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Christmassy Stuff - Christmas

Wonderful Christmas surprises for EVERYONE!!! Oh my...



And then Gwen spent almost the entire day watching dvd's at the table. She ate almost an entire box of peppermint bark.
Then we decorated cookies, because I guess she likes that.

Christmassy Stuff - Christmas Eve

We've started a new Christmas Eve tradition. Cozy family bonfire. Logan hates this tradition.

Christmassy Stuff - Santa and Parade

Coronado has put on some nice events for Christmas. They created a small snow-mountain (which we didn't do because the big kids seemed a little rough for the Gwenner), cookie decorating and meet Santa at the Ferry Landing. We don't give Gwen many cookies so she was especially excited that she got to decorate and then eat as many cookies as she wanted.
Gwen was too afraid of Santa to get out of the stroller and talk to him (and this was repeated at later Santa meetings as well, even though she kept saying she was "ok with Santa because he gives [her] candy canes.")
Some of the highlights of the parade: Ronald McDonald, Joseph and Mary on segways.

Christmassy Stuff - Fireworks

The hotel put on fireworks and free games for kids at the beginning of December. Here are some pics.

Where a Princess Goes

I think that when Gwen gets married, this picture needs to be prominently displayed...like everywhere.

Thanksgiving

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday in New Jersey. It was a looooong flight, but it definitely could have been worse. Worth it.
We got to experience some real fall/winter weather.
The kids got to see the Corson homestead. Logan got a chance to talk with "someone who really gets him" (and that would be Grandpa Ken, apparently).
We took the kids on their first train ride, a whole 4 minutes to the next stop on the line (and then home again after lunch). Gwen was a little confused when she didn't once hear the conductor yell "all aboard."

We made a stop at the Blocks' where Gwen was given loads of wonderful jewelry (among other things) and had a photo-shoot in the bathtub (among other places).
Logan was there too (he got a sweet, sweet leather jacket).
And Logan spent the week annoying Uncle Sam by touching his walker, taking his toys, and messing up his perfectly made bed. He can be kind of a bully sometimes.
ps - I know it's hard to believe, but my 10 year high school reunion was also that weekend. I went and it was fun. Everyone looks great and is great.

Oh, and yes, we've moved

Coronado's very beautiful.
And, we aren't sure, but we think we might be able to see Mexico, our friendly neighbor to the South, from the beach.

Halloween

Halloween started a few days early with trick or treating at Ryan's office.
Then on Halloween we headed to Coronado's downtown trick or treat with some neighbors (and Ryan's mom).




Then trick or treating around the neighborhood - Gwen got scared a couple times by monsters in people's yards and neighbors who like to startle children, but took it pretty well.
(Check out the stickers on the kids' heads, the "treats" from our local surf shop. Also, don't worry, Logan didn't eat any candy, just empty boxes, yes, lots of those.)

whyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Summertime in the Fall

After the coldest summer I have ever had in my life, we FINALLY had a few record-breaking, hot days. Thank you very much.

We've decided, as a family, that we love lemurs

Presents

Lately Gwen's been the happy recipient of various random gifts. My girlfriend from high school - Liz - mailed her this special, hand-selected tutu (which she refuses to wear leggings under so she twirls around showing off her "big girl undies"), and her nursery teacher at church got her a pair of tap shoes (because she knows Gwen loves to dance). So nice, so kind.

Flugtag

Me and Ryan took a magical scooter ride into Long Beach to check out Redbull's Flugtag. It was a wonderful, sweaty experience.