Merry Christmas

This was the day before we left. I put Grace in her walker wagon that she got for her birthday from Uncle Tom and Aunt Shannon. She LOVED being pushed around in it (not was it is used for, but she appreciated the break from walking).

It was a wonderful Christmas this year... We have so much to be thankful for and visiting with family tops the list. We ate really well and I realized that every celebration was centered around amazing food. We loved seeing Grace experience (I mean REALLY experience ) Christmas for the first time. Seeing the pure joy in her eyes brought me right back to my childhood. I only wish that the holiday season lasted longer so that I could prolong all that fun!  Today I started packing up Christmas decorations and organizing.. and it really made me sad.

I think the highlight of Grace's trip was my parent's cat Simon. Every single time he walked in the room she was kick her legs and says things in excitement.."Hi! Hi!" she would scream. I was unable to get any photos of this, mainly because Simon was afraid to be in the same room with her longer than a minute. Every morning Grace would look around for him and stand up and peek out the window and try to find him.  It never got old and was hysterical to witness.

Pre-Christmas

We arrived in Northridge on Wednesday after a 5 and 1/2 hour drive from San Bruno. Grace did really well on the car ride and we were happy about that.  We took Grace to see the Christmas lights near my parent's house. She was in LOVE!  She could not get enough of the lights and sounds. She kept pointing and shaking her hands as if you say, "Do you see what I am seeing?"

all warm and toasty in her stroller

Grace got a Christmas cookie that she ate after dinner. The only other time she has had sugar was on her first birthday, so this was an experience for her! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Christmas Eve

We began the day with a delicious Egyptian brunch hosted at Dan and Dalia's house. The food was amazing- fool (Egyptian fava beans), Maggie's falafel, a layered buttery flatbread that Dalia's Dad brought back from Egypt (soooo delicious), feta, and eggs. Is so  Grace's highlight was seeing her cousin Siena and playing with Reggie. She laughed and screamed every time he came near her.

For dinner we made a red velvet layer cake (a new family tradition) and had the most delicious meal- radicchio salad with roasted cauliflower, shaved peccorino and fried capers, whole roasted red snapper, greens (from dan and dalia's garden) braised in brown butter, roasted potatoes, and Semmifreddi's rustic sourdough (from SF).  We toasted Nonna, who would have been 101 this year. We sure do miss you Nonna.

Siena woke up from her nap and gave Grace a really big hug (well, as big of a hug a six month old can give)

Siena and Grace played on the rug with Siena's toys, Siena seems worried what Grace is going to do with her things!

 

Grace decided that standing up on Siena's exercise mat was the way to go.

Grace could not get enough of Reggie

Christmas

Opening presents with two babies is so much fun!  Grace decided that she could not wait any longer for Christmas and woke up at 6am (much to our dismay).


In the evening, we had a big family gathering with my Mom's side of the family- 26 people to be exact. Todd's parents drove down from Arizona and came to celebrate as well. Having all the second cousins running around the house was fun (and loud).  After everyone left, we played Texas Hold Em while my Mom stayed up until 12:30 to clean up. I usually stay out of these games because they last into the wee hours of the night, but for once I decided to play a bit. I WON!  That was pretty exciting as I have never made it until the end.


As I was loading my pictures on the computer, I realized that I had none of my folks or my sis and Brandon. I am actually surprised that we had any of our selves. These days, the camera is full of babies. I hope someone else's camera caught things that we seemed to ignore.

Here is Siena opening one of her first presents. Look how excited she is!

The wrapping paper is more fun than the present itself!

"Let's see here... clothes? anything else?"

"That's more like it!"

Gracie got in her birthday suit after presents.

More playing...

"Don't tell any of my secrets!"

Great Grandma Sally so happy to see Grace

Isabella, Olivia and Sammy coloring

Jonah, Olivia, Isabella and Grace reading Christmas books

Post Christmas

We went with Todd's parents to the Getty on Saturday. I had not been for awhile and it was fantastic! It seemed like lots of others had the same idea. The best part of the Getty is the outside and the gardens. Even in the dead of winter the gardens were groomed and blooming (something to strive for with our own garden).

Grandma Pam and Grandpa Tom

Fountain at the Getty

 

Palm Springs

We went to Palm Springs to see my Grandma, Aunt Flo, Uncle Jay and my cousin Matt for Christmas. We had a wonderful time there- the weather was perfect. We ate Grandma's Manicotti, Ceasar salad and spiced chocolate lava cakes (delish) for dessert.  I was so glad that we got to drive out for a visit and I wish that the visit could have been longer. Grace had a ball chasing Spencer (my aunt and uncle's Yorkie) around.. they were like two best friends!

Sadly, the end of our trip ended in Grace and Todd getting the stomach flu. This was the same experience last year, so it did put a damper on the end of the visit. When you get sick you realize how great it is to have good health. We were thankful that we had my Mom there to help take care of Todd and Grace. I don't think I could have done it on my own.

I hope everyone's holidays were as good as ours. I am excited to enjoy what is left of my vacation and my time with my precious daughter who teaches me to love life a little more each day.

May 2010 bring you much joy and happiness!

I could not resist posting these last pictures. This is how Grace sleeps EVERY night. She seems to make it out of her blankets with her bottom in the air. So funny.