Babies

Happy New Year's Eve! Have you seen this trailer? Saw it today before my second time with New Moon. Watch it and I guarantee your heart will feel full. I love it. Love. (PS - the baby on the right in the opening is all Audrey).

Winter Wonderland

A huge vacation highlight for West Coast kids? A winter storm back East that landed tons of snow in G-Mom and Pop Pop's yard. Tyler said, "I want to go outside and be cold again". Can you tell this kid doesn't usually experience temps lower than 55 degrees?

Gotta finish play-time with some snow ice cream with sprinkles. Don't worry, it's made with only the cleanest snow.

The Campbells

Merry Christmas Eve! I interrupt this Holiday Farewell to bring you pictures of Adriana and Jason. There are no words for how much I love these two. The perfect Christmas surprise was spending two days with them.

Now back to enjoying the Christmas hiatus.

Holiday Farewell

Well I am officially taking my holiday blogging break - will pick up again sometime over the next couple weeks. We are in the midst of wonderful holiday madness. Adriana and Jason are here. We are packing for our trip back East. Finishing last minute shopping, and apartment manager duties. Adam is off work, but still Christmas caroling. Last night we had our own family Christmas with Adam's parents. I have to say the three year old Christmas might be my favorite. The look of amazement in Tyler's eyes when I told him Santa had come - I wish I could bottle it. He is at the perfect age - so fresh and full of wonder, excitement, gratitude. The Christmas spirit is alive in this kid this year. I hope it always feels like that. I do believe you can capture it at any age. For now I will leave you with this awesome shot of me, Audrey and Tyler visiting Santa at Travel Town last week. Don't you think every family needs a photo like this in their archives? One kid is deer-in-headlights, the other in tears. Classic.

We wish you a Merry Christmas. And a safe, healthy, and very happy New Year!

Friday with the Little People

Little Lady

Little Man

Little Buddies

Little Lounger

Little Helper

Little Rider

Little Mommy

Little Monkey Ears

A Little Pensive

Happy Friday.

Holiday Goings-On

Like everybody out there we are pretty busy. But I have to say, it's in the best way. Adam has been working very long days and Christmas caroling on top of that. I've spent a lot of time alone with the kids, and it hasn't been that bad. Maybe it's because I've been mentally preparing for the craziness of this month since October. I feel purposeful as their mom - getting my job done, enjoying them, keeping it all together. (I've also treated myself to the occasional babysitter so that helps). Every day I notice that Audrey is growing up (sigh) and it makes it easier for us to do more together - the three of us. We have created some wonderful holiday memories this season. Tyler had his preschool Christmas program today. It was so classic. He stood in the second row picking his nose and not singing any of the songs. But hey, he stood there. He didn't cry when he saw me, wanting to join me in the pew. He just smiled. And continued to pick his nose. He was that kid. I barely got to take a photo because I was there with Audrey wanting to just sit and enjoy the songs, not be all crazy trying to get the perfect shot for my blog.

Tonight we are heading to Travel Town to ride the train to Santa with some friends. This weekend we are running errands, getting haircuts, grocery shopping for Sunday night's family Christmas dinner. Here's the menu:

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Creamy Tomato Basil and Italian Sausage Soup (Sooo easy, but it doesn't taste like it!)
Garlic-Parmesan Focaccia
Maybe a green salad?
Yummy drinks from Trader Joe's, like Sparkling Pomegranate Juice
Spiced Cider on the stove
For dessert - Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce

Sounds good right? Adriana and Jason are coming to stay over on Monday, so that's a Christmas present in itself. Can't wait to catch up with them. The only annoying thing I'm dealing with is that my sore throat is back. Ugh. Wellness Formula is amazing, and I'm going back to Whole Foods tomorrow to stock up. How did I not know about this stuff before? Audrey has a runny nose, and kids with runny noses don't sleep well, so that's lame, too. I am pretty much done shopping (note to self to always start Christmas shopping in November - that made it so much easier). Like I said busy... but the best busy. And counting the days 'til we leave for Virginia next week. Hope you're enjoying these days leading up to Christmas as much as we are.

