San Diego Part 1

I am so behind in blogging, so this will be a lot of pictures and less on the dialogue.

We left for San Diego Sunday Christmas Day.  The airport was not that busy.  By the time we got to our hotel we were hungry, but the restaurant wasn't open yet.  San Diego is 3 hours behind us.  Our hotel was beautiful!  The food at the restaurant at the hotel was really good. Monday we went to the San Diego Zoo.  Best zoo ever.  Tuesday we went to Sea World (not so impressed). Wednesday and Thursday we rented a car (best decision).  We visited the first mission established in San Diego, visited Old Towne, and toured the USS Midway.  We ate at some awesome restaurants, saw some beautiful scenery, and got to put our toes in the Pacific Ocean.

 And now for the pictures.  Part 1 will be pictures from the zoo.

There is some awesome vegetation at the zoo.

Interesting fact: koala bears are only awake 2 hours a day.
We were able to catch 3 or 4 of them awake.  They are really cute!

This was the funniest bird ever!  He was a rhino billed toucan.

The biggest porcupine.

There were many steep hills at the zoo.
They actually had 2 "moving sidewalks" to help you get up the hills.  Too fun!

Crazy child!

There was a big pond with so many different kinds of birds.
 I enjoyed sitting and watching all the different kinds and all the stuff they did.

Daddy did such an awesome job taking this picture.
 C called this "the bird with the Sith eyes."  You'd have to be a Star Wars fan to understand that.

There were 2 pandas at the zoo.
But the way the exhibit was set up, we really didn't get to see them all that well.  

Awesome waterfall.

Our little family.

We rode the sky coaster up over the zoo.  It was a neat perspective.

Such interesting plants!

So pretty!

Picking the statue's nose.

Examining his find.  Crazy child.

Our 'first' Christmas-2011

This year our Christmas took place Christmas Eve Day.  Actually, we did our stockings Friday night; so I guess it actually started then.

 C had quite a few things in his stocking; Daddy had an OK amount.  I had A LOT--of all the same thing!  C got 2 Cars2 cars, a Lego separator, a light switch cover for his room, and a water gun.  Daddy got an iTunes gift card, some mini Colts dry erase boards, and a water gun.  I got a package of Andes thin mints.  Yum!  They are awesome frozen!

Christmas morning, we opened our presents upstairs in our bedroom.  For a few different reasons.  #1: the dog wouldn't bother us  #2: it was warmer up there  #3: my biggest present was already up there in our room  #4: Kalei's little tree was set up in our room  #5: I wanted something different

My large gift was the brown chair that now sits in our room.  I call that corner my Kalei corner.  I also got some new comfy pants, a new candle, a back scratcher, some soft socks, a FSU shirt, and season 10 of Friends (finally!)

Daddy got a microphone stand for Rock Band, a new PS game, the most awesomest camera tripod, a photography book, a new puzzle, some Starbucks K Cups, and a new CD.

C got: some new Star Wars guys, a Star Wars movie, a microscope, some new video games, a movie, some FSU golf balls, Cars Movie Cars, and a pillow that my Mom made him out of some of my Dad’s clothes (Such a neat idea; I’m jealous)

And we all got a Kalei cup like these.

After we opened presents and ate, we went to see Kalei.  I had made a Christmas wreath to put on her stone.  I really like how it turned out. It’s so her.

From there we went to J&T’s house.  She cooked us a big “Christmas” dinner.  After we ate, we just sat and talked.  We haven’t done that for a long time.  It was a nice way to end an emotional day. 

BUT:  it wasn’t over. That’s when M and her familycame and caroled to us. 

All told, we had a good Christmas.  In fact, C said “This was the best Christmas.”  But then paused and said “Well almost.”  Breaks.  My.  Heart.

My Dog

C had to write a poem for school about his pet.  At first he didn't think he could come up with something.  But I thought he came up with something pretty good.

My Dog

My dog is big.

We call him a pig.

He sleeps all day, 

Unless it's time to play.

I love my dog.

He is a hog!

--CBW

We are so blessed

A few weeks before Christmas my friend Aunt T called and asked me a really strange question. If money was no object what would we get C for Chritmas this year? Ummmm. That's a hard question to answer on the spur of the moment and when we've already bought him this years presents. So I tried to give her some ideas. She prompted me with some ideas, but then wouldn't tell me why she was asking all this. Fast forward to December 14. My friend Felicia was here having coffee with me when Teena called and asked if she could stop by for a few minutes. When she came in, she had a big bag and a huge box full of presents for C. Well actually there was one present for me and Daddy and a card for us.  I think there were 23 presents in all for him.  A lady at Daddy's old place of work (Uncle Jon still works there) wanted to do something special for C this year.  A little overwhelming.

A list of what he got as much as I can remember:  a large Star Wars Lego set, 2 large Halo sets (similar to Legos), at least 2 small Star Wars Lego sets, marbles, card games, coloring books, warm up pants, snow boots, hat&gloves, a Christmas Lego set, 3 different kinds of candy dispensers (2 look like Darth Vader and 1 looks like a light saber), a football, a basketball, and spy goggles.  How awesome and thoughtful. We had him open 2-3 each night leading up to Christmas.  Another wonderful way to "pass the time" leading up to a hard day.  We are truly blessed.