Christmas Break

Well, it was our intent to spend the week following Christmas up in Tahoe enjoying the snow and skiing. However, given the lack of snow (essentially it hasn't hardly snowed at all this winter ...yet), we decided to stick close to home.  We spent one of the days visiting the Children's Discovery Museum.

Comparing weights

How many cars, trucks, people, etc. equal the weight of one Mammoth?

Learning more about the Mammoths who once lived where we live today

Wheels!

So much to look at and explore

In the ambulance cab

Blowing bubbles

And BIG bubbles

Water play

Creating energy to fly the airplane

Christmas Day 2011

We spent Christmas Day morning at home with the kids, our family, brunch, and playing with all of the new toys (both the adults and kids!).

Santa came!  Luke received his heart's desire -  a robot.

Mia's gift from Santa:  A dollhouse

Happy kids on Christmas morning exploring all that Santa brought

Great-Grammy and Great-Papa arrived in the afternoon, and we spent the evening with them up at Day & Paw's house where we enjoyed an incredible prime rib meal .. and more presents!

Christmas Day at Day & Paws' 

Luke loves his new cash register

Sweet girl opening her new LeapFrog laptop

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Christmas Eve 2011

We hosted Christmas Eve at our home this year.  It was a relatively small group: our family, Day & Paw, Todd & Michelle, and Uncle Patrick & Aunt Louisa.  Michael made an incredible cioppino meal, complete with various fish and seafood appetizers, and we had cannolis for dessert.  Perfect if you ask me!

The kids had SO much to open this year.  I suppose this was because neither of them received any "big" gifts, so they had lots of little stuff to open.  We started them off early with the presents - while we were all having cocktails and appetizers - and it didn't slow down for several hours.  They had an incredible time and ended up heading to bed before the adults even had dinner (since we were stuffed from appetizers).  This allowed Michael and I to truly enjoy our delicious meal ... and our fun-filled adult present opening!

Plasma Cars from Mommy & Daddy

 Two Buzz Lightyears are better than one ... from Day & Paw

Mia's favorite gift - a baby stroller (or a Buzz stroller)

It was a Buzz Lightyear kind of Christmas ... a new sweatshirt from Mommy

Oh, Uncle Todd and Aunt Michelle, we SO owe you when you have kids of your own.  You always pick the most fun (and noisiest or with the most small pieces) gifts! :)  Just wait!

We are so incredibly blessed to have so much and be together with one another to celebrate Christmas.   What a perfect Christmas Eve.

Cookies & Champagne Playdate

Such fun!  I love that the kids and the ladies can ALL have fun at a playdate.  Gina, Jess, and their sweet kids came over the week before Christmas to decorate cookies (and the older girls toasted to the upcoming holiday weekend).  Aidan, Bailey, Jack, Charlie, Luke, and Mia had so much fun ...and our kitchen floor showed it :), but it was so worth the mess. 

Concentrating on the perfect cookie design

Discussion over Gingerbread House design

There "might" have been some sugar consumed...

...okay, a LOT of sugar!

Are we decorating or eating?!

Such a big boy

The girls get in on the Gingerbread action too

The kids also exchanged Christmas gifts, and the dino hats seemed to be a hit!

I loved Jessica's message the next morning that she had never seen Bailey so dirty :).  Sign of a good playdate?  I think so!

Early Christmas in Santa Barbara

Luke, Mia, my mom, and I traveled down to Santa Barbara earlier in the week to visit Great Grammy, Great Papa, cousin Satya, my cousin Nicolette, and her new little love, Jude.  It was great to see all of them, particularly since we will not all be together for Christmas this year.

We had a pre-Christmas celebration and the kids all opened a few gifts.  They loved being together and truly enjoyed each of their gifts in a way that they can't usually on Christmas, simply because there always seems to be so much for each of them.  Grandma made a beautiful lunch and the weather was absolutely gorgeous.

What a great few days leading us into Christmas week!

Mia playing in the fort that the kids made out in the backyard

Cousins

Opening a few gifts

Mia loving her new Rody horse

And sweet baby Jude - he's a doll!

Pretty Mommy and her sweet boy

Christmas in San Francisco

The kids and I went up to San Francisco this week to visit Daddy at work, have a dinner out together, and enjoy some of the Christmas goodness in Union Square.

Daddy, Mia, and Luke in front of the Union Sq. Christmas tree

Luke and Mia's favorite parts of the trip were most certainly watching the cable cars go by and listening to the gentleman playing Christmas music on his horn.  After we had walked around a bit we decided to duck into Starbucks for a quick treat before heading home.  The kids loved watching the cable cars and people out the windows while enjoying their pink cake pops.

Merry Christmas!

Santa Visits

Santa visited our home again this year!  We had so much fun with him and Mrs. Claus last year that we decided that we simply must have them back.  In fact, we're hoping that they will be visiting us for the next several years to help celebrate the holidays.

Mrs. Claus and Mia having a chat

Pretty ladies:  Mrs. Claus, Day, and Mia

Mia feeling Santa's soft hat

Luke and Vidyut use the reindeer bells to make music

Listening to a story (while wearing antlers and a Rudolph nose)

Mia just loved that nose!

Luke was still a bit shy with Santa, but asked that he read his letter 

Trying to bribe the kids with candy canes for a cute photo ... it clearly wasn't working

Santa and the Ladies

We also asked guests to join us this year in donating gifts to "Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas," an organization that benefits children fighting cancer and their families.  We were able to send a big box of gifts off to little Kate herself.  Thank you to all of our family and friends who joined us, both in donations and celebration.  You are what really makes the season special.