Dec Daily :: Day 20

Our new stockings arrived and now our house finally looks like Christmas!

Dec Daily :: Day 19

UH OH!!!

Dec Daily :: Day 18

Today we got fancy and took some family photos. This little guy (and his big sis) did great.

Did you know New Year's cards are the new black?

;)

Dec Daily :: Day 17

I bought a German nutcracker at a garage sale today.

So many strange things about that sentence, right? True story, stopped at an interesting looking garage sale and although the desk had just sold that originally caught my eye, I browsed the other junk...and found our little treasure.

Lucca has been learning all about the Nutcracker at music class this month and she looooves the teachers nutcracker. I figured she would like this guy, but I didn't know how much Jackson would too! He spotted "Olof" right away and was so excited to touch it.

We came home with the cool original German box for Olof too, and found out this guy actually carries a little value! It will be fun taking him out of his box every year at Christmas time and letting the kids play with it. We needed a nutcracker :)

Dec Daily :: Day 16

We've made many recent trips to the mall for Christmas shopping, and each time we go, Lucca hugs this snowman. So funny. There are actually two of them, and yes, she hugs them both.

Dec Daily :: Day 15

Someone loves Christmas even more than me! Tonight we took the kids and Grammie & Pops to the "Magic Christmas House" in Novato, with a billion lights and yard ornaments.

But that's not all. At this crazy house, you actually go INSIDE and see the madness continue in each and every room of their home. Never seen anything like it. A train room, a Santa room, an angel room....you name it.

To top off the experience? Lucca enjoyed her very 1st candy cane. Kid heaven. I can only imagine how magical her dreams will be tonight.

Dec Daily :: Day 14

Jack, 8 months, lounging by the Christmas tree.

Dec Daily :: Day 13

Dec Daily :: Day 12

While not quite the moneymaker reactions this year, I still love the uncertainty my kids have of this man. This experience was not as traumatic as the past two years, but Lucca still doesn't feel comfortable in the arms of a big, fat stranger -- and I'm ok with that :)

When Santa asked what she wanted for Christmas, she told him she needs new paints because her other paints ran out. Gotta add that to my list.

Jackson cried for a split second, but that was nothing compared to the absolute freak outs his big sister had for two years.

This is our third year taking the Santa photo at this location, but this year the Santa changed. Kinda bummed about that -- where did our favorite Santa go? New Santa gig?

Dec Daily :: Day 11

We spent this chilly December morning at the gem of the Bay Area, the Discovery Museum. We love this place. Our membership has expired, but if we still lived down the street I would renew in a heartbeart. This place is amazing for kiddos -- I highly recommend it.

Maybe we can take the Swishlette twins here next week??

Oh, and Jackson & his sweet baby blue track suit decided to start pulling himself up and standing (!!!) while we were there. #Awesome

Dec Daily :: Day 10

Topping Lucca's Wish List: a Dollhouse.

We played with this one for about a half hour today. I see a dollhouse in her near future, she just needs to ask Daddy (aka Santa).

Also? I can't get over how old she is looking!!!

Dec Daily :: Day 9

BESTIES.

"Look Mommy, he's holding my hand!"

Dec Daily :: Day 8

Life moves fast, often too fast these days.

I take A LOT of photos of my kids, and I think it's because I want to preserve that very moment that we are living in that is so very special to me at the time. Things change quickly around here, and I want to remember all the sweet stages. Favorite foods, favorite songs (that we sing over and over again) and favorite places...right now, this moment. Because with a toddler and a baby, tomorrow could be a whole new world.

Dec Daily :: Day 7

Was planning to photograph 5 of my favorite ornaments, but only got to three before Jackson woke up and our HP printer failed me. Both, not shocking. The two honorable mentions not included on my favorites page are 1) the American flag, in honor of my grandfather 2) my very 1st Christmas ornament my mother got the year I was born, 1981.

A game we play daily around here is "pick your favorite ornament" and sweet Lucca loves it. She walks around and around the tree, examining each ornament very closely before picking her favorite (which happens to be the same every time...the gondola!).

I love our tree and all the memories that come alive when hanging the ornaments. It's no wonder my mother cried every year while we decorated the tree :) Suddenly, it all makes sense.

Dec Daily :: Day 6

Once upon a time we grew up and got a big ol' house in the burbs. What fun! Our very first place to hang Christmas lights on. Thankful, so very thankful, for someone who knows how to do it...Pops! Would your Dad drive 2 hours after work to hang YOUR lights?

Lucca had the best time helping Pops make her house look the prettiest and most magical on the block. Thanks Popsy!

Dec Daily :: Day 5

Welcome to our Monday night. Here we are, 20 minutes after Daddy came home from work, 5 minutes before bedtime. Having fun every chance we get because that's how we roll.

