Santa College and other Christmas happenings...

Somehow we are almost halfway through December and I have not been keeping up on posting…and I'm so behind on Christmas cards amongst other things.  But that's really not what this season is all about anyways.  So here is a little run down of what we have been up to….

Some Christmas crafting.  The boys had so much fun decorating these wreaths one night after dinner.  With every pom he glued on Owen would get so proud and excited and say "ooooooh" or "wow".

Lovin' his craft!

We have visited with Santa.  Last weekend Hilary and I met at the bookstore with all the boys.  We had coffee and they played with the trains and spent their gift cards (courtesy of Mimi and Papa, for the record Scott chose a superman book (of course, ugh!) and Owen chose a Thomas book (the first ever in our house, Scott wasn't too much of a train kid)).  Then we decided to go meet Santa in his cottage.  On the way Scott kept saying he was going to Santa College.  Hilarious!

On our way to Santa's College we walked by World Market and who did we run into coming out of the store?  Santa of course.  I wish I could have gotten a picture of the boys faces when they saw him.  They stopped dead in their tracks.  Totally frozen.  Santa was such a good sport and chatted with them and told them to be good…..they all nodded, biggest eyes ever.

We let Santa get settled and then we headed in to tell him what we wanted for Christmas and sit in his lap for a picture.  Owen wanted nothing to do with him.  Scott was happy to tell him that he would please like an "iceman" super hero toy.  (Santa is majorly stressing on this one…if you know where he can pick on up let me know….he's tried online and is not having much luck).  So this is what we got.  Technically no one was crying...

After Santa we figured why not have a treat, what's Santa without a little sugar after all (I mean we already had candy canes so bring it!).  They just opened a Sprinkles in our little shopping center and I had already checked to see if they did gluten free cupcakes on a previous trip over without the boys.  So we all had a gluten free red velvet….which went over much better than our picture with Santa.

 We have been decorating gingerbread houses.  Our sweet neighbors/friends hosted a little get together and the kids went to town…eating the candy. 

We finally cut them off and then Scott really got into the spirit of decorating.

His masterpiece:

Rewinding to the day after Thanksgiving, we decorated.  Scott had fun being my little helper too.

Ta-da!  All that's missing is a mantle.  Maybe next year….  Still cozy and festive though!

I'm kind of obsessed with chalkboards…here are ours all Christmas-a-fied:

This was the new book I picked up for the boys this year.  Its been really fun to read a page each night.

 Not Christmas related but Brian and I had a fun little date day the other weekend.  We bike across the street to meet up with some family for birthday drinks while the boys stayed home with a new babysitter (who rocked by the way).  So fun to bike ride for a glass of wine! Love our neighborhood.

Its also been crazy cold here.  One morning:

 This morning my car actually said 34 when we first got in.  Yikes.  Before you roll your eyes east coast/canadian friends just remember that us so cal kiddies don't buy boots and winter coats every year so when we see 30s we put on all of our sweatshirts we own, a vest, a beenie and hope for the best!

Last weekend we also a fun get together with some old friends (Brian's high school friends actually!!)  It was so great to see everyone and catch up for a little bit.  Its so funny to watch a group of friends go from being in their 20s and the kinds of things they do for entertainment, to their 30s when they play foosball holding one or more kids before the kids have to get in their jams and go to bed.  Wouldn't change a thing though...

And last weekend Mimi, Hilary and I also hit up the rose bowl flea market (as we do every december) for some good old treasure hunting.  And look who scored a bench for the entry way: 

Happy Holidays!!!