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!