Annual Manhattan Beach Fireworks

Every year since we moved to California, we head over to our friends Larry and Betty who have a house on the Strand and we drink delicious hot cider and watch the awesome Manhattan Beach fireworks. This was Sophie's second year going. Last year she was just a few months old and the fireworks didn't even faze her. This year, well she was so afraid of the noise....poor little girl. So we had to watch the fireworks inside, and even then she wasn't to happy about them.
It was a great show and we enjoyed being outside and seeing all the decorated houses on the walk to the beach from our car.

Music Class

This is a photo of the kids in Sophie's Friday music class. Miss Paige is missing from the photo
Sophie and Sophie are playing the drum to the music. Ok, so maybe my Sophie was more afraid of the drum then actually playing on it.
Sophie, Jake and Sophie listening to the music teacher sing.

I've been tagged

Playing Tag

My friend Hilary had this posted on her blog...so I guess I better respond

If you're reading this and you are a blogger, consider yourself TAGGED.
(thanks Kim)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap of course
3. Colored lights on house/tree or white? I HATE colored lights!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? yes, and if you land under it you better kiss!
5.When do you put your decorations up? the weekend following Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert) Hot cracker dips
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Watching White Christmas with my family by the fireplace.
8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Are you saying Santa's not real???
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, PJ's!!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Usually a theme, ie: red/gold - stars/trees with some handmade/old ornaments thrown on...it varies
11. Snow. Love it or dread it? Love to visit places that have it, but always so happy to return to sunny California.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes....I always wanted to be in the Olympics......
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? It might have been my pink and black skateboard I got the Christmas I was in the 5th grade,,,,or maybe it was my Cabbage Patch doll.....
14. What is your favorite holiday dessert?Anything chocolate.
15. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Eve.
17. What tops your Christmas tree? A star
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love to give gifts to people that really mean something.
18. What is your favorite Christmas song? Favorite....mmmm, I love them all!
20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Yuck, but how about Crate & Barrel's Peppermint Bark!
21. What do you want for Christmas? A new house....I'm hoping I wake up Christmas morning and Ed drives me to a house that has a Big red bow on it and says...it's yours, Merry Christmas...A girl can dream, right?
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? Yes, a few. I love a good party.
23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?Dress up for Christmas Eve and then come home and we all get in our Christmas jammies.

Sophie's Dance Moves

Hamming it up for the Camera

Redondo Beach Holiday Stroll

I took Sophie to Redondo Beach's Annual Holiday Stroll. The street where the event took place was closed and Sophie took full advantage of this open space and ran free! We ran into our friend Clay,his daughter Paige and his sister-in law and her boyfriend. I tried to get a photo of the two girls together but they were running to fast for me to get a shot. Of course we also saw one of Sophie's favorite things: Doggies.

Visiting the McCaslins and Sophie's First Snow

Ed built Sophie a snowman......she wasn't really into it.
After staying with my sister Sharon and her husband Caleb for Thanksgiving, we headed over to Boulder, CO to visit our dear friends the McCaslins. I've know Guy and Charissa and their kids for many many years and even lived with them for a short period.

When we arrived in Boulder, there was snow on the ground! Sophie was very apprehensive about it. Hopefully when we are in Massachusetts in a few weeks there will be snow as well. I can't imagine that Sohpie wouldn't want to make a snow angel or have a snowball fight!

A Colorado Thanksgiving

Sophie getting ready to help make the pies.
My sister Sharon and I starting the preparation for Thanksgiving dinner.

Cutest cousins in matching pj's. Every girl needs a pair of Christmas jammies.
Caleb and Sharon, our wonderful hosts prepping the turkey.
The Fam.

Traditions

Ever since I can remember, my family has always had traditions. Christmas has always been a BIG deal in our family and part of that was the traditions we carried over from year to year. A typical Christmas Eve would start at church at the Christmas Eve service, a stop at the Grumts for their annual Christmas Eve party and then off to home. We always got Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve and would end the night with with the fire going, eating appetizers (mom's spinach dip of course!) and watching the classic White Christmas. To this day, my sisters and I still continue the Christmas Eve tradition. (The husbands are not to keen on watching White Christmas though)

As our family starts to grow, Ed and I decided to start making our own traditions that Sophie and our other kids can carry on to their families. Last year, Sophie's first Christmas, we decided that every Christmas we would give Sophie an ornament as an early Christmas present, early so she could hang it on the tree and then when she gets married (Ed says she has to be 35) we will give her all the ornaments we have given her over the years so that when she starts her family she has ornaments for their tree.

While at Crate & Barrel this afternoon, I let Sophie pick out her own ornament (See above). Sophie loves balls, so of course she chose an ornament in the shape of a ball!

Sophie reading herself a story.

Shoes!

Sophie loves to try and put shoes on her feet. We have her shoes in a basket in her closet and anytime she sees that basket it must come down. Her favorite pair you ask...... why the red ones of course. A girl after my own heart!

"Ball...Ball...Ball"

We met friends for a playdate at AdventurePlex. Sophie love loves loves balls!
Sophie and Sophia playing in the ball pit.
Paige and Sophia.

Windy Afternoon at the Park

Watch out playground, here I come!
Just let me climb by myself mom.
Dad, another photo?
Look at me, I can climb the slide backwards!
Is daddy going to push you to mom?

Girl Stuff

Halloween Photos...Finally!

Dressing the baby

Baby Beware

Today my sister sent me a link to a toy recall. The recall was for the "Little Mommy Doll" which Sophie has. Apparently one of the phrases the little baby says is, "Islam is the light". I didn't believe it at first, so I checked Sophie's doll. And the doll really does say, "Islam is the light". The baby is motion sensored, the phrase is repeated after the third time in a row the motion sensor is activated. I wonder who would find the need to plant phrases inside little dolls that little girls love so much......
News on the baby.

Isabelle Celebrates her 1st. Birthday!!