Even on Mondays.

Dec Daily :: Day 4

Thank God for little girls. For MY special little girl.

Lucca picked out her own Christmas dress this year, and I love it. Who says you have to wear red on Christmas? Certainly not me. I held up a couple other dresses at the store that she disapproved of, for this was the one she wanted. The pink three-tiered ribbon dress, of course. As soon as she tried it on, she began twirling. It is so instinctual in little girls. Put them in a dress and watch them twirl, twirl, twirl.

Next up, the gold shoes she wants to go with it.

Dec Daily :: Day 3

"If you think our hands are full, you should see our hearts."

If you know us, you know we love our weekends.

FAMILY TIME. DADDY TIME.

Lucca knows what the weekends mean. She reminds us over and over again on Saturdays & Sundays that Daddy has "no work today!" and doesn't let him out of her sight. In the history of daddy/daughter relationships, I'd be pretty amazed if such a relationship as this ever existed. It's pretty special. And to watch the relationship between my dudes forming as well, just melts this proud mama's heart.

I lovely love my family.

Yes, this says Sunday. Yes, today is Saturday. Yes, I'm losing my mind.

It's been confirmed, I am so not a scrapbooker.

Dec Daily :: Day 2

December 2, 2011 = 70 degrees and sunny and FRIDAY!

Do you know what's awesome? Having a backyard.

We spent this gorgeous morning in the backyard (!), jumping on the kids new trampoline. This is an early Christmas present from Mimi and we are already enjoying it immensely. Lucca wakes up each day and goes to the window to check and see if the trampoline is still there, and then asks if we can keep it forever. It will be no time before Jackson is jumping right along with her. Here's to hoping we have many more sunny December days just like today.

(Album page)

Hello, December

Meet my December Daily project :: a photo album I'm creating to document the days leading up to Christmas. I'm excited about making this a December tradition in our family, so we will have many memories to celebrate and share for years and years to come.

Last year, I shared a December Daily photo each day on the blog, but this year I've already created the album and will be actually printing out the photo each day to include in my album . I'm excited to capture stories and moments of these sweet & magical days we are living in.

Day 1 was an easy one! First thing this morning, Lucca started rearranging the ornaments on the Christmas tree (as she has done each day that our tree has been up...). She LOVES our tree and loves "decorating" it. Jackson adores Lucca and watches her every move, so this photo melts my heart. Lucca in action. Jackson in adoration. <3

The album page

Best Sister EVER

Jackson is a lucky dude - because Lucca is his sister. Actually I can't get over what an amazing sister she is. She has so much patience with her brother, soo much love for him, and she's such a helpful little mommy. I am so proud of her. She is so understanding, beyond her 2 years, of why she is loaded and unloaded last into the car, why her dinner is ready after his dinner, why I have to nurse Jackson before we have a tea party, why I need to put buddy down for his nap before we can go in the backyard, etc etc etc. Sometimes it feels like I am always telling her "just a minute" so I can take care of Jackson. She never throws a fit over any of this -- never seems to get jealous -- never resents that the world doesn't revolve only around Lucca anymore. Tonight in the bath, Jackson kept taking every toy away from Lucca. Every single one. And she never got upset with him. When he took her ball, I was waiting for her to tell him nooo buddy, but she didn't. She would just grab something else.

She is seriously the best big sister.

Jackson stealing her water

Best Friends

Playing music together (Sis always brings Jackson an instrument to play)

Playing together in the ball pit

Buddies

I Scream

Lucca got a very special treat for traipsing through IKEA with me today. Her very own ice cream cone. She thought she was pretty hot stuff and pulled out all kinds of moves while she was eating that cone. Sometimes you gotta live a little!

Dress Up

We celebrated Halloween for many days in October. Lucca has discovered the fun of dressing up...and it's been awesome. The rotation line-up consisted of three costume changes: a bee, a kitty and a cupcake. Next year, she is already requesting a dinosaur costume :)

Newest lover of Halloween? Me.

She's normal

Doesn't like the crust..

Lucca, please be 2.5 years old forever.

Farmers market

One of our favorite things to do is go to the Farmers Markets in Marin. Amazing fruits, vegetables, bread, coffee...and slides & ponies of course!

Lucca was the smallest tot to climb up the big slide, so the attendant suggested I go with her. I started to follow her and she immediately told me "No Mommy!! You wait over there!". Ha, never underestimate what this child can do all by herself. Miss Independent. So she climbed right up to the top and slid down, as the other kids got scared and came back down the ladder or waited for their parent to climb up and slide with them. She rules.

And then we rode a pony. Smokey to be exact.

We left the market with a stroller full of goodies, a flower balloon, and the happiest little girl in the whole world.