Christmastime was here

It was actually a very calm and relaxed Christmas for us this year. We had the pleasure of spreading out our family celebrations so we got a little break between school letting out and the holiday as well as have a good amount of time to spend with each family group without having to rush off somewhere or having so many people around, no one knows what is going on. We looked forward to all the events quickly filling up our calendar and were curious to see the changes in both girls from last year to this. Our main goals were to get and decorate a tree, make it through the last week of school with sanity intact and stay healthy through Christmas night. We made it, though we should not have time-stamped the health because we almost always meet our deadlines - good or bad. All in all, it was a fun filled holiday with some quite memorable experiences and surprises.

Looking for a tree was the first order of official holiday business but by the time we went out to get one, even Home Depot was calling it quits. We were only a day or so later than usual in beginning our search but that, combined with the drought made for slim pickin's.

So in the true spirit of Christmas, we went out on an 80 degree day, ended up at the first place we started and paid way too much for a our Douglas Fir. At least it

was a lovely tree - not just because we need to justify it either. It was a perfect shape, freshly cut and unwrapped, and had been sitting in a trough of hose water with a bunch of other 'secret trees'. At least they tied it onto the car for us. We brought it home and decided that the decorating would happen late enough that we could finish school but soon enough that we wouldn't be taking everything off again. The girls had fun hanging the ornaments though to look at the design, you'd think that the tree had only one side and was only three feet tall. The Christmas magic was truly in the air that night however... by morning the tree had sprouted a few more sides and and grown by at least three feet! It also had a trim since Mom needed some boughs for a class project - but, hey, more room for presents underneath!

The school festivities began with the Book fair/Breakfast with Santa where both girls enjoyed a good sized pile of pancakes and sausage before joining Santa for a photo op. Santa was very happy to see the girls and reminded them to be

VERY good since he has known Mom and Dad personally for many

years and we have an understanding. (Santa also took us out once for great Mexican food at El Tepyac for 'Manny's Special' but that's a story for a different time) Anna almost smiled and Hallie promised to be good.

They really almost always are, you know. Santa insisted on a picture with Dad and after the PTA ladies stopped staring, we headed to the library to choose some books and let Mom get started with her shift at the register. Dad and the girls headed out to visit Grammie and celebrate Daddy's birthday with her.

The following few weeks were filled with projects, crafts and rehearsals for the school holiday program. We received a letter informing us that Hallie had been chosen to perform as a toy soldier in one of the numbers sung by the Kindergarten classes. We had to be sure she had enough combinations of white shirts and black pants to get through dress rehearsals and performances - she and her teacher made the hat, and be sure she knew all the words to the songs. The songs were easy - keeping the white shirts clean...not so much. She took her role very seriously and, as a result of her interpretive soldier moves during rehearsal, the others picked up her step and jazzed it up a little. Most important though, she had a great time, did well and loved Kindergarten that much more.

Once school was out for the holiday and we didn't have to worry about getting 

everyone to bed on time, we took an evening drive to check out another holiday tradition.

Each year a local neighborhood shows an incredible display of Christmas lights. Each block has a different theme and each household raises its electric bill to new heights. 

We took another quick trip to Disneyland to catch the Christmas parade and ride It's a Small World Holiday one more time (and we were very glad we did since we then were all sick and everything was taken down before we would make it back). So even though we didn't do much else, it was worth it to watch the girls bobbing their heads, singing along and dancing to the parade music. Hallie asked Anna if she thought it should be Christmas at Disneyland all year long and received a resounding baby "Yeah!" Mom was secretly pleased but pretended to side with Dad who is not a fan of that plan.

Our official Christmas celebrations actually began on the 23rd of December. We had the great pleasure of meeting our new niece, Jessica. She was here, with her mom of course, to share Christmas with her family and celebrate her Baptism. Not quite 3 months old, she was sweet and quiet and nicely complied when her Aunt was holding her for the first time - quiet and napping. The service was nice, Hallie and Anna made it through about 20 minutes and played in the hall until it was time for the reception. Jessica showed her familial trait of extreme intelligence by snoozing for the duration of time those nice old people came poking around - she didn't make a peep. After our time at the church, we headed back to Grammie's for lunch and Christmas presents.  

