Point Loma

We spent a day in Point Loma. We had never been before so we started with the lighthouse at the  Cabrillo National Monument. We walked the grounds and then headed down to the tide pools. Unfortunately low tide wasn't until that evening after the park closed so we couldn't see much but the boys got to put their feet in the really cold water.

The rest of our trip was filled up with walks, eating at fun places we don't have in Arizona, seeing more movies, visiting and hanging out. I am glad we got the opportunity to have a fun filled week and  create special memories for all of us.

 Natalee with a view of San Diego city in the background. 

 Mom and Logan selfie. I think he rocks those sunglasses quite well. 

 Natalee and Lincoln. 

 Military cemetery on the Naval Base in Point Loma

 Like father like son. 

We at at Pick Up Stix which used to be one of our favorite places to eat at when we lived in CA but unfortunately it's not the same anymore. It was nice because it was different but not as good as it once was. At least the boys had a good time being silly while eating their yogurt. 

Sea World

There is so much to do in San Diego so instead of just sitting around, I wanted to make sure we did a few memorable activities while we were there. We wasted no time and spent the day after Christmas at Sea World. This was our first trip there with cousins so it was extra fun for the boys to share in the experience with them. Lincoln does great with watching the animals and is really beginning to appreciate them. Logan is not there yet but he did much better this time than he has in previous visits there. It's always harder when you have a large group that you are working with, and it was ridiculously crowded, but it turned out to be a successful fun day.  The goal was to create memories and I'm sure we've accomplished that.

 Since it's winter time Sea World brought in snow and set up some sled riding for the kids. They loved it and even though it was a cold day already, it was a nice new and different activity for them to participate it. 

Merry Christmas

As mentioned previously, we have no Christmas decorations up in the rental house. The thought of going to storage pulling out all the Christmas bins to unpack decorations then to repack them, with all of the other packing and unpacking we've been doing, was enough to put me over the edge so we just had to enjoy other people's decorations this year. Next year, we are going all out!

Since our home is not very festive...we didn't even have a tree up, I decided I didn't want to spend Christmas morning here. We decided to visit Aunt Natalee in San Diego and spend some time with her. It turned out to be a really great trip. It wasn't easy trying to fit presents along with all of our stuff in the car but we made it work. Nat and I stayed up wrapping presents Christmas Eve and the boys woke up about 7:30 am Christmas morning to a beautiful living room full of gifts and holiday decor.

In keeping with tradition, we all went to the movies and saw Night at the Museum. The boys loved it and it kept the adults entertained too. Later that afternoon Grandma and Papa Tutu showed up with Erica and Sadie and we spent a couple of hours with them.

Overall it was a very nice day and a great way to spend Christmas. This was our second year in a row traveling for Christmas so I am excited to spend next year  in our own new home for Christmas morning.

 Nat's living room and piles of presents ready for little boys!

 Aunt Nat with Lincoln and the zombie nerf gun she got him. That was a big hit with the boys.

 Logan opened his marshmellow shooter and his huge Frosty the snowman train set.

 Lincoln was thrilled to get the final Minecraft Redstone Handbook.  He has already put it to good use!

 I think Logan's favorite present was this train crossing night light that lights up and makes train noises. He carried it all over the place. Unfortunately we had to send it back to Santa's workshop because the lights don't work but we'll get a new one back soon.

 Thomas pop-up game.

 Grammy sent the boys gifts too and Lincoln got this Electricity & Magnet set that he thought was pretty cool.

 I love the movie tradition. My family started going to the movies years ago and after Rick and I got married he always went to the theater on Christmas day but it was so he could work. We miss the free movies but I am more happy to have him sharing in the tradition now with us a patron verses an employee.

The boys got a game called Doody Head where they where these little caps with velcro and have to catch cloth doodys on their head. It was pretty hilarious watching them do it but I think it could be a good way for them to learn to work together.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve in Temecula with Tutus and cousins, going to see Annie at the movies, having lunch and taking a stroll through the super busy mall. That evening was spent at Barratt and Marci's house with family and friends. We enjoyed delicious food, the kids played a few reindeer games, we visited and Barratt shared a special message to help us focus on Christ. It was a great way to spend the night.

 The boys love their older cousins and Logan particularly loves spending time with Ashley. He followed her around most of the night. 

 Aunt Natalee and Graycee joined us as well. 

 Nancee and her family came. It's much easier for them now that they live close by to Barratt.

 Playing reindeer games. 

We don't have Marie Callendar's in Arizona so it's always a nice treat for us to celebrate the holidays with Marie Calendar pies. 

 Logan and Erica watching a Christmas show together. 

 The boys were sad to see Elfie go back to the North Pole. They really have enjoyed having him around the house for the last month and seeing what kind of trouble he got into. We normally don't let the boys touch him (that's the rule of the game) but since they were so sad and sentimental we made an exception so they could have their picture with him. Yep, he has been a busy Elf this year chasing us all around....to a new house, to Ojai, and to Temecula.  He's been a fun part of our family and we can't wait to see him again next year!

Happy Birthday, Ricky!

I'm sure Ricky was not thrilled to be sitting in the car driving to CA on the day of his birthday but that was the way that the schedule turned out.  We headed to Temecula for a birthday dinner with family at Red Lobster. It was great to spend time with family that we don't get to see too often. Ricky got to enjoy a crab dinner which is his favorite and often only happens on his birthday...(mostly because I don't like seafood). With everything going on right now we haven't had to much thought or focus on our birthdays or even Christmas really, its mostly been on work and the house but this was a nice little way to celebrate.

Another year older and wiser too, happy birthday, to you!

 Lincoln was being silly on the drive. It was such an easy and nice drive. The boys were practically angels and it was our easiest long car ride yet!

Despite my attempt at packing light, we still needed a bell cart to get all our stuff to the room.

 Star Wars theme...but only the true Star Wars fans will get it.  Lincoln looked at it and got it in about 10 seconds.

 I think Logan was more excited to blow out the candles and open presents than Ricky was.

 I got this cute little cup for Rick. It looks like a Canon camera lens. For a second I did trick him and he thought he got a new lens. I had no idea he had been wanting one of these so it turned out to be a perfect gift.

 As a part of Ricky's birthday celebration, he went to see Interstellar with Barratt after dinner. It was his third time seeing it and it's his favorite movie of the year. I took the boys back to the hotel for some fun hot tub time.