Christmas with the Smiths--2013

We're going to DISNEYLAND (Jan 2nd-5th)!!! 

That was the girls big surprise on Christmas day!

 They woke up in the base hotel to candy canes Mike had strung all over the room-- Candy cane hunt first thing!!

 We had some late nights, so Maddy took a nap on the couch at Grandma Smiths house Christmas afternoon; dog and all!

 9 of the 11 Smith Granchildren!! Ages 4-18

 We drove home yesterday afternoon and they post passed out within minutes!

 They got home and immediately started playing with their 2nd surprise gift!!

A Barbie Dream House!!

Extras!

Two favorites from our stay in LA last week

FAMILY

Last week we travelled to Los Angeles for my late Grandma's funeral service.

After a year of recent suffering, she is in peace.

And it was another opportunity to gather with family, remember her, and have a photo op!

 Dad, Me, Grandpa Jerry, Amy and Sarah

Jingle Bell Jog FUN

Last weekend before school was out, Abby's elementary school PTA hosted a "Jingle Bell Jog".

On the PTA board of course, I volunteered to make 90 cinnamon rolls for the event! Mmmmm

 Abby and Mike ran the 1 mile course together, Maddy rode in the stroller

(and I was busy working the event)

  Such a nice family event. We had over 140 adults/kids register and jog!

 The girls in their Jingle Bell Jog shirts

More Elfing Around

 She was hungry for some cheerios!

 She delivered a new pink tree for the girls

 Channeling her inner Barbie

 She wrote in lipstick and toothpaste on the girls bathroom mirror

 She took a bath in the M&Ms

She was practicing gymnastics on the window curtain rod

Teddy Bear Tea

The Naval Post Graduate school hosted their annual "Teddy Bear Tea" this past weekend.

It was a cute holiday event, with a magic show, face painting, balloon artists, a Santa visit of course, and hot cider, hot chocolate and finger foods!

The girls had a great time, and told Santa exactly what they want for Christmas. This was Maddy's first year with no Santa hesitations. She even did a shoulder shrug of excitement as she walked up to see him!! Too cute!! Abby on the other hand is starting to look mighty grown up on Santa's lap!

Everyone......Meet Ginger!!!!!!

Christmas has arrived in our house. Hanukkah ended last week (as it came early this year).

So the tree is up and the kids loved decorating it this year.

The newest addition this year is Ginger, our Elf!!!

That's right.....we jumped on the Elf bandwagon. Abby has been admiring everyone's elf activity for the last couple years and we surprised them with it last week.

If you're not familiar with The Elf on the Shelf, you open it each year and read the story. Basically the kids believe that the elf watches their behavior each day and reports back to Santa each night.

The Elf then returns the following day and has magically moved to a different spot in the house.

Many people have taken the Elf movements farther and do funny things with him. These are the things the girls LOVE!!! In fact since we started 5 days ago, they have woken up 30 min early EVERY day just to rush downstairs and see what the Elf was up to that morning.......and report back to us of course!!

The kids have no idea we are actually the ones maneuvering the Elf, and they believe it listens to them and has magical abilities!! Biggest rule with the Elf......You ABSOLUTELY cannot touch her, or she loses her magic. **For now our Elf antics are out of kid reach to avoid temptation......we will see where it leads if things look optimistic for low level displays :)

 

 When you don't have a mantle......the wall (with 3M hooks....) will have to do!!!

Ginger the Elf......and her shenanigans so far.....(more to come)

Day 1- The girls discovered her the first morning sitting in the Christmas tree pretending to be an ornament

 Day 2; Part 2-- Ginger was so upset with Maddy's ugly behavior that evening, that when the girls weren't watching, she turned inward to the tree because she just couldn't bare to watch anymore

 

Day 3- Ginger drew elf ears and a mustache on Abby's framed picture.....and signed it (with wipe off marker of course)

 Day 4- Ginger flew up onto the ceiling fan to get a better view of the girls 

Day 5- (Ugggg somehow I forgot to take a photo) Ginger hung the girls underwear on the Christmas tree!!

Day 6- Ginger made a train of animals on the windowsill, riding atop Abby's horse!

Monterey Boat Light Show

Last night we attended the annual boat light show on the harbor.

We weren't sure what to expect, but it was a fun night out with the kids.

So much is family friendly in Monterey, it makes life easy.

We had heard that our wine club on the bay was the best (indoor) place to view the show, so we headed down there in advance and luckily got a front row table at the window!!

We ordered some wine and good eats and enjoyed the show pass by!

(Our wine club has a kids corner which we were conveniently seated next to, where the kids can ready books, puzzles, and play with puppets to keep entertained)

 Cannery Row Christmas Tree

 The lights are up on our little house!! Lighted spiral trees, and Snoopy on his blow up house!!

Maddy's Gymnastics Holiday Show

Sunday we attended Maddy's gymnastics holiday show. It was a 90 minute event that showed the skills of all levels of gymnasts that attend the facility for lessons. 

Maddy is in the "Prenastics" class for 3-5 year olds, goes once a week, and has fun tumbling, somersaulting, and hanging on the bars.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mxVrWISUf4

This link is a clip from Maddy's performance