Swing Time!

The sun came out briefly yesterday, so we headed to the park for some swing time. 

 

 

 

Cal Game and Girls Dinner Out

Josh took Jake to his first Cal basketball game on Saturday.  I took the girls to a great dinner at the Drogin's house.

Few More Holiday Pics

My Dad caught these of Josh and I with the twins as we were getting set up for Christmas dinner:

Christmas Lights!

Well, we never actually got around to figuring out how to string Christmas lights up at our house this year (we welcome any pointers for next year!), but thankfully, everyone around us gets pretty into it, so we got to look at lots of pretty lights on our way home each night over the holidays.   There is one street in particular, that apparently is quite famous up and down the peninsula, for it's Christmas light decorations.  This street is only 3-4 blocks from our home so of course, we had to check it out.  We've heard rumors that in order to actually purchase a house on this street, you have to agree to decorate your home or let the neighbors decorate your home- they are THAT into it!  There is also one guy on the street who bought the house next to his, so that he could decorate for both Christmas and Halloween across BOTH houses...and here it is.  Jake LOVED it of course, especially because he brought in real snow and covered the street directly in front of his home...seriously amazing!   Of course Josh just kept wondering aloud just how big the guys electric bill was....  

Christmas 2012

Phew...what a Christmas it has been this year!!  Christmas day ended up being a really great day for our little family.  The day began at 4:45am with a loud wake up call from Addison.  My sister and I got up and started playing with her at that hour.  Soon after Colbie and Jake were awake, so, presents and Santa excitement all happened between 5:00-6:00am at our house!  Jake was definitely very excited, but got a little too into the "more presents, more presents" aspect of the holiday instead of the appreciation and joy part (big to-do for me to think about for next year!).  Colbie and Addison had a great time with the wrapping paper and tissue paper.   By 6:30am Jake had probably already eaten 5 Hersey's kisses, and was bouncing off the walls!  After breakfast, we cleaned and set up for the family to join us for Christmas dinner.  This was Josh's idea, and I honestly wasn't so sure about the idea initially, but in the end, it really worked out great.  The kids all had plenty of things to play with, and they were in their normal home environment, so very few freak outs by the girls were had.  When both sets of parents, as well as Lindsay and Jonathan arrived by 1:00, we opened a few more gifts, and then just relaxed.  It was the most relaxed Josh and I have been at any of the festivities so far this season, as the kids were happy and we didn't have to rush home at an early hour.   Our parents brought great food, and Lindsay brought yummy apps, so I had to do very little cooking either.   We all even squeezed around our dining room table for dinner, including the babies.  It was a very special Christmas day for us, and a great first Christmas for Colbie and Addison!!

 

 

Here is our 5:00am wake up to Santa:



 Jake got a trike from Santa- he isn't keen on pedaling, so we're hoping that he can master it on this trike, and by his 4th birthday he will be ready for a real bike.

 My Grandmother made stockings for my sister and I, which we have used our entire lives.  So my Mom MADE stockings for Jake, Colbie and Addison for when Santa arrives at her house!

 The girls took their afternoon nap right in Papa's arms:

 

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  We send love and best wishes from our family to yours.

 

 

Oh, and I just heard reindeer depart from our roof....Santa has arrived!

Celebration with Nana and Granddaddy

After I worked for a short time on Christmas Eve, we headed up to my parents house for another gift exchange and to welcome home my sister ERICA!!!!   Yes, she is home for a week, and we are all so happy to have her home!   My parents were also incredibly generous, and once again, the girls did really well the entire afternoon.  We even used the travel highchairs for the first time (thank you to Kristin Fisher!), so the girls actually got to sit at the table with us for our Christmas Eve meal, and they did great!!  Now we know that they are big enough to sit up fine in these chairs, and I think they actually kind of liked the feeling of floating, as they were both just kicking away the entire time.  Jake received lots of books and a special treasure chest and map.