SNOW in Santa Barbara!!

 Wanna know how to get a smile that won't stop on a 4 year old boy?  Tell him you are taking him to the snow for the first time ever in Santa Barbara!!! Last week we had 80 degree days, and this week we have snow on our sweet little mountains.  It usually happens about once a year here and only lasts a few hours. This time, despite Adam's grumbling, we layered up the kids and headed to Painted Cave before I had to be at work by 11:00.   Owen was SO excited as you can see from the expression on his face.

Oh my, was he giddy!!

 He is now quite the snowball maker/ thrower!

Miss Emily was not quite as thrilled to be thrown into freezing temperatures with no gloves or thermal tutu ; )

Adam handed her a snow ball and she dropped it the second she had it.  She wasn't impressed.

 The winds were strong and the temp was miserably cold...and it was muddy.... BUT we had fun for the short 15 minutes we braved to get out of the car and play!

 That is indeed a tear on Emily's face as she was pleading to go home ; )  This is a California girl I am afraid.  It's in her thin blood.

Owen throwing a snowball at my camera...my expensive camera.... grrr.

Adam grabbed two of Emily's jackets thinking that one of them was Owen's....So Owen ended up having to  wear the inside liner of Adam's snowboarding jacket instead.  He was actually a lot warmer that way anyway.

Another family had built a snow man on the top of their car.  I had my hands too full to think about doing something like that.  Next time...when it's not 200 mph winds! (at least that's what they felt like!)

 Our view from the drive down the mountain.  You would never guess that there is snow 10 minutes away from this picture!  I love my town!

We had such a nice morning.  Next time we will be sure to pick up some warm hot chocolate on our way!

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!  : (