Christmas 2012

We are slowly saying goodbye to Christmas 2012 around here.   
This was the year of endless Christmases.   When you don't live by family, Christmas can go on and on! 

 {This is the longest post in the history of blogging, full of tons of photos of my kids and not enough of their mommy and daddy, but there's your warning, Christmas photo dump ahead}

We had our first Christmas celebration with my parents before we left for our trip back East. 

We headed to Georgia and as soon as we arrived, we met up with the whole family for a southern dinner and then went straight to Atlanta's Botanical Gardens for their Christmas Lights.  It was cold, but so fun and the kids loved it.  And they were troopers after flying all day!

The BEST part of the night was cousin Christian teaching Lucca and Jackson how to break dance.  What I should have taken a photo of was the crowd that gathered to watch these kids dance!!!  It was so awesome.

 

 

 

The next night we went ice skating in Centennial Park.  Also, freeeeezing, but Lucca LOVED her first time ice-skating with Daddy.  Watching them skate around and around was the sweetest (and funniest!!!) thing I've ever seen in my life.  Rustin did such a good job with her.  She only slipped once and that was because she demanded he let go of her hand.  She quickly held on tight to Daddy's hand after that for the rest of the time :)

Mimi & Papa's house never disappoints and Mimi had it decorated beautifully for our arrival!  The kids rooms were even decorated, to every last detail and it's something Lucca is sure to remember forever.  I think every day we were there, Lucca was wearing a different princess dress.  On Christmas Eve, she was Snow White...

 

Decorating Christmas cookies! 

The piano is where the kids always gravitate.  Sidenote. 2013: Must. get. a. piano.

 After cookie decorating, we went Christmas caroling in the neighborhood.  Mimi outfitted everyone with scarves, handed out recorders & jingle bells to the kids and off we went.   One neighbor came out in their robe, one neighbor came home from walking their dog as we were standing on their porch, two neighbors weren't home, and one lady was actually home, dressed, AND liked our songs :) 

 Lucca was SO EXCITED to ring the doorbells. 

Setting out milk & cookies and a note for Santa on Christmas Eve , and going to bed verrrry excited! 

And then the real fun began.  These two.  In the garage for hours, putting together toys. Well, two toys. A horse and a doll crib.  For hours.  Until 2AM actually.  And then the work really got done when me and Mimi went out to the garage to see what all the laughter was about.  Don't tell anyone, but if it weren't for a handy wife, that horse still wouldn't have his back legs attached...

And finally, CHRISTMAS MORNING!  Santa came!!!
For Lucca, it was all things fairy princess, doll, Cinderella, anything that screams three year old girl, and for Jack Stone, it was all about cars and trains! And Elmo!  Our dude loves Elmo.

We had the best time.  The kids came home with a million memories, thankfully not only about presents, but memories with family, friendships with cousins and a grasp of what the true meaning of the Christmas season is all about, thanks to Papa and his message to the kids on Christmas day.  

2012 -- The merriest of Christmases indeed!!

Goodbye 2012

Well 2012, you were spectacular.

The first year since 2007 that I wasn't pregnant or giving birth to a baby!!!!  Whew! 

We traveled far and wide...Paris, Augusta, Seattle, Isle of Palms, New York, Disneyland, Green Bay, Georgia and much more...

We turned 36, 31, 3, and 1!

We loved, we laughed, we learned and we made memories to last a lifetime.

2013, we are ready for you!  Can't wait for another year to live each day to the fullest, loving life, loving each other and loving our Maker.

More than ever before, as this year comes to a final close, I am thankful, so very thankful, for all the blessings of the past year.  Looking forward to a new year of growth, adventure, health and FUN!!!

Thank you family, thank you friends, for loving us, growing with us and encouraging us on days we need it most.  Life is a gift, live yours with passion!

Twenty thirteen...CHEERS!!!!!!

Bedtime Prayer

"Dear Jesus,

Thank you for my new dolly bed. I hope no one takes it because I love it so much. Amen" 

--Lucca's bedtime prayer 12.31.12

Oh, December

December is here (and halfway over?!?!?!) and we have been having the most wonderful time! The magic of Christmas through the children's eyes is truly spectacular. And oh so fun! We've been creating new traditions, celebrating old ones, baking Christmas cookies, singing carols, looking at lights, sitting by the fire, taking pictures with Santa, hiding our Elf on the Shelf, watching Frosty the Snowman and The Grinch for the first time ever -- and above all else, learning about the REAL meaning of this holiday season.

To my joy and Rustin's dismay, our little chick seems to love Christmas just as much as her mama. It's been awesome watching her light up and squeal about all the lights, decorations, packages and festivities happening around here. Like mother, like daughter. Except I don't know how she learned more words to the Christmas carols than me. Crazy that she corrects me if I sing Frosty or Rudolph wrong. . 

 

 

Lucca's preschool Christmas Sing-Along

 

Packages arriving!

 

Our favorite house to look at down the street

 

Breaking from Christmas photos for a quick Ring Around the Rosey

 

Snoopy!

 

If you could have heard her singing "O Christmas Tree, you are soooo beautiful..."

Calistoga

We have some lucky kids, growing up in the Bay Area with so much to see, do and experience right at our fingertips.  In under an hour, in any direction you go, you are bound to find yourself someplace magnificent.  Holding true to one of our New Year's resolutions, we have been exploring new sights and places on the weekends ... and loving every minute of it.

Yesterday, we decided to spend the day in Calistoga and see the Old Faithful Geyser of California.  Every five minutes the geyser shoots up a tower of water from the earth. So cool!  Not to mention it's in the heart of wine country and set in front of a gorgeous backdrop. 

After watching the geyser shoot up several times, we walked over to feed the sheep and goats on the property.  Jackson is one brave dude, Lucca a little (lot) more hesitant.  Like her mom???

I mean, really.  How gorgeous is this place? 

After our stop at Old Faithful, we drove into the town of Calistoga and had lunch at a cute deli.  We got a treat at a bakery after lunch and at that point, Lucca pretty much thought she made it to heaven.

Days like these make me so very thankful for my sweet little family.