Hallie kept wiping her brow with a "phew" as she explained to everyone that now she had 

"TWO babies to take care of.  First there was Anna and now comes little Jessica!"  Anna was more interested in the kid-friendly set up Grammie has going on and only got a little jealous when Mom was holding Jessica.  Our new niece was enthralled with Hallie's reading of the new book we gave to her and she was this attentive for the entire length of the story!

  It was a very nice visit with Aunt Suzie too but like any new Mom, she knows who we all really want to see (she knows we love her) And, as it turned out, the day and time was perfect for us because we had the next family gathering later that afternoon about 20 minutes away.  As it so happens we have a LOT of family and they all expect to see us every once in a while - imagine!  We had a nice visit there as well with all those aunts and uncles and cousins, oh my! More great food, a gift exchange (during which Hallie chose to keep the gourmet cheese basket) and special treats for the girls from Aunt Patty.  We even lucked out on the way home - the girls didn't sleep so they went to bed properly in their own beds.  A Christmas miracle. 

Christmas Eve was on our own this year so Mom decided to try a turkey and Dad took the girls to church.  They actually sat through part of the service and waited the rest out until it was time to pet the Christmas animals in the courtyard.  A cow, donkey, llama, goat, sheep and a few rabbits patiently allowed themselves to rubbed and petted while children and chickens scurried around their feet.  Hmmmmm.... probably didn't have hand sanitizer outside the stable though....

After church and dinner, it was finally time to prepare for the big night.  Hallie remembered everything that we needed to leave out for Santa and his reindeer and placed it all just so on the table.  She then reminded us about the 'Santa Key' she needed to hang on the door so Santa could get in (for those of us who have no fireplace).  She also commented that Santa might like walking inside after bouncing down the other chimneys.  Santa did indeed show his appreciation by remembering the items requested by the girls (Anna did it telepathically, we think) and threw in a few surprises as well.  Hallie got to show it all off when Grandma and Auntie and Uncle Chad came over for brunch and presents.  Hallie was thrilled with her watch and admired it while Anna zoomed around on her new ride on toy.  We then rested, took our traditional wreath to Rose hills and 

went to Grandma's for Christmas: part 3 - dinner and , you guessed it, more presents.  We also had an extra treat in sharing Christmas with Uncle Chad's mom and dad.  It was another fun, non-cranky day AND everyone made it to normal bedtime again!  (Not as exciting when it appeared to be in preparation for the sleepless nights of the cold afflicted days to come)

As always we are happy to have the family so near and look forward to each opportunity to share our lives for just a little while. We hope your Christmas was just as blessed.

...and to all, a good night!

This Way to Bethlehem....

This year we had a wonderful holiday experience that made a great impression on all of us. We were invited, by a friend, to experience a "Walk Thru Bethlehem" at her church. The members of the church community of Grace Church of Glendora did a fabulous job creating an authentic and memorable evening to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

The Merriest Weekend on Earth

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than spend it with family? As part of what may very well become an annual tradition, we played, ate, rode and shopped Disneyland to our hearts content. Not unusual for us you say? No, but this time we had the pleasure of having Granny and Grandpa along for all the fun! We spent a terrific weekend at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, had some really great meals (WHICH required utensils) enjoyed a rare, empty park and even made a new acquaintance - artist, Jim Shore.

We checked into the hotel the night before Granny and Grandpa's arrival and got settled in. We made ourselves at home, especially grateful to have a place to dump the unbelievable selection of jackets, sweaters and kid apparatus, and explored the Christmas grandeur of the hotel lobby. Santa, Christmas carolers, Santa and storytellers helped create the early holiday atmosphere in the craftsman inspired hotel. The girls especially liked rocking in the chairs placed cozily in front of the fireplace in the Great Hall while listening to the piano being played.




