A California Christmas

One of the very best things about Christmas in California is being able to play outside.  It's all the kids really want to do and since we've been back in Indiana.  Peter still asks to go to "Dave's house" all the time.  One of the big highlights for the kids, was riding on the longboard with their dads.   Peter took some warming up to the idea, but after watching Jane go several times, he wanted a turn too.

CHRISTMAS EVE
We stayed with the Reids for Christmas and on Christmas Eve, Doug and his family came over for dinner and festivities.  It was a great dinner and we spent most of the evening singing every Christmas hymn and more around the piano.

CHRISTMAS MORNING
On Christmas morning we attempted a line-up shot before we headed in to find all the Christmas goodies.
Peter ran straight to the wooden train set Santa had brought for him.  He was thrilled even though all that was out was a single circle of tracks.
Jane paid little attention to the Princess dress initially, but it has grown in favor over time.  She was very interested in pulling things out of her stocking and loved everything.  No one gave a better reaction to EVERY present than Quinn, though.  She gasped with the biggest smile and held up each item, even the clementine in her stocking.  So cute.
Jane got a princess dress, a purse, and a set of legos (shared with Peter).
Peter got a train set, a backpack, and the movie Toy Story (shared with Jane).
Chris completely surprised me with a new sewing machine and an awesome curling wand to replace my curling iron that is taped together and coming apart.
I got Chris an air compressor, a cast-iron skillet, and a couple of shirts, but since I left the cards I printed to wrap up of those heavier items on the screen of our computer at home, the surprise was just an act.

 Jane, Quinn, and Zoey dressed in Princess dresses and accessories, playing with clip-clop ponies and giggling all afternoon was a pretty sweet sight.

We were so lucky to meet up with our friends the Morris'.  They live in Connecticut now, but they were home for the holidays in San Diego.

Jane and Peter were thoroughly entertained playing with Andy's dog at Erik and Juliana's house.

Caitlin and I were due a mere 6 weeks apart so we had to get some bump pictures.

 ... and so did the boys.

San Diego

We took a day trip down to San Diego while staying with Chris's dad.   It turned out to be a pretty drizzly day, but it was still a lot of fun.  We stopped at the San Diego temple briefly to walk around, but didn't stay long because the it was raining a little more there.

We found a restaurant down there off of the the TV food maps. The highest rated DDD place Chris said he'd seen, so we were excited to check it out. Hodads. It was a burger place with a fun atmosphere and a line out the door. It was great.  After lunch we walked straight down to the beach and let the kids run around chasing seagulls.  Jane was a little hesitant.  She was pretty freaked out that Peter was going to run straight into the waves, but she loosened up a bit and chased a few seagulls of her own.

We tried to stop at the Mormon Battalion site, but it was very busy and weren't ready to wait another half-hour for our tour, so we just snuck in the back and panned for gold.  We'll definitely stop by another time.