Holiday Tidbits

These were some of our highlights from the fabulous Christmas we had.

Nicholas' note to Santa

Loving the morning with presents and jammies

Ryker's new sleeping bag was an instant hit

New Year's Eve party survivor game, lipstick challenge was hilarious.

Being with the people we love, loving our kids too :)

Silly string fight!

Nicholas' first big boy New Year, staying up all night and loving every second.

 I love these handsome boys!

Christmas 2010 in CA

The first part of our Christmas traveling was just up north to the Cordon side.
Our first day there we were happy to have a visit from Brad, Emily, and the kids. They had tons of fun playing together and we loved catching up.
The next day was our boy's 3rd birthday, as if we needed another day with presents and treats! Nicholas loved his Thomas cake and Toy Story balloons. He also enjoyed getting gifts from his Grandma, Grandpa, and cousin Dax.



The next day we got into some Christmas activities, especially gingerbread houses.

One highlight of the trip was going on BART, the train. Nicholas had been talking about it for weeks beforehand and the trip definitely didn't disappoint. We rode into SF and enjoyed a fun outing there before a fun train ride back.

We also loved eating out. Chevy's, the family favorite, gave us all the black beans our toddlers could eat, or smear on their faces.





And of course we loved seeing our friends, Dyan, Logan, and new baby Easton. I was so excited to meet that cute baby for the first time! I wondered how Nicholas and Logan would do, if they would remember each other or play. At first they sort of looked at each other, but by the time we were heading out they were bff again and having a blast.

Logan is so much bigger, but I promise Nicholas is slouching a bit behind him :) (they're just days apart, can you believe it?)

One of my favorite parts of the week was my Christmas present from Jared, tickets to the Nutcracker. It was so much fun to have a date and dress up.


Finally it was Christmas. They boys looked so cuddly in their pajamas. We had a great Christmas Eve and even better Christmas day opening gifts and playing happily all day. The boys had a great time together all week.

Family!
We all had a fun time and before we knew it, it was time to head to Arizona.

Grown-up Christmas List

Besides "no more lives torn apart", and all that other good stuff, I'd really love these for Christmas...

(J Crew Jammies)

And anyone who knows me knows I'd die for my initials monogrammed on the pocket!!

Yultide Musings

We traveled far and wide seeking the best Christmas ever... Until we reached Grandma Pat's house, nestled in the ever-festive desert mountains of Phoenix.

We ate ourselves sick on rich foods in festive locales

We reacquainted ourselves with long-lost relatives

..and introduced older generations to the newer ones

all the while making off with some seriously awesome free swag in our likewise awesome seasonal get-ups

When we entered the gates of our apartment complex, Nicholas cried and said, "No go home! Go back to Grandma Pat's house!"

I feel the same way, Nicholas.

Santa Babes

Our boys plus their cousin Dax make up the complete set of grandkids for Jared's parents. Naturally matching Christmas jammies ensued...

We also had our mini-Christmas with them while they were in town. Among the favorite gifts was Rykie's "Bumpo": a chair that supports babies so they can sit unassisted. After we discovered Ryker weighed a whopping 18 lbs (can you say 100th percentile?!) at his last doctor's appointment we decided it was time for him to learn to sit up.

doesn't his face just say, "feed me"?

On that note I must say the highlight of our last week (besides family visits, of course) was going to the boys' new pediatrician, Dr Kivitz. I absolutely loved him!! I was so disgusted and horrified by the state of their old doctor's office, not to mention put-out by the long wait, but I thought it was just an LA thing. I am so relieved that I took the initiative to try a new doctor! He is fantastic, works in a beautiful, clean setting, and he is very professional. He even gave me and Jared swine-flu shots, and told me I was an amazing mom seriously a million times. We ventured out to Beverly Hills, 90210 (I love LA), paid for parking (always fun), and watched all the Bentleys, and Mercedes roll by. I guarantee he has some celebrity clients. Sweeeet!

The Absolutely Most Wonderful Time

Yes, its after Halloween, so therefore is officially Christmastime!!!

I am so so so excited.

I love Christmas.

Snow or no snow

I love the sight of the decorated pines, wreaths, poinsettias, gingerbread cookies, the glorious green and red combo we shun the rest of the year, sparkles, ornaments, and the lights. Oh, the lights! They have such a magical way of bringing beauty to no matter what they are on or near. You could put them up on a trash can to make it look inspiring.

I LOVE Christmas

I love how everyone seems to smile a little easier, finding children charming instead of irritating, becoming quicker to forgive, and feeling a sense of calm about daily life. It brings me back to the holidays of my youth that were so perfect and magical.

I love the feeling the music gives me. (Hence the playlist). I love the stillness of Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", and the power behind Mannheim Steamroller's, "Stille Nacht" which almost always moves me to tears (a feat in itself). What songs spell out Christmas to you? Any suggestions to add to the list?

Bah Humbug to all those who try to hold of the goodness of the season until after Thanksgiving. By the time the momentum builds, Christmas has come and gone. I prefer getting a start where I can allow the beauty to sink in and cheer my soul. Its at this time that I become what is lovingly termed by Jared as "Christmas Paige". I like Christmas Paige. You'd like her if you knew her too. She's perpetually blissful and carefree, spreading thoughts of goodwill to everyone. Unfortunately she abruptly departs each January 1st, leaving a tremendous void well into the month of March.

Regardless, Merry (pre-)Christmas to everyone!!