Christmas in Sunny California

We had so much fun spending Christmas with my family. We were able to be with Chris, Jill and sweet baby Hudson who flew in from Chicago. Laura and Dave, who are living in California right now, and my brother Jason. And of course my parents were there spoiling us rotten. My kids were lucky to get lots and lots of grandma time. Olivia would convert the entire family room into a hotel/restaurant. We were all checked in and given a key and menu.

We were able to go to the beach a couple times. Cute Hudson was there entertaining us.

Olivia was chasing the waves and burying herself and just loving the beach in December.

Bennett spent the entire time in the backyard in the 75 degree weather.
I spent many days in my pajamas reading out back on the swing watching Bennett pour dirt all over himself, and talking to the dog next door while trying to feed him leaves.


On Christmas Eve we dressed and acted out the Nativity. And then each family had to do a little talent for the talent show (which my brother orchestrated). Yes, I know. I was really, really looking forward to this. Especially because I have so many talents to show. Surprisingly, it was the funnest thing we did. We had a puppet show, an amazing choreographed dance (Chris & Jill), violin and guitar playing and a game. My kids wanted Chris and Jill to do their dance over again it was so good. Olivia also informed me that she would like Jill to be her second mommy.

Olivia held Hudson any chance she got. She adored her baby cousin and was such a sweetheart.

Laura and Olivia sporting their Snuggies.

Joel and I celebrated our 8th anniversary at Disneyland, no children. It was the first time I'd been on all of the adult rides since before my children were born. It was so much fun being the kid again! Thanks mom and dad for watching the kids ALL day!

My Favorite Reads of 2009

I always have a hard time saying that anything is my favorite. I feel that somehow the other books I read and liked will feel bad. Hunger Games, you didn't make the list but I still thoroughly enjoyed you and read you faster than any of the others. I'm sorry its me, not you. The books above created deep, meaningful feelings that went beyond mere enjoyment or amusement. They are all books that weave a story through events that really did happen. They were about people who did brave things in hard times and changed me in the process. And I absolutely fell in love with the characters (which is a must for any book to be called a favorite). These books I wholeheartedly recommend (in order of favorite):

1. The Help
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
3. The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (I am biased as this one takes place in Seattle)
4. Velva Jean Learns to Drive

Mystery Package

At 8:30 this morning the door bell rang and a box appeared on our doorstep. This is what came out of the package...


Isn't it beautiful? You would've thought it was Christmas morning by the way the kids were acting. Good thing it was filled with lots of yummy treats just in time for breakfast. Bennett regularly asks for candy for breakfast and this morning was his lucky day! It was such a fun surprise. Even more of a surprise was the message which wished us a Merry Christmas but didn't include the sender's name. We would love to know who you are so we can say thank you!

Any takers?

Growing Up

Olivia got to wear lipstick to our community tree lighting. And she was beautiful. Lately, we've been going through some "adjustments". Basically, she hasn't reacted well to the increase of responsibility that comes with growing up. The other night while I was laying by her in bed she told me that she didn't want to grow up. When I asked her why she answered, "I don't want to do the dishes all the time". I must make a bleak example of how "fun" it is to be grown up! She often says she wishes she was a baby "like Bennett" who I do most things for since he can't. Growing up is hard. That's why you've got to have things to look forward to along the way. Like lipstick. She didn't feel so bad about growing up in this moment. Olivia, I wish you didn't have to grow up either. I would freeze time right now and then I wouldn't have to worry about preparing you for the world and we could play ponies, fairies and barbies all day long.

Drains and pacifiers

are Bennetts big loves. Any time we go anywhere outside of the house Bennett is on the look out for "water drains". We can't get from the parking lot to the grocery store or from the front door to the car without stopping to look at the drain in the street. Even when we walk past the window on our way downstairs we take a peek out to see the "water drain". He is completely fascinated by them. I really wish I was still so easily impressed and entertained.

Bennett loves his bed. I know, I count that blessing everyday. At least twice. Sometimes I will look around and realize I haven't heard from Bennett for a little while and I will go downstairs and find him just chill'en in his bed. I'm sure the big lure is his pacifier-which he can only have while in his bed. The other day he didn't get a nap and I went in his room and found him like this. Honestly, this kid is so sweet. I could just eat him up.

