More Christmas Photos

 

Christmas Holidays!

It's been a great holiday season!  We started with Liz's running friend's cookie party, which Morgan went to and was a total gem.  Liz was so impressed that Mo and another young girl had fun quietly and didn't eat all the cookies or paint with chocolate on the walls! 

We also took the girls to see the Nutcracker at a youth ballet performance in Balboa Park.  We went with friends Maaike and Paul, and it was Max's first theater performance - our girls first ballet.  The girls were great and when they did start to get fidgety I looked at my watch and we had already been there 1:45.  What a long performance, but the girls loved it and now regonize nutcrackers everywhere.

My parents drove out in mid-December - their quickest journey yet.  On their Anniversary - 45 years - we went to John and Kaitlin's in LA for a lovely brunch.  Kaitlin's parents joined and we had a great yummy homemade meal and walk to the beach and playground. 

Sunday December 23 Jeff and I took parents, Kaitlin and John to the Holiday Pops orchestra concert in San Diego.  It was fun and Santa and Mrs. Claus were there too.  Very festive.  Christmas Eve Kaitlin's Uncle had us over to his house in Chula Vista.  The girls wore their beautiful green holiday dresses from Grandma (Bella in green velvet and Mo in green satin).  Very cute!  We all went to candlelight Christmas Eve service at UU Church at 5 PM.   Grandma gave Kaitlin, Becky (Kaitlin's Mom) and I all matching red Christmas nightshirts - a Grandma tradition!

Santa came early to our house on December 25.  It was hard keeping Morgan upstairs until everyone was awake and over to our house.  Parents came over and John and Kailtin were up by 7 AM!  It was a morning of presents and lots of good food.  So many thoughtful presents from all of Jeff's family - Nana, Kiki, Gigi, Aunt Sherri and Aunt Robin and Gregg.  The girls got bikes from Santa - Morgan a new Princess Bike and Santa refurbished and accessorized Morgan's balance bike for Bella.  The girls were really excited and already tried them out!  Jeff managed a few great surprises - a bosu ball, a fizzy water machine and a new IPOD for Liz.  Plus the treadmill which is arriving in mid-January - hooray!  Grandma made Kaitlin a beautiful handmade quilt.  Liz worked hard two photos books - one the 3-Year Tour and the other the big 5-Month Trip.  Photobooks by blurb was thing this year, as Kaitlin too made a gorgeous book of their wedding photos.  And I do believe Grandpa has promised to make a photo book of our next adventure....

The big exciting plans are Liz and Grandpa are planning a trip to the Himalayas.  Jeff knowing much we love to travel and have for my whole life, will be an extra-super Dad watching the girls while I go on a 2-3 week adventure either next Fall or Spring 2014.  Something fun to plan!!  Grandma thinks its a present for her too as she is happy we can travel together and she finds it safer knowing we are both looking out for each other.

It's was a great Christmas meal - team effort led by Jeff.  Fortunately we gave Grandma the bird (ha!) a few days prior to thaw in his fridge or we'd still be cooking.  Between all the men they pulled off a great, traditional Christmas dinner.

Hope everyone had a great holidays!  Love JeLiMoBe

Putting up the Tree

We put the Christmas tree up today which was fun.  The girls enjoyed it and also had fun playing with the piano.