ADVENT SEASON

As has been our tradition since the kids were itty-bitty (2011, ages 1 and 2), we wrapped up 24 Christmas themed books (we got a few new ones on Thanksgiving that Gramma snagged in recent library book sales, so we got to retire some of our least favorites...  meaning mine and Jay's - the kids love them all) and set them out for the kids to find tomorrow along with the fully stocked, reusable gingerbread house advent "calendar" we got this year. Let the holiday season swing on in!

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

The kids picked a few craft projects to take to Gramma's house and complete over their Thanksgiving break: Santa and Frosty masks to color, felt trees to decorate with stickers, and Shrinkydinks to color and bake and place on a little swirly velvet tree. They were a hit and allowed us to keep a good balance of quiet, down time at the house and adventuring outside over our vacation!

 And since our crafts weren't enough for Jay (and because Gramma hadn't yet started her Lego VW Bus, even though she'd had it for almost 2 years!), he and the kids got to work on it, with the goal of completing it before the end of our trip. It was a huge project with a LOT of pieces and complicated instructions (age 16+), but James patiently worked by his daddy's side and Cora helped a few times too. It turned out to be the coolest Lego set yet (and all the parts work - it looks just like an old school style bus)! 

THE LONG ROAD HOME

 We were on the road by 5:23am and despite the lack of any hint of sunlight in the sky, Cora covered up and went right back to sleep.

James eventually gave in too (and we eventually uncovered Cora in fear she'd overheat), and after about an hour nap, they were both up and well behaved (enthralled by Harry Potter book #2, Kindle play, and a couple movies on DVD) for the remainder of the 12-hour trip. For once, the weather cooperated and the trip was uneventful. Another wonderful vacation in the memory books!

SCOOTIN' AROUND

 Sissy needed to burn some more energy, so I took her out to scoot around Gramma's neighborhood and let her show me (again) all her favorite nearby Christmas decorations. And she still prefers the scooter to the bike, despite multiple beach biking days.

MORE FUN THAN PORTRAITS!

Post-portrait session beach play (after a quick ocean-side wardrobe change)

PORTRAITS FAIL

After a quiet and relaxing morning, we got dressed up to take some family portraits in Jean's backyard and at the beach. Unfortunately, the kids were not in the mood and pretty much every picture featured a scowl by at least one of them... There might be one good one of them with Gramma, but the rest of the session is a wash. For some reason, they both smiled for this phone snapshot at the 18th Street beach marker though, so, memories...

ZOO DAY!

 Just a bit sunny in the upper 70s today...

You knew I was going to throw it back to 2011, right? Gosh this boy has grown...

Cora wanted a turn with the dragon this time around:

 Don't worry, he was tired, but only pretending to sleep. I gave him some soda to help him get through the Jaguar and Africa exhibits ;-)

 It worked, see?

 Cora was "petting" the Gaboon Viper and when it turned to look at her she was taken aback:

 Thank you for the fun afternoon (and miles and miles of walking) at the zoo Gramma!