New Years

My parents were still in town for New Years. We had a blast in the Rock Star suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego. We had the best view of the party from the balcony. Nate spent the night with our next door neighbors-his good friend, Brady and his little baby brother Finn.
This is the "after" picture after the party. Some staging was done before the picture (dad!) but it really was a mess.
Midnight toast. (p.s. I have no good explanation for the hair, you'll have to ask John.)
Mom and I
Judy, Janet, and John having too much fun on the balcony
View from mom and dad's rock star suite (best view of the party for sure!)
Judy and Bob
Dave and I
The Hard Rock sent up some party supplies which included sunglasses and gold party glasses


the "before" party shot

Week after Christmas

San Diego Balloon Parade. Mr. Potato Head and Bob the Builder
Some of the gang watching the parade. Janet, Judy, Paul, Hunter, Bob, My grandmother, Dave, and Nate
Here comes Nate's favorite character, Thomas the train!
watching the 5k before the balloon parade
Mom, Judy, and Dad riding the trolley to the parade
family! We actually have a lot of extended family in San Diego but we don't get to see them very often.
Day trip to Newport Beach
View of the historic Hotel Del Coronado from my grandma's condo
lunch at the Fish Market downtown
on the Skyfari at the San Diego Zoo

Merry Christmas

Christmas wouldn't be the same without watching "ELF"
Braised short ribs, Heavenly potatoes, and glazed carrots for dinner. (and pumpkin cheesecake and blueberry tart with ice cream for dessert). food coma.
Nate loved all the gingerbread projects he got to do this year. My mom and Nate had fun making this gingerbread man.
"cheeeeeeese!"
We are still wondering how the reindeer got down the chimney to munch on this carrot.

We were lucky to have Happy, the elf on the shelf, come to visit our house this year. One of his favorite spots to sit and watch Nate was on the wine cork wreath I made. He reported to Santa each night if Nate was good or bad and then returned to our house each morning.

Sadie got a haircut for Christmas, lol. She looks younger, don't you think?

Getting ready for Christmas time!

San Diego Bay boat parade
downtown in the background
View towards Point Loma
Scripps party (went with Judy, Bob, and the boys). Couldn't quite get Nate to sit on Santa's lap.
Fireworks over downtown
View of downtown from Harbor Island
Tailgating waiting for the parade
hanging out at the bay before the boat parade
downtown San Diego
Giant Christmas tree at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography party at the Birch Aquarium
Nate preschool preformance. All the 2 yr olds wore their PJs and danced on stage. So cute!
Nate's best friend, Cooper. They go to prechool together and are very mischievous. This pic and the next two are at the Encinitas Holiday Parade

Gingerbread houses at Park Hyatt Aviara

Nate and I had the best morning today. We stopped by one of the resorts just north of us to check out the gingerbread houses and Christmas trees. After that, we went to see Nate's first movie in the theater, Curious George's Merry Christmas. He loved it so much and he sat still the entire time (for a whole hour!). Here are some pictures and a video of one of the gingerbread houses. Can you imagine all of the sugar that goes in them?
Mountain of icing with little houses and a train going all the way around

November

Nate decorating the tree.
Thanksgiving dinner at Judy and Bob's house
making crust for a Thanksgiving pumpkin cheesecake.

This was a very difficult house to make with a hungry toddler
making an edible craft at the library (a scarecrow face)
Ali and Matt came to visit at the beginning of the month.