Monterey Bay Aquarium...with Cuz Jonah

Shortly after Christmas, Cuz Jonah and Cuz Noah headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.   They were joined by a gaggle of parents and grandparents...Uncle Drew, Auntie Nessa, Mimi and

Pop-Pop {Jonah's grandparents}, Nana, Papa, Kc, and myself.  

Gotta love the kelp forest!

The two boys were so fun to watch.  They loved running after each other trying to be the first to find the next tank.

 

Noah just had to show Cuz Jonah how to be his very own sea creature.

 

Noah and Jonah got such a kick out of climbing on the large seahorse.

Noah tried to get an "up close" view of some seahorse eggs.

One of the highlights of the trip was the Jellies Experience.

 I just love watching the slow, undulating movements of the curious creatures.

 

I even got to be kaleidoscope jellyfish.  Noah got quite a kick out of it.

Noah got a pelican who flew all around the aquarium.

And, of course, we had to take the token picture at the tidal pool.

It was so fun share one of our favorite places in the world with some of our favorite people in the world.  A great big THANK YOU to Grams for making it all possible.

Cousins...in jammies

Every year, Nana gets Christmas Jammies for all the cousins and every year, we attempt to take a cute photo.  Noah and Jonah started out standing in front of the fireplace. 

One boy would look at one camera while another would look at Auntie Nessa or myself who were jumping up and down behind the cameras.

Let's try sitting.

How about hugging?

How about wrestling?

Seriously! Are we finished taking pictures yet?

Finally...Uncle Drew got the best photo of the evening.

Christmas Festivities

Ok...I am finally feeling like my head is above water and I can dive back into "reality".  These past few weeks have been so busy with family, friends, report cards, surgery, end of the semester assessments, Oral Interpretation {a group I am co-coaching at school}, more end of the quarter assessments, and birthday celebrations.  EEK!

So...backing-up a few weeks...we were blessed to have family surrounding us for Christmas.  We celebrated Christmas Eve with Kc's side of the family.  For Noah, this meant tons of attention and presents!  He was so excited to see that his stocking from Rocklin had made the trip to Fresno.

The wind-up frog was so fun to watch.

He loved the semi-trucks from Aunt Sharon and Uncle Gary.

This Christmas was all about "Dress-Up Clothes".  He got a fantastic king/knight costume complete with sword and shield.  Daddy got his own sword and shield so I predict many a battle will be fought in the Jackson Kingdom.

Bubs also got a great doctor costume.

He had such a blast treating his sick patient, Squirt.  First Dr. Noah showed Squirt how to open wide so we could look in his mouth.

Next, Dr. Noah listened to Squirt's heartbeat.  "He's all healthy," Dr. Noah declared.  

 

On Christmas Day, we headed to Nana and Papa's house to celebrate with the Smith Family.  You can read Auntie Nessa's detailed post here. 

Once again, Bubs was all about the opening of presents.

Noah got a fantastic Angry Birds lunchbox from Cuz Jonah, 

 an adorable turtle backpack from Cuz Hunter, Cuz Brooklyn, and Cuz Jed,

a super cool helicopter and fire truck set from Nana and Papa,

that went with his awesome fireman costume.

We are so blessed to be surrounded by amazing family.

It truly was a Very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Love, 

The Jacksons

Elf on the Shelf

Last year, we introduced Noah to our Elf on the Shelf {thanks Nana and Papa} and had a blast looking for him every morning.  He's back again this year and has been making Noah smile since Thanksgiving!

Each morning Noah search the house for him and he's been in some fun places!

He started out on the mantle.

Breakfast anyone?

 Swinging from the chandelier.

Elfie joined the Nutcracker Army.

 Is it Christmas Time yet?

Hanging out in the bathroom.

Keeping an eye out from above our front door.

Trying to "pop the pigs" with Noah's Angry Birds game.

 Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

 Getting into Noah's potty chart stickers.

 Just hangin' around.

Starring his his own Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

Elfie colored in Noah's coloring book.

Gettin' crafty.

Watching his favorite show {our digital picture frame}.

Elfie thought our Christmas Tree needed to be redecorated.

Elfie enjoyed checking out all the Christmas Cards.

 Having a snack after all that traveling.

 Making a Lego Zoo Tower.

 Elfie was helping Noah put up the next piece of his Advent Calendar.

 Perching up high on the wreath that Mama made.

 Eating the gingerbread cookies that Noah made.

Walking around in Daddy's shoes...one of Noah's favorite things to do.

Elfie got into Noah's favorite crackers.

Zip-Lining through the living room.

Bringing a little bit of the North Pole to Fresno by making snow angles {in the salt}.

 Elfie wanted to give Noah a picture of himself.

Elfie and Waddle's Brother are having a photo shoot.

Even Elfie knows the reason for the season.