Christmas 2015!

We began the holiday season with our annual visit to Santa at Shadowridge's Brunch with Santa. The girls were willing to talk to Santa after a while, but neither wanted to sit on his lap. They both loved the candy canes and presents though! We also toured the holiday lights in Clairemont Mesa. Dinner with friends, looking at all of the lights, and hot chocolate made for a fabulous start to the Christmas!

The kids are almost old enough to sit at their own table!

Taking over Boudins

Howe snowbabies!

Jackson and Ella building their holiday traditions

We celebrated Christmas in Palm Springs this year with the larger Howe family. We stayed in a gorgeous house on a golf course in La Quinta. The four Howe grandkids had a great time together. Madi thinks Emery is sooo adorable (and she is) and both of my girls drove Graham crazy forcing him to share his Hot Wheels with them.

Madi, Ella, Emery

Graham trying to protect his track from the girls

On our first full day on vacation, Matt went golfing with Grandpa Dave. They had a great time and Matt tried not to beat Dave too badly. While Matt was golfing, the girls and I hit the grocery store and settled into the house for some relaxing. We met Dave and Matt for lunch at the La Quinta golf club, which Ella slept through most of in the backpack. The following day, Cat and I headed back to the La Quinta resort for a spa day. We both had lovely massages, sat in the hot tub and sauna, and enjoyed a quiet lunch with a glass of wine. What a perfect beginning to our trip!
The rest of the week was filled with Bloody Mary's, playing in and out of the house, making sugar cookies and a journey to the Living Desert (thanks Heather for coming with us). Matt and I both managed to get some work done in the mornings while our girls were devouring breakfast and cartoons. We also took the girls to Cheeky's for a fabulous breakfast, at which Madeline ordered a bowl of milk to go with the cheerios she brought with her from home! The kids loved the jacuzzi and we "swam" most afternoons.

Heather came to help with cookie decorating. The extra grown up hands were super needed!

Christmas Day we had a great brunch with the extended family. The kids opened their stockings and Santa presents when they woke up. Madi was so excited that Santa had eaten her cookies! Ella and Madi both received their own Kindles and have spent large numbers of hours since Christmas watching separate shows or playing very loud games next to each other on the couch! Present opening was a hilarious event that involved flying wrapping paper and Ella wanting to open any present she saw. Madeline did a great job helping pass out gifts, but her little face was so sad when she saw we were down to the last present. The kids spent the afternoon playing with their new toys and enjoying their cousin time.

When you get a tent for Christmas . . . . 

Stocking time!

Howe girls

The best we got with all four kiddos

When we arrived home on Saturday, the girls had presents from Auntie Wendi to open before we got down to the serious business of cleaning out the playroom to make space for their new toys. I was super impressed with how well the girls did with boxing up toys and books that they don't use anymore to bring to Baby EJ.

This is my new favorite activity!

Twinsies

After the girls and I spent a few days together running errands, meeting friends, and just hanging out, Madeline and Eleanor spent the night at Grandma T's for New Year's Eve. Matt and I went to see Star Wars and I was asleep by 10. On New Year's Day, we headed to Grandma T and GrandKarl's for Christmas in the OC. Abu came over and the girls went to town opening presents while trying to keep Bella from eating wrapping paper and ribbons all morning. I think that both Madi and Ella were most excited by the Mermaid Tail Blankets that Abu made for them. I am so jealous that I don't have one in my size!

In case anyone is curious what holiday exhaustion looks like . . . we need a bigger bed

Madi helping Dad stretch

Nighttime snacking

Overall, we had a fabulous holiday season and I know Matt and I are both amazed by how much fun Christmas is when you have kids who are so enthusiastic about every part of the holiday!

