Is this the happiest place on earth?

This was the best part of the day when D met a real princess. He was a little scared of the Evil Queen. Snow White was so kind.

As if the boys didn't get spoiled enough for Christmas we decided to surprise them with a visit to Disneyland. This was the 1st time we've gone as a family. It was SO crowded that we didn't go on many rides but we had fun being together.

St. Stephen's Day

What a wonderful Christmas we had! It was filled with loving family & good food. I'm so great full & blessed. I'm not going to rattle off all the lovely gifts I received but I will mention 1 thing because it's a book. I got Soleil Moon Frye's book Happy Chaos. Who didn't love Punky Brewster? I wanted to be Punky SO bad when I was a kid. I can't wait to read it! Did anyone else get good books?

I'm looking forward to the new year & feeling creative today. I've been looking online for a new project. Not sure yet what I'm going to sew.

Tree at The Del

We went to the Hotel Del in Coranado today. Every year they have a huge beautiful tree in the lobby. This year's theme is Silver Bells.
At The Hotel Del Coranado you can ice skate at the beach! So cool. Can you see the Pacific Ocean in the background?

In other busy holiday news I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for my wonderful hubby and I forgot to add the brown sugar! UGH Such a bummer they taste OK but not soft and chewy chocolate chip like I was hoping to make for him. I need to sloooow down and focus on one project.

Sea World

Shorts in the snow gotta love San Diego.

This Christmas I've been trying very hard to enjoy the season. Not to rush Christmas or obsess about shopping and the perfect gift. I haven't been doing any sewing, now that the elf hats are finished. The other day we took the boys to Sea World. It was fun going together as a family.

Do you hear what I hear...

Rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant.

Here is what I am looking forward to this Chirstmas season. The Cutest Shepard and Donkey ever! I can't wait for Christmas Eve when they perform. I am a little worried they might freak out when they see how many people will be watching them.

Rustic Maple Cookies

Pull from the oven right when the edges are golden
These cookies might not be much to look at but they are delicious and very easy to make.

Glazed Maple Cookies

From Everyday Food 2010

Bake 350

Bake for 12-15 minutes

3 cups All Purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt the original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon salt but I use 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup Butter @ room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 cup 100% pure maple syrup

2 large egg yolks

In a medium bowl whisk flour and salt together and set aside. In a large bowl use mixer and beat butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup maple and egg yolks. With mixer on low beat in flour mix. Drop batter on a baking sheet. Use your thumb to slightly flatten cookie in the center. Bake at 350 for 12-25 minutes. Pull the cookies from the oven right when the edges get golden brown. Let the cookies cool. If you want to do the glaze simmer 1/2 cup maple syrup till it reduces. spoon over cooled cookies.

Elf Hats

These Elves look thrilled!
I am on the sewing committee at D's school. Another Mom found this cute pattern and did a lot of the work. We made these felt hats for the kids wear while singing Christmas songs at a retirement home.

Family Pictures

sign of the times

2011

Every year we do a big family picture with my side of the family. We used to only do a family picture every 4 years. However after my Dad passed away I think we all realized we didn't have recent pictures of him with the family. I always wish we had taken more pictures that Christmas. Now we do it annually. I dread the process but I feel the outcome is SO worth it. This year our family grew 5 people in one day! Instead of trying to fit 16 people in a photography studio we took it outside. My older sister recommended a friend from church that takes pictures for fun. I think she did a great job.

Thanksgiving Break

It's time to start the show... I took the boys to see the new Muppet movie. We went opening day so I thought the theater was going to be packed. The songs were great.

I am bummed that tomorrow is Monday and it's back to the grind. It was SO nice to have a whole week off from all our busy commitments.

Thanksgiving...

D's pre school had a Thanksgiving feast last week.

I love that the owls because they kind of look like Angry Birds.

HAHA Happy Thanksgiving!

San Diego Botanic Gardens

We went to the Botanical Gardens or as D likes to say "The Mechanical Gardens". This was our 1st time going and its a neat little escape from the city. All the plants are clearly marked with names and facts.

Using the map to find the ABC Garden
Can you see the waterfall in the background?

Awesome tree house

These over sized chairs were so comfortable. I could have taken a nap.

The play area is so cool. My boys did not want to leave. Kids can climb in and around a big tree house. They also have big building blocks so you can work with other kids to make whatever you want. I liked it because you can see the kids using their imagination and having fun in the dirt.

For more details you can check it out www.sdbgarden.org

Fall Nail Colors

So many great nail colors this season! Here is what I've been wearing lately...

This is OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window

My sister & I affectionately call this color poopy diaper

OPI French Quarter for Your Thoughts. Hands down my favorite! I think this grey color goes with everything.

I feel there is a fine line between fun color lady nails and fun color teenage nails. I want to be age appropriate. The 1 color I just can't bring myself to wear is blue. Blue nails fell so grunge to me. Takes me back to Jr. High...my nails match my braces& scrunchy EEK!

Special thanks to my middle sister for being a wonderful hand model. She also shares my love of nail lacquer. "I'm a hand model, Mama. A finger jockey. We think differently than the face and body boys...we're a different breed."- Zoolander

Queen Bee Market

You can get ahead on your Holiday shopping this weekend in Del Mar.
Lots of fun crafty things from local vendors.

Fall walk & Blue Nights

D&I went on a walk to find the color maroon...

