She and Liv Get Ready for Galaxy Season

Cha and Liv are two peas in a pod...theyfight all the time. Neither of them have sisters, so they have officially adopted each other. We call them the McDavies. I love that they can piss each other off, but they don't hold it against each other the next day. That is true friendship, isn't it?

She Loves Dave's Run!

One of my favorite things about Chandler is her sense of adventure. She rode Dave's Run, a Black Diamond trail (I think) at Mammoth. Here she is with T. I won't even go up the gondola, but she strapped on her board and went for it. Good for her!

She Loves Her Rockstar Image - 12/26/08

I am almost caught up!

I love that some of the stuff we buy her now can fit me. Everything, down to her socks, were presents from somebody. Except the glasses - she got those at Target today.

We did nothing but eat and lay on our bums, but I did get to see Cha and The Crown Prince go Mad Dog on each other over Shaun White's WiiFit snowboarding game.

"It is MY game, so I go first!!!" she yelled, repeatedly, as she wrestled him to the ground. Quite entertaining.

It's all about what is not fair in my family. I'm teaching them the true meaning of life.

She Travels to AZ - 12/25/08

She woke us up at 5:51am this morning. I promptly told her to not wake up her brother and to get her ass back in bed. Clint and I had some serious stomach issues on Christmas Eve, and after categorically trying to pinpoint what it was that we both ate that would give us The Gas, we decided it was our choice of the Liquid Diet. He only had two beers, but I went ahead and had a little bit of everything.

Before retreating back into her bedroom, where of course, she had Finn already awake, I asked her, "Did you see anything down there?"

"Yes, Santa brought me my CLONE TROOPER HELMET!"

She is not a Star Wars Fan, nor is she into helmets, and yet...this is the one thing she wanted. GO figure!

We decided an hour was enough torture, so we dragged ourselves down, The Gas and all, at 6:30am. The Woods came by, as is tradition, around 8:30 so the kids could open their gifts together. After that, we went to Steve's sister house for breakfast, bad breath, pajamas and all.

We were expected at B's mom's house at 12pm. We got there at 1:30pm. Whoops. Opened MORE presents (got a fantastic L.A.M.B. purse from Mom-in-Law, love you!!!), and then had to get on the road to get to AZ.

I had my typical meltdown before we left, as the house was trashed, but B was very patient with me and helped me clean up a bit. Finally, we loaded the car up and got out of Corona at 7pm.

The kids fell asleep on the way, and lucky them, the rain and wind didn't bother them at all. We drove into Phoenix around 1am their time - rain up to our ankles, but safe. Let the festivities begin!

She Parties with Her Fam - 12/24/08

So, Christmas Eve was really nice. We spent it at the Woods' and other came and joined in on the reverie. We karaoke'd and Chandler and I got to show off our Filipino sides! She's a ham. Here is she with her best friend and cousin, T-man. Don't they look alike?

She Attended a Funeral...Or Two

Today was rough. A family that we are friends with had to bury their baby this morning. I took Cha, and she held my hand through most of it. I was relieved when the majority of the service was in Spanish - if I had understood every word, I don't think I would have made it through.

It is such a surreal thing, to walk through the cemetery, following a casket so small. It was peaceful, and it was a gorgeous day. But, it was sad. Terribly, terribly heartbreaking.

And yet, I don't want to be morose, and I don't believe the family would want that either. They were very strong...happy to see everyone, and proud of the beautiful service. I admire that. That would be Cha.

On a funnier note - if that is possible...

We came home after a night of some last-minute shopping and found some "dead" Christmas items in our front lawn, complete with a coffin for our neighbor's headless Santa. It was definitely inappropriate timing on my brother-in-law's part, seeing where we were this morning. However, the laughter was needed, and even appreciated. Cha thought is was hysterical. Finn...he didn't take it so lightly. Let's just say he has a few choice words for his Uncle for displaying the untimely death of Santa so casually on our front lawn, for all the world to see.

I assured him, payback sucks.

She Decides On a Project

Cha decided today that she wanted me to take lots of pics of her this year, and every other year after this one, for that matter. I said okay, but no touch ups. Them are the rules, take 'em or leave 'em.

Here is the first...we were on our way back from Murrieta and the Grandparents' house. She spent the night and made Christmas cookies with the other cousins. Of course, I was bitchy mom and made her come home early to spend time with Daddy and go shopping (for me, of course). The Crown Prince stayed with Grandma. Cha, being the good daughter that she is, insisted she wanted to come home, but I can't help but think she does that for me sometimes. She's a peach.