A week without Dad

Less than 36 hours after we got home from Hawaii, Matt was back out the door and on his way to DC for work. The girls and I made it through the week (barely), but the lack of sleep and jet lag were pretty painful to deal with. A week later, Ella is still on Hawaii time - she goes to bed after 9 pm and wants to sleep until 7:30 - this would be fine except work and school don't have that schedule! Madi just wants to cuddle all of the time and when she isn't cuddling she is yelling, crying, and telling us "I don't love you anymore." It hurts. Shockingly I got through the week with only two bottles of wine!
Matt got to spend a day exploring DC and I had a Mom's night with the two of my three neighborhood moms and their kiddos. I love how just having someone else's kids in the house helps the time pass for my kids so much faster! Sadly, none of the moms could share my wine as they are all pregnant (this is the second round of these women having kids together, crazy). I was very happy to have Matt home on Sunday . . and I celebrated by leaving him alone with the kids while I went to book club and then did some work! This week has been much easier with Matt and I both home and the kids finally beginning to get back on a San Diego time schedule.

Night time activities are getting calmer - iPad and coloring

Sweater from Abu

Being Elsa in red capes

Tea in Old Town

All ready

Yum! - Why is small food always so good?

Ella is beginning to speak so well! She is trying to use sentences and clearly communicate what she wants or thinks. Ella's two favorite ideas are still "naked girl" and "snack" but she is also starting to repeat other sentences, especially things Madi says to her. Madi is obsessed with Christmas right now. She was chomping at the bit to decorate the house and only wants to listen to Christmas songs in the car. I can't decide if I love how excited Madi is about the holiday or if it just adding to my stress. I am also beginning to wonder if Ella is going to hate Christmas as they get older since Madi is so obsessed with it and Ella's birthday is tied to the holiday time.

Thanksgiving 2015

We were so lucky this year to spend Thanksgiving in Hawaii. We went to Ko-Olina and stayed at the condos next door to the Disney Aulani resort (this is the same place we stayed when we took Madi to Hawaii for her first Christmas). The complex is perfect for kids: multiple pools, a protected lagoon, walking distance to the Disney craziness, and (best of all) a bar right next to the kids rock/walk in pool for Mom and Dad!
The flight out was better than expected. The girls did a great job getting through the airport - each in charge of a bag. Ella is obsessed with the rolling backpack! Matt had a car service pick us up at home and drop us at the airport, so nice and easy. Ella actually slept for an hour or so of the flight to Hawaii, both girls watched a show (but not nearly as much as Matt and I had expected). They played with every toy that Madi had packed and blew through all of the fruit snacks before landing. The last hour of the flight was hard, but we all managed to make it through without screaming or losing it (there was alcohol involved for Mom and Dad, that helped with patience). The flight home was even easier since it was late in the afternoon (and shorter by over an hour). Both girls napped part of the time, both watched shows, played with toys and the ipad, and of course ate as many fruit snacks as they possible could!
Hawaii was so relaxing. We spent most of the days at the beach or pool or both. We took a walk over to Aulani for shaved ice, a drive to the North Shore to see a farmer's market (and have more shave ice), and had brunch with the Disney characters. Matt and I had dinner at Roy's alone in the middle of the week (so nice) and really enjoyed being able to spend so much time with the girls without feeling our usual push to get them up and ready and out the door for school all week.

Getting through the airport is so easy now that the girls are in charge of their own stuff

On the plane

First test of the leaf chairs in the pools

Family picture!

At the Aulani

Meeting Donald Duck!

Ella was not sure about meeting Chip (or Dale)

Stitch (again Ella isn't sure about this)

More excited!

Madi was enthused about hugging every character!

Banana Conga

Eating dinner in boxes . . . my kids are weird . . . cute, but weird

Looks just like Madi at this age

My yummy Roy's meal

3 generations

Madi learning to use the selfie stick

Dancing at the bar

Cupcakes, yum!

Aquarium visit before visiting Uncle Keith

Meltdown part 1 - Mom didn't bring the right snacks

At dinner with Uncle Keith

Playing at a school on the North Shore

Jammies and running in the grass

The girls loved the kid's pool

Ella decided she needs some quiet time away from us

Kids on a bench - no adult around. It turns out that this makes random adults nervous.

Madeline practiced her bar skills

Outside nap

Koi feeding - every morning at 8 am

Time to lug all our stuff back to the car

Playing in the airport before going home