Christmas

Ah Christmas. Seems like a long time ago already even though the neighbors across the street still have a festive fanfare of inflatable Christmas creatures in their front yard. I haven't written thank you notes yet either so the season isn't officially closed yet.

We had a lovely Christmas celebrating with my Mom for a week. After she left on the 29th I started to go a little stir crazy at home wishing I could go on vacation myself. It won't be too long though before we are in Tucson! We were excellent LA tourists though visiting the park, LA Zoo, aquarium, Skirball center, LACMA, and the Natural History Museum in between getting ready for Santa and Christmas Dinner for 12 at our house. Family and friends did their part to keep the US economy going as Addie and Eliza were definitely showered with presents. This will be the last year that Addie will get to open the advent calendar and all the gifts on behalf of her sister.


It's starting to smell like Christmas! Cap and Addie make an apple pie.


Reading the Night Before Christmas narrated by Pop Pop and Nana before heading out to Christmas Eve dinner at Aunt Karen and Uncle Peter's house.


Exploring what Santa brought in their new owl PJs.


Oh Tannenbaum


Nesting owls


Her very own pony


A woodland critter house


Trying on a tutu


Reading with Gran


Even Rapunzel had her own place setting at the Christmas dinner table.


Eliza-safe fireplace


Carrying on the Q family anglophile tradition of paper hats from our Christmas crackers.Yes I make everyone wear them. (and that is crazy good scalloped potatoes Addie's eating.)

You can see all of our photos from Christmas here.

Kidspace

Dusting for dinosaur bones

I'm going back in time on the blog and eventually we'll hit Christmas!

So, on New Year's Eve, after an aborted trip to see Noah's Ark at the Skirball Center, we switched gears and headed to Pasadena. Next year we are going to ask Santa for a membership! Addie knows this place well and for the first time Eliza really got to explore it on her own terms.


Pretending to be an ant, climbing the giant tree


Drawing


Inside a radio


Watching the bees


Not so into a helmet but eager to ride a tricyle. Too bad her legs are too short to reach the pedals.




Eliza face


Addie and Cap: Battle of the Bugs


Look! Snow! Good thing Addie has on her snow boots.

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year everyone!



We celebrated with a visit to the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena followed by a very cold, brisk walk to see some of the Rose Bowl parade floats before heading over to Papa Mit and Grandma Vede's house to warm-up with Indian take-out and champagne. We were home in time to ring in the new year with New York although we turned on the TV about a second after the ball dropped much to Addie's disappointment. Let me tell you that HD on a 42 inch screen was a bad idea to see revelers smooch. Mega-gross.


Cal Poly float. the green and black parts of the rocket are eucalyptus leaves and seaweed.


Camelot (I think)






Trader Joe's

G-bread House Party

We hosted our second annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party. It's a great opportunity for Addie to hang out with her old daycare pals, and Cap and I to catch up with this group of parents who have really enjoy. Plus the Mom's like to get crafty ourselves on the houses once the kids have run off to play. After Addie left I went peppermint crazy on the back of her house and now she likes to come up to it and like the candy. Gross.




Yes, the Dads were in attendance too but they migrated out the backyard.

My mom arrived last night and the sun came out. Should be a most wonderful Christmas!

A Colorado Thanksgiving

Yes, I finally got around to downloading and then uploading my photos from our fabulous trip to Colorado over Thanksgiving. Our trip was filled with wonderful friends and lots of snow.


Addie and Arden enjoying the hammock at our rental house in Salida where we showered our high school friend Dara with baby gifts.


Eliza trying out life with her snow hat.


Feeding the ducks


Sawyer, Arden and Addie on the run


Drive-by photos of fuzzy cows. Eliza was enamored of course.


Plenty of static electricity


Sunrise and moonset behind Reid's house in Grandby


The big kids doing a lap on the nordic ski trail.


So proud of our little California girl.


Donut time. Addie and Eliza loved getting to play with Sawyer and Arden at their house for a whole week.


Eliza's new best friend, Duncan.


Two girls in a sled


Snow angel Addie


a true ice pop


Reid and I. We got to talk and talk and talk and talk. Poor Cap.


Street sledding


Addie being Addie


The Godlings


Eliza and Cap take on the sledding hill


Taking a moment to relax.

You can check out all of our Colorado photos here. And a HUGE thanks to Reid for opening up her home and heart to us. Love you!

Addie Sings

You may remember Addie's first holiday recital followed by the spring recital. But this year all parents were in attendance, in the second row not the first and Addie was all smiles. There is nothing like 40 kids singing about peace to make you all warm and cozy inside. It was really adorable and she was next to her friend Danika.



Addie was invited to her first sleepover party for Danika's 5th birthday on Saturday night. 15+ kids in PJs attended the "pretend sleepover party" and a few close friends, Addie included, were invited to an actual sleepover. I dropped Addie off at 6 and went back at 9 to check-in and make sure she was still okay with the idea. When she saw me she got all teary and said "But you said I could stay all night!" Of course you can my little independent sprite. Mommy just came to give you a hug and a kiss goodnight. And that was that.

Out of the 5 girls invited to spend the night, two decided they weren't ready before their parents left and one had to have her parents pick up her at 10 pm. It was just Addie, Emi and Danika which was probably the best for Danika's parents! Those three girls take swim lessons together on Saturday and are good friends. Bonus - we like their parents too! Sadly, all three girls will be heading to three separate kindergartens next September. Just when we start to make close friends we get to start all over again. My new year's resolution is going to be to proactively spend more time with friends; invite people over for dinner, guitar hero, playdates and adventures.

15 Months

After coming home from Colorado, I've been neglecting my poor blog. Neglectoblog. The Christmas season has hit me over the heat with a frying pan after returning from an amazing, lovely week visiting wonderful friends over Thanksgiving. Eliza's 15 month birthday though has motivated me get back on the wagon.

Friday was the girls' holiday recital at school. This was the first one for Eliza. She melted my heart in her little cat ears. During the entire recital she sat quiet as a lamb not moving an inch, looking a little like someone had hit her with a Stupify! charm. Afterwards, several parents told me what a hugger Eliza is. I guess she hugs all the parents. She still seems to gravitate towards men but no, I was told she hugged the Moms too. She really is super cuddly and has really gotten into books lately, coming over with an animal book and plopping down in my lap ready to read. She continues to love animals, especially dogs, and was in heaven in Colorado getting to be around first two dogs who would rather she went back where she came from and then Reid's dog Duncan who was such a sweetheart and let Eliza follow him around. Eliza is such a joyous child that she oozes life. I'm feeling pretty darn lucky to have two amazing girls. Gooshy enough?