Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas 2011

Christmas was magical this year!  

The kids woke up to this:




Santa left behind some cookie crumbs and spilled milk.  Thatcher actually bypassed all the presents and went straight for Santa's leftovers... 
Sam's stocking was filled with gum, Barbie band-aids, dried apricots (to which she exclaimed, "Santa goes to Trader Joe's too!") and Hello Kitty stuff.

Lollipop's stocking had a treat from Santa too.

And Thatcher was very content with his very own box of Sponge Bob band-aids.  What is it about band-aids and kids?!

And now on to the gifts...
Samantha's theme was pretty much all things Princess.
And Thatcher's loot consisted of mostly trucks and dinosaurs.  
Even Mommy got a few new things from Santa ;)


Thatcher loved his new Toy Story big boy underwear so much that he put them on OVER his jammies and he doubled up!


After an afternoon of relaxing, playing with new toys and naps, Dancing Grandma, Papa Ward and Uncle Chris came over for Christmas dinner.

 The kids were excited to show them their new toys.

 The kids' table which Lollipop so desperately wants to be apart of.


  
 Since I don't bake sweets (mostly because I have no self control and would eat too much), I picked up a Marcie's Pie from Plow to Porch.  I'm not really a big fan of pie in general but this triple berry pie was AMAZING! 

 Uncle Chris with his buddy ;) 

Papa Ward's buddy too!


Silly boy!

 After we said good night to the family, we put the kids in their jammies and drove around looking at Christmas lights.


 Lollipop enjoyed the tour too!

 She even spotted what looked like an Italian Greyhound in this tree or maybe it is a goose?

Sleepy Christmas Dog

Sleepy Christmas Boy

Until next year!


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas Eve 2011


On Christmas Eve we headed down to Thousand Oaks to spend time with Todd's family.


 As soon as we walked in the kids were greeted with  presents.  Samantha loves her princess laptop from Grandma and Papa Ward.  She likes to tell me that she is busy sending emails now. ;)
Grandma's house was decorated so beautifully.

We enjoyed the most delicious meal.

And then back to MORE presents!

Uncle Drew gave Thatcher a remote control bug that he is enamoured with (and he is pretty good at controlling it)!



 Papa Ward always hides lotto tickets under our dinner plates.



 She should turn that frown upside down because.....

She won $10!


 We got on the road early to head back to Santa Barbara so that we could get the kids to bed and we had some last minute wrapping and assembling to do before Santa arrived.

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Nutcracker


Yesterday Samantha and I had a date to see the State Street Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker at the Granada Theatre.

               We met up with Reese and Isabella

             Excited, ya think?!

Pre-show lunch at Tupelo Junction.

 Such a fun Mommy-Daughter date!

 Love her!

Excited for the show to start! 


     And equally as excited for intermission to hang with her buddies!


                              They've been friends from the beginning


 And have turned into such sweet, silly, smart, beautiful 4-year olds!