Dinner at Pelican Hill

Colby's parents took us to Andrea's at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach to celebrate our 4 December birthdays. The restaurant was simply fabulous. I had a mushroom risotto and Colby had a spinach ravioli. Their presentation is amazing. It is such a beautiful restaurant.

The four of us.
We each had our own dessert with a candle.

My 3 gelatos, one of my favorite things I did in Italy...eat gelato!

Colby's dessert, a beautiful tiramisu

Dad's Birthday Dinner

Sunday night we celebrated my dad's birthday with a delicious dinner. I didn't take many pictures, but here is one of the table and a fun video, or two, of Bailey dancing to Christmas music.

I love how oblivious Raif his to his sister's antics!

Thanksgiving in Sun Valley, Idaho

This year, was a first for me. I spent Thanksgiving away from home. My parents went on a cruise to Central America and were gone for Thanksgiving. So, Colby and I joined his family for a fun time in the snow. The weather was quite chilly, but it started to warm up in the 20's for us and we got some fun playtime in the snow. Just 7 short months ago we were there and Raif wouldn't even put his feet down on the snow. Well...that wasn't the case this year. He had tons of fun throwing, diving, and sledding in the snow.

The pictures are a bit out of order, but it's 6 am and I can't sleep...Dinner at the house

Raif was geared up to try skiing, until he got on the actual skis.

On the way home

The kids LOVED being pulled around on the dishes.

Happy kids!

Papa Charley ran down the magic carpet run with Bailey. Quite a difference from last year, she's almost completely supporting her own weight.

Raif DID NOT want his skis on. He got so irate that he managed to kick off not only his ski, but his boot as well.

Our ski bunny

Raif was so excited to get fitted for boots

Bailey playing in the snow

Raif's "swiper no swiping pose." For those without kids, that is a reference to Dora the Explorer

The kids were acting silly

All bundled up

Happy boy

Little video of Raif "dishing" down the ramp just outside the house

Bailey's turn next

Thankful on Paper- Week 2

When I started thinking about who to write for week 2, the decision was easy.

My sister, Kelly.

When I first found out I was pregnant with our second child, I hoped for another girl. Simply because I wanted Bailey to have what I had. A sister who was also your best friend. Well, that didn't happen, and we were blessed with a great little boy. But, as I've seen with others, Bailey can still be best friends with her brother. And I hope they end up that way. Nothing beats a great relationship with your sibling.

Kelly and I are best friends. We can do everything and nothing together, and have the best of time doing it. If you know my sister, you know she is a T.V. junkie. So, to fashion her love of T.V., in David Letterman style, here are the top ten reasons I am thankful for Kelly.

10. She turned me on to Glee

9. She call me on her way home from work, just to chat.

8. I can see her all day, go home, then pick up the phone and call her, and still talk for an hour.

7. She is who she is, never pretends to be someone else.

6. She calls me, or I call her, with silly/off the wall questions...and we always know the answers.

5. We get into those laughing hysterics where you can't breathe, and no one else is laughing.

4. We're complete opposites, yet the best of friends.

3. She gave me two beautiful nieces, and loves them to pieces.

2. She would do ANYTHING for her family.

1. She loves me.

Love you, Kelly.

Week One- Thankful on Paper

My friend, Rachel, had a wonderful idea. Every Wednesday in November you write someone a letter telling them why you are thankful for them, and on Thursday you write a simple blog post telling everyone what you wrote.

This first Wednesday is a bit unusual for me. Normally I would be writing about my mom and dad, but due to circumstances I am writing about my Grandma Donna. My grandma passed away last Friday, and today is the day of her funeral. My mom had my sister and I, and our children, write her a note, then we placed them in her grave with her. My note was very simple, it told her that I loved her and that she was all the grandma I could have ever wished for. I could have gone on and on about all of the things that we did together. Most of those things were just everyday events that we got to do together. But now that she is up in heaven, she will remember them. The Alzheimer's is gone, her memory is back, and she knows who I am again.

So today, I am thankful for my grandma. For loving me, taking care of me, and just being herself.

We will miss you Grandma. We love you dearly.

Halloween Dance Class

This past summer we tried out a new ballet class. It was much more structured and intensive, and Bailey really didn't like it. I really wanted her to love it, but she just didn't. I knew that the new ballet class would train her better in ballet, and she would have gotten to perform in the Nutcracker this holiday season.

I went back and forth on making her stay, but every time I asked her if she wanted to stay or go back to Los Altos Dance Center, without falter she said she wanted to go back to Los Altos. It's days like this past Tuesday that I know I made the right decision.

Bailey is 4. Period. She needs to have fun while learning. Los Altos does a great job of this. She know first position, second position, and countless other dance moves. She is learning, but she is still having fun. She loves her teacher, her fellow dancers and the loving and fun atmosphere. Every Halloween they do fun Halloween dances, and they get to dress in their costumes the week before Halloween.

Our children are young for such a short time. I want her to have fun, and she is. Pushing them to do something they don't want to can always backfire on you. I'm glad I listen to my gut,, and my daughter, and put her back where she wants to be.

Bailey with Ms. Marissa, her ballet instructor
Her ballet class

A fun way to learn how to chasse, Ms. Marissa took each student one at a time across the room, then they knocked on the door and had to say trick-or-treat to get their surprise.

Grandma Pat's 95th Birthday

The day after Raif's party we got to celebrate Grandma Pat's 95th Birthday. My mom and dad hosted a wonderful party and Grandma Pat got to have all 6 of her children there. We were only missing three of her grandchildren. I didn't get the picture of the first cousins with her, but here are a few of the photos I did get.

Grandma Pat with her oldest son and all of his family. Ie., our family
Grandma Pat with my mom and dad and us, we were waiting for Kelly to get her crew together and got in a picture while we were waiting.

Grandma Pat with her 6 kids. Her 4 boys had their spouses there.

Grandma Pat with her 6 kids