Christmas Eve - December 2010

We are starting a new tradition this year for Christmas Eve. Instead of the usual "appetizer" dinner we decided it would be festive, fun and less work to get dressed up and go out to a nice restaurant.

We let the kids each open one present from one of their cousins before we left.

This first present of the Christmas holiday is very exciting and important. They were very good about taking turns and patiently watching each other.

A zhu zhu pet from cousin Clara and Oli - VERY exciting.

Next it's Ben's turn!

A Start Wars - lego Kit - Whoooo Hooo!!

The Daily Grille - December 2010

And so our new tradition begins. We love Fashion Island and they have a huge, gorgeous Christmas tree so we thought this would be a great setting for Christmas Eve. We had dinner at hte Daily Grille.

We had such a nice time just spending time together as a family and having conversation about what Santa is going to bring and how excited everyone is. It was so cute and so fun.

The food was fabulous and the kids had a great time getting dressed up, eating at a nice restaurant, etc.

The Christmas tree was gorgeous, as expected. We knew it was time to head home when this was the best smile we could get from Summer. Wondering who is being naughty and who is being nice....

Christmas Eve - Cookies for Santa - Dec. 2010

After such a fun evening we have one final job to do: Set out cookies for Santa.

This is a very important job and Ben was very good to remind me to put out a mug of milk since Santa will be so thirsty from delivering so many presents.

They are soooo excited and so cute about Christmas.

Holiday Fun - December 2010

We headed out for more Christmas Shopping around Huntington Beach.

When we got home we received a package in the mail from Mormor in Pa from Sweden.

The kids were so excited to get this fun, pretty Christmas candy. It was hard to get them to both look at me so I took a couple of pictures.

South Coast Plaza - December 2010

On a rainy day in December we decided to head over to South Coast Plaza and enjoy the beautiful christmas decorations......sure beats staying at home and going stir crazy.

We had a great time looking at the beautiful decorations. I love South Coast Plaza this time of year (well, really any time of year but especially in December).

Summer and Ben loved looking at all the trains and other decorations.

Awww, sooo cute. They can be best buddies and then fight like little bear cubs.

Having fun at Crystal Court on the little train.

Kinder Christmas Party - Dec. 2010

I went to Ben's Kindergarten Christmas Party. They had fun playing pin the nose on the snowman.

Go Ben!!

The played Christmas Bingo.

And of course decorated Christmas Cookies.

Here's the whole class. Bne loves his teacher - Mrs. Snow and is having a great time in her class.

Thanksgiving 2010

Ann, Jesse & Family came out to the O.C. to spend time with us over Thanksgiving. We had such a great time!! Ann and I made a big dinner with all of the fixings. We had Jesse's grandma over to join in the festivities. I'm pretty sure we kept her entertained.

Ben pulling a "mema" with the turkey leg. He was so excited and couldn't wait to get a hold of that turkey leg.

Aww, cute little Clara enjoying her meal.

We had tons of a good food and great company. It was such a great time.

Thanksgiving Weekend - 2010

Summer and Clara had a blast together and were always in cahoots with each other.

Who even knows what they are up to in this picture.

They had fun wearing their twinner PJ's, playing with toys, playing at the park, doing artwork, etc.

Oli was so chill and just hung out and watched the bigger kids play.

Summer thought it was so cool to hold Oli...he's almost as big as she is!

Huntington Beach in November 2010

We had one of those warm days in November when it's just too impossible not to go play in the waves.

The kids played until the sun set and had so much fun.

Another gorgeous sunset in Huntington Beach - off Magnolia street.

Ben had his fill of the water so was busying digging in the sand.

Summer stayed in the waves until it was almost dark. She was having so much fun!

Halloween 2010

The kids talked me into dressing up this year. I went as a witch, Summer as Ariel and Ben as Captain Jack Sparrow.

First we went to Huntington Main street and did some trick or treating at the shops...Ben met up with one of his Matey's (ok some random guy but they both liked each others outfits so I took a picture).

Then off for some trick or treating through our neighborhood.

And finally home to check out the pirate's bounty.

The got a lot of candy - I took half to my work so I wouldn't eat so much (hee hee).

Reef Point - Crystal Cove

Mormor and Pa were in town so we took them to Reef Point. This is one of my very favorite beaches. It is so gorgeous!! It is located south of Corona Del Mar along Newport Coast.

I love how relaxed mormor and pa look and I love how Summer is a little clinger monkey to Pa's leg.

It was fun to relax and watch the kids play.

The water is so clear and it isn't usually too crowded because you have to walk down a steep hill to get to the beach....and back up to go home. I'm thinking that rules out some of the crowds who don't want to carry stuff down and up the steep hill.

Nothing like getting buried up to the neck in sand!!