We wanted to take care of a few things and visit some of the girls' favorite spots (without making 'the Grands' suffer through it) since those explorations can be incredibly lengthy. It is best to allow extra time when one considers that you must walk on this little wall, touch the big Mickey hand, go look for the caterpillar, etc. With the added determination of a little pair of feet that insist on walking EVERYWHERE without assistance, and an equally determined pair of big sister feet heading in every direction, it makes for a great challenge if added adult pairs of feet are trying to navigate as well.




The next morning, with all the preliminaries out of the way, we enjoyed a room service breakfast and managed to buy the last child sized poncho from the gift shop before heading out into a RAIN-Y park. Hallie chose to spend her birthday gifts from Uncle John and Grandpa Jim on a Minnie umbrella and wallet and she even had enough for a new jacket! We dodged the drops and made it onto quite a few rides before heading back to the hotel to dry out, drink some hot chocolate and nap. Unfortunately, the picture of the 'drowned rat family on vacation', taken by a cast member, was too blurry to salvage, but let's put it this way; the rain was so heavy, that we couldn't have been seen even without the blur. Still...WAY FUN!! Once rested and dry (and of course, snacked) we awaited the arrival of Granny and Grandpa. We had actually done it right this time and had called days ahead to make our dinner reservations so they literally took up their bags and came back down to wait for our name to be called at the Storyteller's Cafe. They have a great buffet which is particularly helpful since Anna wants a little bit of everything. So, she and Mom shared while Hallie ordered her favorite - the make your own pizza. The server brings her a Mickey shaped tray with dough, sauce, cheese and pepperoni and she gets to design her own pizza and dictate the amount of toppings. Then it is whisked away to the pizza oven to bake and comes out perfect every time. We had such a nice relaxing meal which we attempted to walk off afterwards by checking out the shops of Downtown Disney. Bedtime came soon - all the more important since we had early entry into the park the next day.

Our day together began with a few rides, Grandpa's favorite theme park breakfast (churros) and a short wait to buy our sculptures and have them signed by Mr. Shore. After a brief visit and bag check, we were off to enjoy more of the park. The girls were thrilled to have somebody other than Mom and Dad join them at one of their favorite places. It was pretty hard not to think we have the most adorable kids on the planet when Hallie carefully explained the rides to Granny and Grandpa - including those that were too scary - and, to hear Anna scream out 'Mickey', 'Minnie', 'Doofy' (which, though mispronounced, is equally apropos). Yup, we've done our job greasing the corporate machine by being sure our children recognize Mickey heads somewhere just after MaMa and Dada.



Hallie directed us from attraction to attraction and decided where we would have lunch. She was particularly excited that Grandpa liked the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and wanted to revisit them several times. That combined with the umpteenth trip to see It's a Small World Holiday was about all we needed. We made a few more stops (including a visit with Santa) before taking a break. How were we ever able to go from morning to midnight? At least once each trip we lament the fact that we used to open and close the park and have energy to wonder what we were going to do afterwards. We're not sure whether it's the ever increasing crowds, our advancing age, being parents or any number of unknown factors that dictate the need for us to call it a day earlier and earlier. Or... we're almost 40. Enough said. Maybe the trade off is that we are now able to handle the expense of a hotel to allow for (the girls') naps. Again well rested, we returned to the park for dinner and more rides, opting to leave before the madness that is the fireworks show. It was a tricky departure as the annual Candlelight Processional was letting out at the same time but we survived. As you can imagine, crying baby aside, we slept pretty well that night.

