The past few weeks...

We've been enjoying some rainy days. I love how fall lasts months and months here. The leaves take their time changing and falling. I think I could have a home with the color scheme entirely of fall leaves.

Then we went to visit Santa at the Americana. It was so gorgeous! Oliver ran up and gave Santa a big hug while all the other sissy kids screamed. I was so proud. He even held Amelie and of course, she was pretty unphased. Grandpa bought Ollie a toy he will go crazy for. After all, he did play with it at the booth for about a half hour then I finally had to tear him away kicking and screaming. He didn't see that Gpa secretely bought it for him. What a lucky boy.

After all the rain and cold, we got a few really warm days. The boys went surfing while Ollie kept busy on the beach. He can hardly wait to be old enough to go. I basked in the sunlight enjoying a warm, sunny day at the beach in December! When I think about how ridiculously expensive California is and how high our taxes are, I wonder why do we want to live here? Then a day like this comes along.

Sunday night we went caroling to friends and family. Caroling is hands down one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Tonight we kept the Christmas cheer rolling by making gingerbread houses. Ryan used his construction expertise to make us a nice sturdy house. Oliver used his small hands to get those hard to reach places to put candy on. Amelie ate and then smiled while she had her daily nightcap with her Dad. She talks more at night when he gets home than she does all day. She loves her Dad. And after his crazy long work days, she's just what he needs.