extended family for a great night!!!

Something funny...

If you didn't already know Ella LOVES Sleeping Beauty. She watches the movies at least twice a day, more if I let her. She has a Sleeping Beauty book that she wants you to read her before naptime AND bedtime, that's twice a day. She also has this set of plastic figurines that include: Aurora, Prince, Maleificent, dragon, and the 3 fairies. Well today she grabbed her dragon and ran up to me and shoved the dragon in my face and said, "Evil dragon, rrrrrooooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrr!!!!" And of course being "scared", LOL I said, "Oh no!!!" Then she said, "It's ok, Mommy, I save you!" And she hugged me tight. I started laughing because she was still holding the dragon. She wanted to scare me and save me at the same time. As she gets older she is starting to say the funniest things.

Trimming the tree

Ruthie, Ella and I putting up ornaments
Ella loved helping with the tree
Daddy putting hooks on the ornaments

Ella topping our tree with an angel

Disneyland

Meeting a Princess

Two tickets to Disneyland: $140

Lunch for a family at Disneyland: $40

Meeting your favorite Princess: Priceless

Christmas photo shoot