Early Christmas...

Since we had plans to travel on Christmas Day, we wanted Christmas morning to be pretty efficient ..so when Christmas presents from  the Grandparents arrived via mail, we decided to have a little Christmas a few days early. We skyped with Granny and Grandpa one evening so they could see the children open their gifts.  I don't have as many pics because I was trying to adjust the computer so Mom & Dad could see the constantly moving kiddos.  Cameron LOVED her jewelry box and handmade bracelets from Granny!  She wears them almost every day!  And Timo is all set with his UNC gear!  He tried sleeping in his helmet that night but it just wouldn't work.  But he did wear it to school the following morning!  (some mornings I just have to go with it to get to school on time)

A few days later we opened gifts from Harmony and Habachi.  I love the second picture, it shows Cameron's absolute delight over her Easy Bake Oven!  She wanted one so bad...every time we passed through Target, she would oh and ah over it.

A marble race that Timo can build any way he wants!  He is really into marbles right now and building, so this was perfect for my little engineer!

Cameron just couldn't wait to break out her oven and start baking...Chocolate chip cookies were first.  I must say the mixes and pans aren't as good as I remember growing up.  I loved my easy bake oven (go figure huh?) and I remember being able to bake real round cakes and such.  I guess I'll, uh, I mean we'll have to make our own customize mixes and search for some cool cake pans to use.  The possibilities are endless! I can't wait to make memories with Cameron with her own oven.

Thank you to both Granny and Grandpa, Harmony and Habachi for such amazing, generous Christmas gifts...Timo and Cameron love them!!

SF Holiday Lights Tour

A few days before Christmas we took a Christmas lights tour of San Francisco on a double decker bus!  It was one of those impulse Groupon purchase I thought would be fun and festive for the holidays...and it was so much fun, especially since our pastor and his family joined us.  The bus hit all the touristy spots we really never go so it was neat to see all the unique decoration around our great city.

But it was cold!  It had been pouring rain the entire day, clearing up just before we departed, so the air was damp and sooo cold!  Luckily they served hot chocolate and cookies on board the bus!  Then we were off on our tour...first stop, the Embarcadero Center...

The Hyatt Regency Embarcadaro had the most amazing decorations I've ever seen.  We got off the buss and this is the lobby!  These thousands of lights were just stunning.  And the largest snow village on the west coast.  This was just small section of the huge display.

The lovely Blackwell Family...baby Alley Beth is just three months old.

 Various holiday lights around SF...Fisherman's Warf, City Hall, Girahdelli Square, etc...

 Did I mention it was cold?  More hot chocolate for Cameron and Timo snuggling with Daddy to keep warm.

We finished our tour Downtown and it was really beautiful as well...the Neiman Marcus indoor tree and the Union Square tree.  Love this beautiful city, especially during the hoidays!!

Sing A-Long and Magical Tea

We continued another tradition this year by attending the Grace Cathedral Christmas Sing Along and then lunch at Top of the Mark's Magical Tea. We began the tradition last year while Young was out of town and couldn't join us. It was so much fun, I made sure Young was around for it this year.

We started out touring the Christmas display at the Fairmont Hotel, writing letters to Santa and mailing them. It was really crowded in the hotel lobby so I didn't get any pictures of the beautiful trees and huge gingerbread house that you can walk through...but see last year's post and you will see.

We took our seats in Grace just in time for the show to start.  The basic story, the toys come to life and try to find the real meaning of Christmas.  Along the way they find clues and you have to sing songs that open each box...where the "sing a-long" comes in.  It was fun hearing Timo and Cameron sing the ones they knew.

This is the play that started the loved of Ninjas for Timo.  There is a Ninja "toy" in the play that Timo thinks is the coolest thing ever.  He was so happy to be able to meet him after the show.

And Cameron got to meet the super hero girl, she was soooo excited.  The actress was nice enough to go through all her super powers for Cameron.

Climbing the multiple steps over and over has become part of the tradition...

We got to the Top of the Mark just in time before the rain started...whew!

Cameron headed straight for the face painting this time, asking for a beautiful butterfly, while Timo wanted a ninja sword on his cheek.  The poor artist was doing her best but just couldn't figure out what he was talking about it.  I think he ended up with a lighting bolt or something.

This year they added a cookie decorating...totally up my alley!  Afterwards they bagged them up for you to take home.

The magic show began...so much fun.  Timo was mesmerized the whole time.  The magician wasn't as good as the one last year, but he held every ones attention and I guess that's all that matters.

We had lots of food at the buffet and of course dessert.  Yummy!

I love this picture...Timo whispering a secret to Cameron.  Wonder what they are talking about??

We finished up with hot cocoa with marshmallows.  Young did a little magic himself by pulling marshmallows out of Timo's ear!  Young really enjoyed the whole day which means it will be a yearly family tradition from now on!