After Christmas

Every Christmas in Santa Barbara, we traditionally go to Hendry's Beach for a walk.  It's always sunny, warm and beautiful on Dec. 25th in SB.  This year, we got preoccupied and nap schedules didn't allow for us to go, so we wen the next day which was just as fun, and less crowded : )  

 Emily ran most of the  way to the beach and was pretty tuckered out by the time we got there.  It was nap time....we were pushing it!

 We had lots of races with Owen.  He insisted on taking my camera (my expensive DSLR) and took some  cute pictures of us running with  Emily.

 He met some boys on the beach who were playing with a new toy they got from Santa.  The parents fling it in the air and it comes down like a slow helicopter.  They boys run around waiting to catch it (like a pop fly).  Owen was in heaven!  We were thankful the boys were OK to share it!

 Pure JOY!

Meanwhile, Miss E was getting pretty sleepy waiting for her brother to finish playing.

Later, Owen pulled out one of his new favorite Christmas presents, LEGOS!  We are all having so much fun with these!  

 OK, here is a Santa Barbara day in January : )  Owen was washing the car in swim trunks!  I think he looks so old in this picture!

They put their aprons/ smocks on to help me make cookies.  After the Christmas cookies were gone, I decided to make one more batch of oatmeal, dark chocolate and dried cherries.  YUM.

 Since Owen was born, my Mom has taken a picture of him next to this Frosty the Snowman every Christmas.  This is his 5th Christmas with Frosty.  When I get the older pictures from my Mom off her computer, I will add them to this post.  It's cool to see the difference in how much he has grown every year!  Frosty used to be much bigger than him that first year!

Christmas 2011

I didn't get the best pictures in the world for Christmas this year.  There is so much going on, everyone opening presents, me trying to write down who got what and from whom, all while trying to get a good shot in poor lighting.  Oh well, maybe next year!  This is what I DID get however : )

 OK, so the gingerbread man was a few days before Christmas, but I love this picture with sprinkles in Owen's hair and face : )

 Nana's little Superman!  These jambes are so cute on him!

 Emily LOVES dogs. We got her a stuffed walking and talking puppy that pants and follows her around.  Adorable!

"Hmmm, I could have sworn I put my keys and lipstick in this purse! 

This is her first purse, which actually compliment her new sliver and black tutu she got for Christmas and insisted on wearing over her pajamas : )

Reading a new Go Deigo Go book.  Owen's current favorite show.

Mom crying over the memory box I made for her.  With the help of family and friends sending their fond memories of her : ) Thank you for those who pitched in!  It was her favorite gift : )

Daddy's Girl

Love this girl's grin!

Santa brought our family Twister!  

Set up the tripod for the end of the day, ready for bed family Christmas photo.  Forgot to pull Emily's paci out!  : (

Bed Time

 Our routine every night ends up with stories in Owen's bed before they go to sleep.   Emily is usually bouncing around and not paying much attention (though that is starting to change as she gains interest in books).  Owen is getting so good at memorizing stories now.  He only has to hear it a few times before he is reciting it word for word.  Adam thinks he's going to be an actor!  I hope not.  So far he has memorized The Little Blue Engine that Could; Somewhere Over the Rainbow, T'was the Night Before Christmas; and Circus Ship.
 They love their matching polar bears from the zoo : )

 Emily has to give everyone kisses before bed.

 Starting to get interested in books finally.

Halloween 2011

Pumpkin Carving with neighbors and friends.  I did all the hard work of scooping out the guts, while Adam made the faces.  I wasn't feeling very creative this year : (

Owen and Tyler

Owen's preschool Halloween party!

The girls at Owen's preschool LOVE Emily!  They see her and scream, "Baby!" and play with her as if she was a live doll.  It's pretty funny!  Emily isn't so sure of it, but she doesn't seem to mind the attention.  She is just as interested in the older girls as they are in her : )

Owen's creepy painted spider.

Our farmer and his little cow taking a break from the farm.

All our carved spooky pumpkins

Tom, wearing his daughters Halloween costumes when they decided to take it off!  Who says real men don't wear tutus? ; )

Boo at the Zoo.  Owen and Keira.

This year seemed to be the longest Halloween season ever.  It was a lot of fun and Owen got to dress up a lot, which was fun for him.  On Halloween night we went out with friends and neighbors and took the kids trick or treating in our neighborhood.  We were the only ones out there, so people we're dumping their candy on us.  Emily didn't quite know what candy was, but she was happy to be a part of it all and followed all the older kids up to the door to get whatever it was that people wanted to give her!  I think she ended up with more candy than Owen!  She was a trooper and carried her bucket the whole time! This year was great, I am sure next year will be even more fun!