Before calling it a weekend we headed into the park the next morning for a last bit of fun. Granny, Dad and Anna waited in line while Mom, Grandpa and Hallie enjoyed some Disney eggs and toast. About the time breakfast was done, our place in line had caught up with us at the restaurant so we ordered for the others and changed the guard (which we SO hate doing). Shortly, we boarded the Nautilus and experienced the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - which was great since we hadn't been since summer. Upon surfacing, we were met with a clear, bright blue day and we enjoyed spending our last little bit of time strolling along together. It was a wonderful time. The girls loved having the opportunity to spend time with their grandparents. It is evident in the fact that Anna kept asking about 'Danny and Papa' whenever they weren't around and pointed to their seats in the car when they weren't with us. It's safe to say they made quite an impression on each other. It's likely we'll be doing this again.

So, though we hated to leave so early, it worked well for us to head out mid morning as we had time to regroup and prepare for another week of work and school. Short naps on the way home (except for poor Dad who was driving) helped us maintain our regular schedule and we lucked out with a normal bedtime that night. Oh, and Mom and Dad may have wished each other a happy 12th anniversary before falling into an exhausted sleep.

The Big 05!

So, upon turning five, Hallie was able to tuck a few more milestones in her bag.  She started kindergarten, learned how to snap her fingers, has chewed gum and is now tall enough to ride pretty much everything at an amusement park.  The most significant for her at this point was evidenced by the number of people she told.  After her last check up, her yellow card was full. She will happily tell anyone who asks, that all the spaces are full and she doesn't have to get any more shots.  She also had her first kid birthday party. Still seeking a career in science, Hallie chose to have a Mad Science party. Then, she reasoned, her friends could see how "science could be smart and cool for all the children" She was excited to invite her old preschool buds to the party as well as a few of her new kindergarten friends. Thanks to the generosity of our good friends, we were able to accommodate the mob that is our family + friends at a lovely home (with a yard to rival any park) and had a lovely afternoon.  The kids got to play on the equipment, swing, bounce on the trampoline, hula hoop and draw on a gigantic roll of paper.  The group was loaded up with pizza and salad and got ready to experiment.  When the science lady arrived, parents and kids alike gathered on the lawn for some slimy, bubbly, oozy fun.  To top it all off, after a grand finale dry ice extravaganza, the kids got to make their own slime to take home! 

After a quick clean-up, it was time to blow out those five candles on the buttercream frosted marble cake. Boy, do kids RUN at the mere suggestion of cake. Not being a big fan of cake, Mom has to gear up to feign excitement for the sugary portion of the party but, cameras ready, and cake knife in hand, she and Dad captured every second of the ritual.  The moment is priceless; the expression on a child who is being serenaded by the cacophony of the assembled guests and the adoring and perhaps, reflective,  gazes of grandparents cannot be duplicated.  Candles and cake are powerful.  This gloriously illuminated, iced and layered confection represents so much more than the waxy smoke, brightly colored tongues and sugary rush it produces.  For a child, it brings the focus of attention back to her and symbolizes hope in the form of a wish, and pride in the achievement of reaching the next age.  For the parent it symbolizes the forward march of time and the hope for an even brighter future, and pride in the accomplishments of one so small who has learned and become so much in such a short time. She is truly someone of whom we can be proud. She is loving and sensitive and is the most unselfish child. She didn't even think about her presents until one of her friends asked her when she would open them. Of course she didn't turn them away - she's not selfish but knows a chance for some new fun when she sees it. She thanked everyone and made sure they all had their favors when they left. She even offered for a classmate to take one home to his brother! MMMMMM. Our sweet girl.

So, Hallie got her wish, though she never actually asked for all the trappings. She told us she wished for a good party and a special birthday. She also thanked us, on her own, for making her the best birthday party ever and for being the best Mom and Dad and Sister she's ever had. Yea 5 !!!

"When you're a little older..."

At what point in our lives do we stop hearing that phrase? It always seemed that we were never old enough - well, to do the things we wanted, anyway. Somehow we were old enough for a lot of other things we never asked about. Why is that? Once we are old enough to reason, our lives are sprinkled with "You're old enough to_______________ (know better, do your own..., clean the...., etc) When we are finally able to actually reach out and grasp one of the elusive privileges it is met with no less enthusiasm than we would express on Christmas morning. Those events stand out in our minds as milestones - these rites of passage - a first sleep over, a treacherous journey to an off-limits location, or perilous first bike ride. They are the very essence of what it is to be an American child.

