Happy Noon Years Eve!

Another great party ringing in the New Year at Noon!  2015 was spectacular and we are looking forward to an adventurous 2016! 

Ice Skating in Downtown San Mateo

A special night for the big kids - Annabel and Quinn - ice skating downtown and then dinner!

Annabel exersized her independence on the ice insisting she skate by herself without help. It was slow going but she was working hard and felt good about doing it by herself. When toes got cold and legs were tired, we headed to Tomatina's for dinner. 

They let the girls play with pizza dough before the meal came out which kept their hands busy. 

And after a good meal they earned a giant brownie sunday (not a crumb went to waste).

What a nice treat to spend time with just the big kids. 

Seeing Santa at Paddock Park

Look who we ran into at the park! We got some fresh air, ran into "park friends", and I learned Annabel really wants a pink tent from the big man in red. We got them a swing set but she really wasn't feeling it (she could not be convinced Santa could bring a swing set to her house) so it was Target.com to the rescue! There are so few years that the holidays are truly magical and for Annabel this is definitely the first. She really gets it; she loves the holiday tunes and enjoys wrapping gifts and thinks Santa is the real deal. We are so in - and Target will deliver by Xmas eve. And the swing set will be delivered by some magical fairies in the spring. Or Costco. 

Meanwhile in toddler land - Josie wanted to have nothing to do with Santa or his elves or any jingle bells. 

San Mateo Gymnastics

Annabel just started a new gymnastics class moving from tumbling to beginners gymnastics. She was smiling the whole time and bounced from activity to activity. I was very proud of her because this is one of few activities she's done on her own without a friend (or four) and while she said she was nervous she ran right out and didn't hesitate to join the instruction. 

At the end she said, "It wasn't, like, fun, but I want to do it again tomorrow."  It's the real deal and they really make them work at it; a great activity that she is ready for. 

Nutcracker Performance

These twos...

Bedtime Reading

Redwood City Hometown Holidays Parade

Josie the Lioness

Sometimes this child just makes me laugh when I look at the world through her eyes. Other times I'm closer to tears as we navigate the challenges of an awkward and willful toddler exerting her independence.  She is a fierce contender for sure, but she offers affection with equal veracity (on her terms, of course).  

Mom's Night Out

Last night our mom's group of friends went out for the evening and we had such a lovely time full of belly laughs and good food and drink!

Stuck Down by a Stomach Bug

But on the mend!  I am a whirlwind of disinfectant wipes.  Hard to see you not-a-baby-anymore need to be babied. 

Milk with Friends

Milk can be shared many ways with good friends! 

Kids Yoga

We're all very zen here. Though things didn't go quite like the video. 

Annabel helps host a play date

Most of Annabel's regular playmates are all in school this week so she tagged along for a trip to the Holbrook Palmer park with Josie and Gioia. She was great at facilitating play with them and engaging them, even though I worried she would be bored since she's so used to being the source of a play date with the littles tagging along. Everyone had a fun time. 

Curiodessy

We've been looking for lots of fun activities to fill Annabel's Fall Break.