Christmas in California

We celebrated our first Christmas in California this year.  Actually, this was the first Christmas we did not celebrate in Sioux Falls and the first Christmas I did not wake up in my parents’ house.  Let’s just say this was a Christmas of firsts. 

Christmas 2013 - 36 weeks pregnant

We made the most of Christmas and tried to get into the holiday spirit without snow on the ground and 75-80 degree days.  We started the week off with a boat ride to see all the boats and houses decorated with Christmas lights.  Christmas Eve was spent with close family and friends.  We had a great time and Ashley and Mom were great hostesses.  To try and add to the nostalgia of a California Christmas we had to have the fake fire going in the background all night. 

Keeping warm by the fire

Merry Christmas

Christmas Day was spent with the five of us.  We opened presents, had a surf and turf meal (in true California style), and spent the day playing with toys and watching movies.  We had to take a Christmas Day break half way through the day to spend a few minutes enjoying the sun by the pool as it was sunny and 85 degrees outside. 

Opening gifts

We continue to open presents.  Or should I say Brynn continues to open presents.  Just like at her birthday, she likes to open each gift one at a time and play with them before moving on.  So far there has not been a favorite present.  The train has given her hours of fun and I think we have assembled and reassemble it into different configurations a half a dozen times.  She got some new boots and a Sofia the First music player so we have also been getting daily performances by Miss Brynn.  

First performance of the day

Christmas Program

What a difference a year makes.  I was sitting at Brynn’s Christmas program this year trying to take it all in and realizing she is now a little girl.  She has developed in so many ways and her personality just shines.  I kept remembering back to last year’s program and thinking how she was just a baby back then. 

This year she sang along with the songs, got to play the bells and was thrilled to see us in the audience.  The funniest part was when some of the kids were pushing and shoving around her and she would just turn her back and ignore them and continue on with the song.  She is just a little performer…..more to come on that.  

Holiday Baking

I completed my usual holiday baking this past weekend.  This year was no exception to last year even though I claimed I was going to cut back.  However, the one big difference this year was that I had two elves to help me out.  One loved to stir and taste everything, while the other kept putting the ingredients together.  Can you pick out which elf is which? 

Stir Stir

Don't mind the cookie on my face!

In the end we made cookies, bread, dipped pretzels, party mix, and puppy chow.  Come on over if you are hungry or have a sweet tooth.  We have enough baked goods to feed an army.    

Break for a photo op!

Helping grandma with the tray of goodies!

Tis the Season

I cannot believe “it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas” and it is not even Thanksgiving.  Everywhere I look it is red and twinkling.  I hope Southern California can keep the spirit alive for us this year as we will not be able to travel home for a white Christmas this year.  So far it does not seem to faze Brynn as she runs towards the Christmas trees and twinkling lights. 

Halloween 2013

Halloween was an improvement from last year (see our post from Halloween 2012).  We spaced out all of the activities over multiple days to help Brynn ease into the holiday.  It all started with Trick or Treat Mickey a week and a half ago.  She got used to wearing a costume and identifying all of the creepy Halloween decorations.  This year we did pumpkins in stages.  Day 1 – she painted a pumpkins.  This was a huge hit.  Brynn was hard at work making her pumpkins look perfect!  Day 2 – was carving a pumpkin.  Daddy had to assist and we kept the carving very simple so we were not carving for hours while Brynn played in the other room. 

Needs to be just right.

Jack-o-lantern

We also broke the Halloween treat making for school up and the cookie decorating into different days.  Once again, it worked like a dream.  Brynn was excited to help each time and I was not getting pulled into 500 directions while trying to hurry up and finish.     

By the time Halloween day came around she was ready.  They had a pajama party at school where they watched a movie and Brynn got to bring in treats for her friends.  She loves sharing with her friends, especially when she helped make them.  After school we headed home to eat and get her costume on.  The anticipation by then was killing her.  She ate all of her dinner as quickly as possible and got her costume on.  Ears and all.  Next on the list was trick or treating.  A neighbor stopped by and made Brynn a huge treat bag full of goodies she was excited.  But unfortunately for us, Brynn was then ready to hang out at home.  She thought we were done trick or treating.  She did not understand that you can go to multiple houses.  We thought the next best step was to go to her school Harvest Festival.  Here they had games, treats and bounce houses for the kids.  She had a blast.  The last stops of the evening were to a couple of friends’ homes where Brynn was happy to get a treat and play and have fun in familiar places.  Maybe by next year she will understand the amount of candy you can get by trick or treating all over the neighborhood.

