Oh Christmas time in California, how we love you!
Taken on the Seal Beach Pier mid December.
We had a really nice Christmas break. Here are some of the highlights...
Color Me Mine in Belmont Shore was a fun afternoon activity!
This guy and I got to sneak away for a little mid week sushi date at our favorite place YEN in Belmont Shore. Bonus, we had a groupon!
This girl came with me to every ZUMBA class during Christmas break! I was SO SO proud of her as she kept up really well! It's an hour long class and she did it like a pro! A huge thank you to our awesome teacher Summer for allowing the kids to join in during the school break! P.s. if you are wanting to shed a few pounds while doing a fun workout, ZUMBA is the place! I was SO intimidated at first because I am so uncoordinated, but it's a blast and easy to catch on. Seriously, come join us, the first class is free!
Family fun at the Aquarium one afternoon!
Oh how this girl loves her daddy! They have the sweetest bond!
The bird whisperers!
Beautiful Long Beach
Naples Island is always a fun tradition during the Holiday season! I have been going here since I was a kid, it was the place where Bryant and I went on our first official date and started to fall in love. Now it's fun to take our littles!
It was so fun to have Jack in town! We LOVE when he comes for a visit! He is seriously such a fun, cute kid with a huge personality!
Ella and I had a fun mommy/daughter night!
Christmas Eve. All the Smith side Grandkids
The traditional running down the hall and out the door while the pots and pans are banging!
Tradition explained more here
The kids were so excited with their presents that Santa left them!
Katie was in shock and could not believe that Santa left her the actual doll that she designed on the American Girl doll website a few weeks prior! She was freaking out! It was so fun!
This year was the first year in like fifty years we have not had Christmas Eve at my Grandparents home. This year was at our Cousin Pamela's home that she just remodeled .. and it was TOTALLY wheelchair friendly, a huge plus and a huge inspiration for us!
Sandy made me the cutest calendar that I love so much!!! Thanks Seeester!
Grandma Joyce had all her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren together on Christmas night. We
celebrated at my Aunt Shelley's beautiful home. It was so fun to see family we have not seen in a long time.
One day the kids did chores around the house to earn money so they could go shopping at Hobby Lobby. A new Hobby Lobby opened near by and boy oh boy did we have fun getting some new crafts and art supplies!
A little trip to Frosted!
Cousins Dinner!
I LOVE these ladies so much! My cousin was in town and so we all went to dinner and then back to grandma's house for game night... but mostly we just told embarrassing stories and laughed so hard that our stomachs hurt and Kacey almost delivered her baby that was due the next day!
Spider man wanted to see if he could scare our friends that were coming over soon. He wanted to see if he could stay still so they thought he was a statue of spider man and not Carter....
Well, he did an awesome job because they totally believed he was the real thing
(so thankful for Sally and Shane who got the text to "just go with the spider man/statue thing" before they walked into our house and made this little guy's night)!!
New Years Eve Breakfast at Gourmet Pies.
p.s. If you have not been there and experienced their apple pancakes... then you probably should make that a priority this year!
New Years Eve with fun friends toasting the New Year with sparkling cider! We all had some other plans that night and then some of us could not find sitters, other plans fell through and BAM, a spontaneous, FUNNEST New Years Eve party where the Build a Better Burger contest lived on! Thank you Megan for hosting such a great, family friendly party!!
The kids had a blast celebrating a New York New Year!
The build a better burger competition was a serious one this year!
Katie won "Best Name of Burger" for the second year in a row!!! She LOVES this tradition and could not wait to be a participant again!!
On New Years Night these fun friends came over for a friendly game of Settlers and some home made Chicken tacos.
Grandma Great's annual super home made pancake breakfast is always such a treat during the holidays!!
This Christmas break was a fun and special one! Although we had some sickness (with strep and the flu thankfully they both did not last too long) we were still able to have a lot of fun, quality family time with lasting magical memories!
(Sandy and Sally always love it when I use words like "magical" so I like to throw those in just for them)!
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