Zoolights

Friday morning we drove to the point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma. It is smaller than the Seattle zoo, but they have polar bears, beluga whales and Zoolights. Since everybody was at the mall shopping, we had the zoo almost all to ourselves. It was awesome. One of the zoo keepers worked hard to rouse the sleepy polar bears to give us a good show. We got to see the polar bears eating and swimming around. They were so cute (too bad they're so deadly). The zoo had an amazing play area where the kids played for a long time. Then we went to the hotel, swam and ordered room service. We went back to the zoo for Zoolights later that night. Bennett couldn't believe we were going back out instead of going to bed. At that point he didn't even care where we were going as long as he wasn't going to bed. But he was pretty impressed with the zoo lit up with Christmas lights. We all were. The lights were pretty spectacular. Olivia is still enamored by carousels so we spent some time there and she picked up lots of germs kissing each horse after riding them. Surprisingly, the kids went to bed with very little effort when we returned to the hotel. However, at 4 am Bennett woke up and when he realized Joel was next to him in bed he thought it was the funniest thing on earth. He started giggling and didn't stop being silly until 5 am. So Joel got up and took him on a walk until 8 am. They went on a little adventure and found fountains, water drains (Bennett's new obsession) and lots of stairs to climb. When they came back their heads hit the pillow and they didn't wake until 10. We took one more swim and then headed home (after stopping at a cupcake shop that called to us from down the street). We were pretty beat when we got home and nothing got cleaned up or put away until late Sunday night. It was nice to get away but it always feels like you need a vacation from your vacation when you get home.

Yes, my kids are high maintenance and keeping my house clean is virtually impossible but I am very thankful for my sweet little family.

Thanksgiving Day

Olivia has been marking off her calendar for a whole week counting down the days until thanksgiving. Not because she was so excited for Thanksgiving. She is more interested in putting the Christmas tree up and after hounding me for several weeks I told her we could do it on Thanksgiving day. Thursday morning comes and Olivia and I are having our morning snuggle when dad disappears and then 20 minutes later tells us to come out in the living room. He has put up the tree (thank you costco) so we can get an early start. Olivia was in heaven. She and I put up most of the ornaments and then she started rationing them. When I asked her what the small pile was that she was hoarding she said it was for dad so he wouldn't miss out. She ran into Joels room a few times and said, "dad, hurry up the ornaments are almost all gone". I love having the Christmas tree up. It makes my bare and simple living room look sparkly and warm. I love it. I wish we could keep it up all year.

We really lucked out having friends take pity on us and invite us over for Thanksgiving dinner, thanks S family! Mom S spent 12 hours the previous day cooking. And it was the best Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had in my life (besides yours mom, of course). Really. It was amazing. My mouth is watering just remembering the mashed sweet potatoes dripping with butter, brown sugar, chopped nuts and many more fattening ingredients (not that I had anything to do with the assembly, only the consumption) And, as if a meal fit for kings wasn't enough...they made extra for us to take home leftovers (which included a few dozen homemade rolls). I know. Seriously. I am thankful for generosity this Thanksgiving.

The dinner was wonderful, our kids....not so much. Our kids are always good, just really high maintenance. Our friends have a beautiful sweet dog. And the whole time Olivia would let out these sharp high pitched screams of terror every time it came within two feet of her then run and leap (quite literally) into my arms. They finally had to bar the poor dog from coming into the room. You would've thought she had some terrible experience with a dog. Nope. Never. Not even close. Just born with an acute fear of dogs. Even cute, calm ones. Bennett wasn't afraid of the dog, just everybody else. For the first hour we were there he wouldn't leave my side or arms and muttered, "mama" the whole time. Until they turned on Bolt and then he was perfectly happy (I am also thankful for Disney this thanksgiving). Neither of my kids ate a thing (I guess a white roll counts) until they brought out the chocolate-marshmallow candy craft of course. Honestly, you would've thought we never take our kids out of the house. I'd like to use my moms phrase now, "its just their age" which we used to make fun of her for saying every time we said something about one of our younger siblings when they were acting crazy (which was a lot). But I'm really counting on it "just being their age".