Happy Halloween!

   

Trick or Treat with Mickey Mouse

Disneyland was definitely worth the wait.  We all had a wonderful time.  Since it is Halloween time at Disneyland we went to a special Halloween party event and Brynn got to wear her Halloween costume.  Of course she went as Minnie Mouse and who was the first character we saw as we walked into the park.  From that point on Brynn was in heaven. 

Brynn went on all of the rides and enjoyed the roller coasters and the ones that went up high the best.  There were no meltdowns and after the first couple of rides she was so excited to go on the next one that she was nearly running.  She ended up staying awake through the fireworks show and had a smile on her face the entire time.  Sorry for all of the pictures but I had trouble narrowing them down.  I think it is just representative of how much fun we all had. 

See ya again soon, MICKEY!!   

Trick or Treat Mickey!



Pluto!!



Just Like Minnie Mouse



Silly Pluto!





All Smiles!

Fly higher Dumbo!

Thank you, Grandma!!

Tea Cups!



Grand Finale!! Fireworks!!



Who Wants to go to the Pool?

I think the swimming lessons are paying off!!

Goggles - Can't leave home without them.

Slice of Heaven

A good friend from South Dakota and her family were in San Diego vacationing this past week.  Lucky for us our families were able to spend some time together while they were here.  One evening they drove up to Huntington Beach to see all it had to offer, we ate pizza, the kids played and we took a lovely Duffy boat ride around the harbor.  It got late quick and the kids were soon fast asleep. 

Boat Ride

The second day the three of us loaded up in the car and drove to what I like to call “a Slice of Heaven” or Coronado Island just south of San Diego.  We had a lovely day.  We went to the beach twice, the pool twice, built sand castles, flew a kite, enjoyed each other’s company, and took in all the day had to offer.  The kids played so well together.  Brynn followed Isaac round everywhere and wanted to do everything he was doing.  Anna was just happy to play and tease Cameron. 





Oh, how the times have changed!



The day ended with a walk down memory lane.  We ate at a pub we have enjoyed in the past, had some ice cream at Mootime, and walked the beach.  Unfortunately, Brynn did not make it down memory lane.  She was along for the ride but fell asleep on our way to dinner.  I guess the sun and fun got to her!!  Thanks Oliver’s for a great mini vacation and letting us enjoy “a Slice of Heaven” with you.    

Walk down memory lane.

Jake and Sofia

We had a Disneyland test – Part 2 -this past weekend.  I have wanted to take Brynn to Disneyland for some time now.  I always end up backing out at the last minute because I am worried Brynn will want to go home after an hour and then all of that money would be wasted.  So instead I took her to Disney Junior Live with Jack and the Neverland Pirates and Sofia the First.  It was an absolute hit.  She was an angel and took in all of the excitement around her.  She loved seeing all of the characters, listening and singing to the songs, dancing, and much more.  All of her favorite characters were there:  Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Jake, Sofia, Doc McStuffins, etc..  She was so excited to be there and was disappointed when the show was over.  She was just getting started and wanted to see more.  I guess it is official.  After the trip to downtown Disney and the Disney Junior Live show, I am going to have to suck it up and take her to Disneyland.  Disneyland or Bust!!

Showing off her glowing Sofia amulet!!

Glued to the stage.

Carnival Fun

As life as an only child comes to an end for Brynn, we decided to have one last big birthday bash to celebrate.  And I think we succeeded in having a fun day.  There was lots of family, friends, kids, balloons, cake, and Brynn’s favorite - candles.  The kids all loved jumping in the bounce house, putting on clown noses and finding fun surprises around every corner.  The most surprising kid favorite was the battery operated pig races.  The kids played with them over and over again and even brought them into the bounce house for extra entertainment. 

All smiles!!

We opened up presents for days after Brynn’s party.  And surprisingly it was not the number of gifts that made opening presents take so long - it was Brynn.  She likes to open each gift one at a time and play with it before moving onto the next.  For example, one of her gifts had a dress-up costume and matching bath toy.  She saw the bath toy and immediately wanted to take a bath.  She ended up opening up the other half of the gift the next day.  What a silly girl. 

Thanks to all of the family and friends who came out to celebrate Brynn.  She had a wonderful day and felt very loved by all who came out.      

Three Year Old Pictures