Christmas Past

Our past couple Christmases are pretty well documented. Here is Christmas 2006 and 2007. I wish I had photos of me and Adam at Christmastime pre-kids. Engaged we spent Christmas in New York City - just the two of us. And our first married Christmas, struggling in California, visiting family in Virginia. We were horrible picture-takers back then. Crazy how much life has changed in such a short time. I'm kinda diggin' my old blonde hair.

Our Christmas card photo 2006 (back when we were good and did Christmas cards).

Tyler's first Christmas, when all he cared about was playing with the wrapping paper.

The Grove 2007 (4 months pregnant with Audrey).

Tyler got his monkey chair for Christmas that year.

All my sisters - Melinda, Stephanie, Christi, Lauren.

Christmas at my mom's 2007

I Cannot Believe It

Tyler actually sat on Santa's lap at the church Christmas party last night! (If you know Tyler, you know he mustered up a lot of courage to do this). Santa asked, "What do you want for Christmas". "Duncan," whispered Tyler, barely audible. Then he jumped off Santa's lap and was done with it. He was pretty proud of himself, and kept talking about Santa all night. And clearly Santa has already picked up Duncan, ready to be stuffed in a stocking Christmas morning.

Drink Up

'Tis the season for treating yourself right? Yesterday Anne helped me escape for a couple hours and we got pedicures. But before our appointments we stopped in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for something to warm us up (it has been sooo cold here people!). I am now obsessed with their holiday drink, Dark Chocolate Orange. I had the hot chocolate version, with skim milk and no whipped cream (I'm sure it would be pretty darn fantastic with the whipped cream, by the way). Mmmmmmmm. Wonderful. I know locations aren't nationwide, but if you live near one I highly suggest stopping in and treating yourself. Or grabbing one during a shopping trip at the mall. Yum. And while we're on the subject of beverages, do you like eggnog? If so, and you don't want the extra calories, Silk Soymilk Nog is delicious. Kinda makes me wanna try their Pumpkin Spice, too.

Night at the Temple

After living here for about four-plus years I've found that we have created some wonderful holiday traditions with our west coast "family". One of them is going to see the Christmas lights at the LA Temple. Sunday night the Encino girls and our awesome friends, the Bartys, headed to the temple with our families, all bundled up with hot chocolate in tow. It was one of my favorite nights. So much fun. Such good friends. And of course, the temple.

The Los Angeles Temple. All lit up for the holiday season.

My sweet girl

Tyler and his girls, Ashlyn and Leah

At different points in the night Tyler would pair off with either Ashlyn or Leah. I think he has a pretty big crush on these girls. It would be hard to chose between the two - they are both pretty amazing. He was even rubbing Ashlyn's back at one point.

Photos courtesy of Amber, the designated photograher of the evening. Thanks Amber! Click here for more photos of everyone.

Another Rainy Day in LA

Christmas Treat

Is it possible to go Christmas shopping and not buy anything for yourself? (Don't ask me how much I spent at Hip Handmaids by the way). Here is one of my favorite things I've picked up for me. Remember that I wanted this?:

Well instead I found this:
It is wonderful (and less expensive than the first option). Even Adam came out of the shower one morning saying, "that peppermint soap in there is awesome." (I told him he can use it as long as he puts another one in my stocking). I've also come away with a new pair of jeans, a long-sleeved thermal t-shirt, lotion, Christmas books for our collection, a Mary Poppins DVD, and I can't seem to stop wanting to buy for Tyler. He's just so easy. I see something every day that I want to get him. Needless to say I'm avoiding the mall this week. Happy holiday shopping season. And I hope you pick up at least one little thing for you.

Friday's Quote

While wandering around Travel Town:

Me: "Tyler, do you know what your full name is?"

Tyler (said with complete seriousness and pride in knowing the answer): "Tyler Doofus Tait."

Whaaat??? Real answer is Tyler Davis Tait. Poor kid thinks we named him Doofus. Hope they've never asked him that question in preschool. That would be embarrassing. Needless to say for the rest of the afternoon we have practiced how to correctly pronounce Davis.

PS - Don't forget to shop here this Saturday. It's like Etsy but live and in person!

You know your kid is tired when...

I just walked back into the living room after getting Audrey up from her nap, and found Tyler asleep on the floor. I guess this is why he's been fussy with me all afternoon. Poor thing.