Christmas Lights... Shining Bright

Grandma and Grampa arrived from Florida.  Before we stuck them on the Jetta powered train to their Christmas with the cousins in Santa Barbara they joined us Saturday night on the Traveltown train to Santa.


With the grandparents around the educational opportunities abound.  Summer takes in the LA Natural History Museum's new Dinosaur Hall.


While he would pull the shirt up over his head later in the show, there were moments when Carson looked quite GQ at the Redwood Village Preschool Holiday extravaganza.



With the family all dressed up we couldn't resist the opportunity for a family picture.  Unfortunately we could never get both Carson and Summer fully dressed by Annie standards in the same photo.



Carson tried out some material on Grampa before his meeting with the big man in red.


Traveltown: Different Santa, same result from Summer.


With his sister out of the way, Carson had plenty of time to get his list across.


Sumer developed a game we refer to as flopping.  Essentially she walks up to a bed, couch or chair and falls backwards into it.  Carson of course loves to play as well.


We finished the weekend with our first (and certainly not last) visit to Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo -- an entire block doing it's part to up the energy use of Los Angeles county during December.  The blog will be on vacation next week in Destin for Christmas, but should be back strong with pictures of cousin Frank and all the goings on from the redneck riviera before New Years.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

We were dressed in our Christmas finery for the trip down to the Sketchers winter festival in Manhattan Beach.  In case we don't happen to get motivated, imagine the above picture arrived in your mailbox sometime later this month with a nice note wishing you a merry Christmas.


Jumping back a week, we took the traditional trip out into the wilderness of the Home Depot parking lot to select our tree.



Summer was not nearly as excited to stand in the line to pay for the tree.


She was also reluctant to put the angel on the top of the tree.



The ornaments closer to the ground were much more her speed.


After all the work she was ready to relax.



Like Chevy Chase, Carson has been counting the days til Christmas on our amazing new advent calendar.


On Saturday Summer was all dolled up in a dress from Aunt Emily & Uncle Ken for our Christmas open house.


Following the party we walked down the block for the Marina Del Rey Boat Parade and Fireworks.



The weekend kept us busy on Sunday as well, with a trip to the Sketchers Snow Park in Manhattan Beach.


Although we think she's been very good, Summer was apparently told she was on the wrong list.

Thanksgiving Trip

We traveled north to Paso Robles to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Morris and Bailey families.  Three out of four cousins appreciated hanging out in the vineyards.


 Everybody appreciated the view out the back of the rental house (which we affectionately dubbed the Goat House).


Although the herd was small, it was quite friendly.



 There was no shortage of other animals to interact with as well.



Just like her Ging-Ging, Summer can do a mean fish impersonation.



 In addition to the local goats we also took a visit to Happy Acres Family Farm.  There we saw some pint sized horses...


Got our boots a little muddy.



and of course saw some more goats.


 Along with some fresh squeezed goat refreshments.


Summer was dancing on the tables only moments into her first visit to a winery.


When not out partying she knocked around the house with Grandma.


Another day, another winery for Summer.  This time it was Justin.


They had plenty of supplies.


 Including some from what Carson felt was a very good year.

Turtle Not Feared

We had a few friends over to watch the Maryland/Notre Dame game on Saturday night.  Despite plenty of spirit the Terps weren't able to bring home a W against the Irish, but due to some last minue ND-no-shows Maryland easily won the spirit-wear competition.


 As the game wore on it was difficult keeping our players upright.


Carson looked to take advantage of our preoccupation with the game.


Earlier in the week Summer got in some good laughs at story hour.



The decline of the print journalism economy is affecting everyone.  Even Superman had to take on a second job.


Temps have dropped into the quite inhospitable for LA area known as the 50s.  That means it's time to break out the stegosaurus gloves and hat for morning runs.



Summer makes it easy to get over a bad football game.  There's always tennis to be served up.

Halloween 2011

The family was ready to trick or treat til we dropped. The candy bags ended up quite full.

Although we've been wearing variations on this costume for months now, the real man of steel was ready to make his appearance.


He was ready to take off into a busy Halloween weekend.


Things got swinging on Friday with a Halloween party at Culver City Montessori.


After a tough morning of preschool we needed to cool off in the downtown Culver City fountain.


After reflecting on his day he was ready for more time in his costume.


Bill's pumpkin artistry was once again on display this year.


Aunt Caroline was in town for all of the Halloween festivities.


Saturday afternoon we infested the Feinblum's Halloween party. As Mitch Hedberg would say, "It's the cutest infestation ever."

The weekend wrapped up with a Halloween party and trick or treating up the hill. In her first year trick or treating on foot Summer covered quite a lot of ground.