Christmas Day

Only 1 kid was up early this year and he had to wake up the other 2 at 7:30.  I'm fully prepared to be opening presents at lunch time next year.

We got these snuggies for Christmas morning and then it turned out to be too warm to wear them.  We even have a fireplace this year, but couldn't turn it on.

Ben surprised Alison with her own laptop.  She's taking online college classes and it's time she had her own workspace.

It was another year of being thoroughly spoiled, which I am so grateful for.

We took Maya for a Christmas walk.

And worked on the puzzle and played many, many games.

Elf and hackie sack :)

And what better way to end Christmas, than having a steak dinner while finding puzzle pieces?

 

Christmas Eve

While Ben and Eli ran a last minute Christmas errand, Alison, Colin and I picked up some fun Starbucks drinks and went to the Harbor.  My friend Gwen (from Yuma) grew up here and recently told me of the hidden gem of the harbor.  She said there's a spot that only locals know where there are always sea lions.  Parking is free, sea lions are super close and there are no tourists...perfect.  It's been on our list to go find the spot and let me tell you, it was worth it!  So fun! 

It was quite the show!  Two of the sea lions spent the entire time fighting over a spot on the dock, while several others just napped through the whole thing.

Apparently kayaking with a Santa hat is a thing here on Christmas Eve...maybe next year we'll join them.

The rest of the day was spent working on a puzzle and fresh tamales were had for dinner.  We finished the evening with Advent and sacks.  We've read this book every year for 17 years and even though the kids are getting slightly old for it, it's still a favorite tradition.

 

Christmas time :)

A happy accident=our new coffee table turned out to be much bigger than we thought and was perfect for our first Christmas puzzle.    Way too many Christmas movies were watched as we put it together.

We made sugar cookies one evening and it was a lot more fun than gingerbread houses.

 

Happy 21 years to us!

We had dinner on the beach at sunset and it was perfection.  So thankful for 21 years together!

 

Because it makes me laugh

I took Maya to get her nails trimmed and stopped by Home Depot on the way home.  I ran in the store for just a few minutes and left the windows open.  When I came back, she was sitting in the seat with her head poking out the window.  Her whole 9 years of life, she always curls up in a ball on the floor and is a nervous nelly the whole time.  It was like she turned into a person this day and she wouldn't get out of the seat!  It cracked me up the whole day.  Also, the abundant neck rolls that she has in her old age keep us laughing.

 

Maya's 9th birthday

Alison got Maya a birthday outfit to celebrate the day.

We gave her some new bones and a toy and then took her to the trail for a walk.

I have no idea why, but if Maya is near a picnic table, she will go under it.

 

Decorating for Christmas

Nana and Granddaddy came the day after Thanksgiving and were here to help us decorate for Christmas.