Christmas Eve

Wow, our Secret Santa(s?) really surprised us. We are so grateful, and thankful, and oh my kids minds were pretty blown. Thank you whoever you are - our hearts are full. Gave me some good ideas for next year, too ;).

We slept in a little, last minute Christmas prep, then Bumblebee! It was so good!

Christmas Eve dinner at La Cocina was the best idea. 

Came home and read the story of the Savior's birth, put out cookies for Santa and carrots for reindeer. Then we finished Lord of the Rings. Now waiting to make sure everyone is fast asleep. Excited for a Merry Christmas.

Oh and if I made a Christmas card this year it would've looked like this. 2018 was a very Dodger year for us.

Winter Break Begins

Cole's first grade holiday party. Love these two cute friends:

Soaked up my last half hour of a quiet house before school was over on Friday ;)

Secret Santa strikes again!

Saturday we saw A Christmas Carol at Glendale Centre Theatre. We love this little theatre! It was a great production, and very festive. Caroling and California "snow" afterward. Nice way to kick off winter break as a family.

The Bertola's gingerbread party:

Christmas Eve Eve Sunday! Adam won the war with Cole and got him to wear a tie and vest. It was a morning.

Tyler hit the kitchen, baking cookies for friends coming to dinner tonight. He'll have a new elective after break, but love how much he learned in culinary.

The annual viewing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy has begun (much to Audrey's chagrin.) The Christmas movie that's not a Christmas movie. We think Rey likes it though.

More lights with good friends:

One More Universal Trip

Cole's birthday tickets gave us 2 days for the price of 1, so we headed to Universal after school Wednesday - wanted to see it all done up for Christmas. It was more crowded, but lots of holiday fun, and we got on all our favorite rides. Great time with these three:

 More ribs! And we tried the hot butter beer which is deeeelish!

 This guy will get you where you need to go:

 Grinchmas tree! With snow and all.

 Hogwarts had an amaaazing Christmas light show.

 Blurry but you get the idea. We love the fake snow in California.

 It's been a fun two trips exploring the park with these guys:

 When we got home a surprise left by Secret Santa - cozy blankets for all five of us. Soooo thoughtful. Perfect car blankets for Utah trip, too.

More Christmas Season

Audrey's winter chorus concert was wonderful! She sang a trio in Silent Night. Always love seeing her up there singing.

Tyler made gingerbread houses with friends, then Audrey did for Megan's birthday. Love these three friends.

The dinosaur has since attacked Tyler's, but Audrey's is still standing.

Wakefield Winter Wonderland with our awesome friends who are like family. We had a "Friendsmas" dinner, then out to see lights. All these kids have known each other since pretty much birth.

Love all these guys:

And while we were out, Santa came - and knew all our favorites.