I read Blue Nights By Joan Didion. I have never read her books before but she is one of the authors you keep hearing about. She loves California as much as I do. I felt like I should read something by her. Blue Nights is Didion's newest book. It is a follow up memoir to A Year of Magical Thinking (I love that title). In A Year of Magical Thinking she writes about her husband's death. Blue Nights is about her daughter's illness and eventual death. Although this book is sad she writes candidly about motherhood, aging & loss that will never heal.

The memoir flows along like it's a long conversation & she is talking to herself in the car. "When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children." I like how she name drops about Hollywood in the 60s,70s&80s. It's a somber memoir but I really liked it.

Children Books for Thanksgiving...

It shouldn't surprise me that stores are already playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. Seems like it happens earlier and earlier every year. Not to be a Ba Hum Bug but it really BUGS me! It makes me feel rushed. Like I can't even enjoy Fall or Thanksgiving! So to ward off the Christmas chaos. I am embracing Autumn!! Here are some Thanksgiving and Fall theme books that you and your young readers might enjoy. Maybe one of these books will become part of your Thanksgiving traditions.

In November By Cynthia Rylant has beautiful pictures. Good for ages 3-7
Leaf Jumpers By Carole Gerber ages 3-6 Great for your budding naturalist or scientist. This is a great book to read before a walk. Then you can look for the leaves mentioned in the book.

Thanksgiving Day By Anne Rockwell ages 3-7 This book gives a light history on the Pilgrims coming to America and meeting the Wampanoag people.

Thanksgiving Mice! By Bethany Roberts 2-6 Good for pre schoolers but older kids may enjoy the mice putting on a play about Thanksgiving.

Turkey Bowl age 4-?Great pictures! Even big kids like being read to. A good book about growing up and traditions. Football theme.

What books do you and your family like to read during this time of year??

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...

This Halloween both the boys wanted to dress up as something I couldn't buy at Party City. So the Hubby and I went head to head in a costume building composition. The challenge was for him to help FW be a shower. His inspiration: the original Karate Kid. I had to help D become Leonardo aka the blue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I think both the costumes turned out great! Happy Halloween
D was a very lucky turtle. He got to go trick or treating with both his Grandmas, an Aunt and Mom&Dad!

I found this backpack at Sea World. It really pulls the whole ensemble together!

Pre Halloween prep...

That's a lot of guts
What friendly Jack O' Lanterns.

What time is it?

How was your weekend? Here is a peek into mine...

This weekend the dog woke me at 3:45am to be let outside. I let him out and I crawled back into bed. Moments later I hear "Moooooom I need to go to the bathroom." I get out of bed and the bed is already WET! Once you change a child and remake a bed at 4am you know you're not going back to sleep. I laid in bed till 5am waiting for the sandman. He never showed up. So at 5 I slipped out of the house in search of coffee. I left in such a rush that I didn't grab my phone or camera. I hung out at a Starbucks in silence till 6. I figured if I was awake this early I might as well make the most of it. I drove to the Pacific ocean for the sunrise. It was really strange for me to be awake that early on a Saturday. However it was really peaceful. The birds were awake. The sea lions were already making lots of noise. I kept wishing I had my camera!! The sunrise was beautiful because there were a few clouds. I don't want to get woken up again that early anytime soon but it was really nice me time...next time I'll remember my camera!

Read to me

There is a chill in the air. Fall makes me feel like drinking a latte and reading a good book. I am having a hard time finding a book of fiction that I want to read. I just finished Peg Tyre's book The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on our Sons, Their Problems at School and What Parents Can Do. If you have sons I highly recommend this book. It helped me to not feel alone as a parent...that other boys are struggling in school. However it also made me feel like the school system is going to the dogs. Peg Tyre's new book The Good School: How Smart Parents get Their Kids the Education They Deserve sounds good. I want to read that book but I need some brian candy before I start it. I've been looking at the best seller list and nothing has caught my eye. Are there any must reads out there?

Oma's Pumpkin Patch

You know you are at a California pumpkin patch when there are palm trees and it's 80 outside!

The kids really enjoyed moving the rubber ducks using a water pump.

Hey Cowboy

Having a son means having to take a lot of butt pictures.

Every year we go to the pumpkin patch with my friend Karen and her family. We went to kindergarten together and we've been friends ever since. Karen is the Mom of 3 lovely girls. We don't live super close to each other but we try to get the families together seasonally. This year we went to Oma's pumpkin patch in Lakeside. They do not grow pumpkins at Oma's but it is a working self sustaining dairy farm. Very interesting for my city boys.

Great Beginner Bag!

Great beginner bag!

This is the Lauretta bag from www.ithinksew.com. The pattern comes with VERY easy to follow instructions. The only thing that I had a little trouble with was the handles because they are made with bias tape. I've only worked with bias tape once before this. It is a great size bag and only takes 2 yards of fabric total. If you don't want to make this bag yourself I have seen some already made Lauretta bags on etsy.com

Fabric

Here is a tease of the new fabric I using. I got the pattern from www.ithinksew.com I can't wait to share the finished product. I am hoping to finish by Friday.

Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

How many of you are craving Angry Bird pumpkins this year?

You really can't escape Angry Birds
Minnie Mouse scarecrow

D and I went on a field trip to Bate's Nut Farm in Valley Center, CA. (near the Wild Animal Park). It is a great pumpkin patch because they actually grow a lot of the pumpkins there. We took a tractor ride and got lost in the hay maze. A fun Fall day!