There are so many milestones when we are growing up, most significant and noteworthy it seems, within the first year. (It is only in recent years that a proliferation of adult 'baby books' has occurred) And perhaps we are without memory of those events, because a certain amount of growing pains accompany them. It also seems that ages have been assigned as, or coincide with, most of the other commonly accepted milestones one reaches in the average lifetime. Many are public and celebrated, others are private (hopefully not publicized) but we keep inching past them taking little notice of the days in between. Having passed (and survived) many of the prescribed events, it is with a bit of dejected realization that we note those did not all come without pain as well, whether physical or emotional - or at least a little anguish. For whatever reason, we keep striving to reach each milestone, taking little notice of the struggle, always hoping for the promise of bigger, if not better, to give our lives that "extra something".

The struggle may not be directly related to the age or event but, with eyes on the prize, we run the gauntlet and emerge, hopefully, unscathed. Is it an inherently hopeful nature that humans possess  or, is it simply the notion that the grass will always be greener? Teenagers see life beginning when, at 16, they can drive a car or at 18, can do whatever they want. (This obviously does not apply to those in this household who have passed teen age as neither drove at 16 and both wanted to be 18 so they could vote) After that, 21 and 25 afford a few more legal privileges and the continued perception that getting older is a good thing. (It should be noted here that we ALWAYS think getting older is a good thing - consider the alternative) Then somehow the ages turn into road markers by which we measure our accomplishments or lack thereof. 30 ahead - life in place. 40 - the beginning of the end, 50 - the new 30. Hopefully we do not all view those markers as being on a downhill slope.

Kids though.... they're happy right now. Sure, they may want to be older but have nothing particular assigned to that nebulous definition of 'older'. Hallie, near her 1832nd day of life and Anna near her 465th, have experienced many of those milestones, which, at this point, have been events celebrated primarily by the grown-ups. For all of us, milestones are developmental (physical or emotional) but for young children, they are rarely a personal or private experience. The physical changes are shared with, at the very least, the pediatrician and, depending on the discretion of family and friends, can become news to 10s of people. Those milestones have been granted no remembrance and have no ownership for the child. They must be for the benefit of the parents, giving them something to which they may cling while weeping over the next milestone crossed by their ever growing offspring.

Ah, but once age 3 or 4 comes around the seeking of elusive treasure begins. What evolves into a milestone to be reached is often a result of a mechanism for parents to bide their time. The desires expressed when asking "Mommy can I" and "Daddy can we" can be kept at bay by the response of "When you're older", "See, the sign says you have to be x years old","Maybe when you're five you can try it". Of course, you know what comes next. Eventually you have to make good because as many times as they can't remember to bring home a jacket or stop waking you up to ask if they can be awake, they always remember the date and time that you agreed they could have 'x' and try 'y' AND know when that assigned day has come. It's as though an internal alarm clock has rung to let them know "Today is the day Mommy said you could chew gum" or "Now Daddy will take me to...." How do they KNOW???

We are ruled by schedules, calendars and clocks. With the exception of nostalgic moments shared with friends and family, we are always looking ahead waiting to cross whatever marker we have set for ourselves - Wednesday, New Year's, 'When we win the lottery'. We adjust our clocks twice a year, because someone tells us to, knowing when to expect the change. So when do we change from outlook to reflection. When is it we change from "spring forward" to "fall back" Is it after 21? At 40? Does it depend on how many items we've ticked off our "Things to do before I'm 30, 40, 50"? At what point do we decide there's less to which we can look forward and more upon which to look back? Is it related to the balance of our own scales of time? I think it happens far before we tip the heavier scale. Perhaps we need to look to the Baby Boomers to use their powers for good (NOT just step up the quality of nursing homes so they'll be up to their standard of living) to establish some more positive milestones for us to reach and balance the scales a bit. Our scales - weighing in even.