Phew - Another holiday season has FLOWN by! We had so much fun, and thankfully it's not over yet! We are spending this last week of our Christmas break at our Tahoe Cabin - enjoying the epic December snowfall by skiing, sledding, snow-manning, snowballing, and jacuzzi-ing.
We were so lucky to have Gran & Gramps John fly in from PA for Thanksgiving. Gee & Grandpa joined us, as well as several friends from various parts of our lives. We had all the traditional Thanksgiving foods, got overly stuffed and generally had a relaxing day with our friends and family.
The kids table with Felix, Declan, Ian, Keevah & Anika
Keevah & Declan with Gran
Our family with Gran and Gramps John
With Gee & Grandpa
Mama, Dada, Gee, Grandpa, Keevah & Declan - and Spirit and Chaos
Siblings!
Mama & Dada
Love my family - couldn't get Chaos to stick around for this one!
The day after Thanksgiving, we always go pick out our Christmas tree. This year, Gran got to come with us! I also picked out my very own tiny tree to go in my bedroom. We spent the rest of the weekend decorating the trees and the rest of the house. I LOVE going thru the Christmas boxes every year to remind myself of all the beautiful and meaningful decorations we have!
Finding the perfect tree with Gran
My special tiny tree
...all decorated!
Spirit watches the progress of the tree decorating
Mama finally sits down (with Chaos)...
everyone else passed out too.
Obligatory matching Christmas jammie photo
Thanksgiving weekend, we went to a big Christmas tree lighting in Napa. They had a small street market, Christmas Carolers, an ice skating rink and even fake snow! We even met Santa!
With Gran
...and Mama
Another special December treat! Mama took me to Tinsel Tea, just a Mama-Keevah morning! We got all dressed up for tea - complete with tiny sandwiches and tons of small treats! Mrs. Claus & Santa even made an appearance and read us some special Christmas stories.
Mama's birthday & my birthday are BOTH in December just to make the month even more crazy (and special!) For Mama's birthday weekend, we headed up to Tahoe to join Gee & Grandpa. Since they were going to be in Jordan & Egypt for Christmas, we celebrated the birthdays and Christmas early with them. We got into the Christmas spirit with even more matching jammies! Despite a case of septic bursitis that caused me to spend a whole afternoon in the Emergency room, I managed to enjoy lots of sledding. (Don't worry, I've completely recovered and skiing like a mad woman this week).
The whole matching gang.
Gee worked ALL YEAR to crochet both Declan and I some gorgeous blankets! It was our most special gift this year!
Keevah, Declan, Mama, Grandpa and Chaos
Spirit LOVES the snow!
Mama & Keevah
Mama and Declan
Chaos-in-boots
Declan & Keevah
My handsome brother!
Dada and his kiddos
My stupid knee...no idea how it happened!
The weekend after Tahoe (and the weekend before Christmas), it was my actual birthday. I'm SIX years old! I'm loving kindergarten and my new friends. I'm learning to read, enjoy Tae kwon do, love horseback riding and "making my own recipe". I love my brother dearly, my dogs and chickens...and now my NEW BUNNIES!!! Yes - you read that right, Mama & Dada got me two bunnies for my birthday! Please welcome Chocolate Newton House & Harmony Einstein House to the family! Mama planned an awesome birthday party for me - with a Bunny Theme. We did a pin-the-tail-on-the-bunny game, a bunny pinata, and some bunny hop races.
The table is all set for my party
My pinata
All my friends ready for the bunny hop races
pin the tail on the bunny!
Mama's awesome table setting with carrots, raddishes, and brussel sprouts in the flowers - and my fabulous bunny garden cake
Special thanks to Granddad & Boppy who got me the bunny dress for my birthday!
Harmony Einstein & Chocolate Newton House
My other birthday gift was my first Harry Potter book!
On December 23rd, we resumed our annual tradition of going to the Nutcracker in San Francisco! We had missed it last year due to Covid, and it was so nice to get back in person. Both Declan and I loved the whole production and even liked getting dressed up!
In front of SF City Hall
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Christmas Eve Eve
Christmas Eve saw the return of another House family tradition. We got all dressed up and went to look at Christmas lights throughout Napa. Then we headed to the FARM restaurant, where we had gone every year until Covid.
We spruce up ok!
Checking out the lights on Paradise Lane
At the FARM restaurant
Back home after dinner, we quickly changed into jammies and snuggled by the Fireplace to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Declan read the whole book by himself this year again! We set out our homemade cookies, as well as some carrots and milk by the fireplace. We also set out the traditional cheese course & Sauternes for Santa!
Finally it was time for Christmas Morning!!! We woke up to find that Santa had come! We opened stockings, then had a nice Christmas breakfast, followed by opening presents from under the tree. I got a new bunny bedspread, horseback riding gear, and an awesome nerf gun. Declan got a new ipad, a smart watch and scuba diving lessons. We got Mama a ring with our birthstones in it, and we made Dada new ceramic bowls.
Rainy Christmas morning
Organizing the gifts
New ipad for Declan
Ready for nerf battle
New bunny bedspread
t-shirt from Dada
Mama's new ring
Horseback riding gear
Dada's new ceramics
Shortly before Christmas, we also got our second Covid shots! We are so excited to have our Covid super powers!
After Christmas, we had a relaxing stay-cation in Napa, enjoying our new goodies. Mama spent the week purging all the old toys & clothes, and generally doing a deep clean of the house. And now, we're enjoying a week in Tahoe before we go back to the real world. Here's the view from the deck - you can barely see the jacuzzi!
