Like every year, we spent Thanksgiving weekend with Mike’s family in Northern California. We drove and it’s soooo long with all the stops necessary to feed kids, go to the bathroom (Annie and a certain Diet Coke drinker had to stop often), get gas, etc. Arriving is such a relief.
My sister-in-law, Monica, and her family also stay with Mike’s parents, so it’s a full house. It’s great for Annie to have all that access to her cousins. Annie ran around with her two youngest cousins, and they completely entertained each other for hours.
It was amazing! Annie had a blast, and James enjoyed undivided adult attention. Monica made our entire Thanksgiving dinner from scratch. It was DELICIOUS. She is now officially the family chef. I’m craving the pumpkin-apple soup she made, and need the recipe ASAP.
The day after Thanksgiving, we drove to Santa Cruz to meet up with our friends Victoria and Alexis and their kids. Mike and I hadn’t been to Santa Cruz in at least twenty years. It was a gorgeous drive through tree-covered mountains, and we had a wonderful time catching up with our friends while the kids played and watched the sea lions.
After we left our friends, we took the kids to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We thought Annie would enjoy some of the kiddie rides, but she was seriously pissed that we wouldn’t take her in the ocean.
Eventually, she came around to playing some of the games, especially when she realized there were prizes to be won.
We bought some tickets for the rides. Luckily, she was tall enough.
James and I waited while Mike and Annie went on the carousel:
He was very intent on spotting her.
Eventually, Annie spotted the Beach Swing ride, and went on it about three or four times. She was obsessed with it!
I love that she has no problem going on these sorts of rides by herself..
And of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to the Bay Area without a stop at Ghirardelli Square:
Annie was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I reminded her that we’ll see them all again this weekend to celebrate Mike’s birthday! It’s hard to believe the most wonderful/crazy/jam-packed time of the year is upon us, but it’s already two days into December so I need to get on the stick. I’ve resolved to be relaxed about everything from decorating to shopping. I want everything to be special for the kids, but I also want to enjoy them enjoying everything. They’re only going to be this little once.
Karen says:
James has never looked more like his biggest sister than in that profile shot. Just beautiful.
Jenn says:
I’m so glad you all had such a GREAT time! I must say I could just eat that baby boy up!!! He is so precious and that never ending smile with those big baby blues, long lashes makes me smile and think of another precious big blue eyed, long lashed, never ending smiling Beautiful baby girl!!! Miss Annie is a beautiful as always and with her love of the beach…AAahhh – a kid after my own heart!!
Maris says:
Wonderful pics
TamaraL says:
Your kids are just breathtakingly beautiful! And yes, James looks so much like Maddie in the profile shot…love it!
shannon says:
The last picture brought tears to my eyes. I love this time of year as well. My babies are growing up. Savor it Heather, I know you are. It goes so very fast.
Jolene says:
Beautiful last picture of both your precious ones I LUH-HUV that picture of Annie staring at the ocean. I admire your photography skills. I don’t have anything fancy but I do have a Nikon SLR…how in the world did you capture such a beautiful show so clearly? I never know how to set my camera depending on the time of day or light…gah! Just need the practice I suppose.
Heather says:
Thank you! You know, a lot of it was luck – the lighting was perfect and when she wanted to look at the ocean, I saw my opportunity! Practice does have a lot to do with it, since a shot like that really requires manual settings. If you put it on auto, the flash would try to fire. You could definitely take a shot like that with your SLR! I used my SLR and didn’t have to do anything fancy to get the shot!
Jolene says:
*shot*…not show
Annalisa says:
That’s a good idea, and one I have to strive to keep in mind too. I keep getting peeved with my 3 year old because she doesn’t really want to do the same things I want to do for the holidays (Santa? Pshh. Carousel? Throw a screaming fit. Holiday movies? Forget it!).
My husband had to remind me as recently as yesterday that she gets her stubborn intractable streak from me, and that there are holiday things she’d rather do if I let her (ice skating, tree decorating, and watching the train in the Winter Village at Seattle Center go on its runs), and that she won’t care about those things forever either.
MG says:
Yes, that profile of James looks SO much like Maddie.
Paula says:
That profile? I can see Jackie!’s profile in it. I think it’s the area between the lips and nose and the eyes. I can definitely see Maddie but I saw Jackie!’s profile.
Your kids had a jam – packed weekend and I am glad Annie is brave enough to go on rides by herself. I am always saddened by the little kids who are too scared to ride even the kiddie rides alone.
Paula says:
And the Annie Silhouette? Gorgeous. I think you could frame it and give it as gifts.
roshan says:
It’s funny how Annie is the only one left on the beach swing. She would have lived on it if you had just let her.
Amanda says:
I’m sure you hear it all the time, but Annie is a beautiful girl. James is adorable and I can’t wait to watch him grow.
Pattie says:
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. And, oh, that last shot of Annie and James sleeping is absolutely priceless.
VDog says:
It was amazing and wonderful to see you all.
Beth says:
Long time reader, first time commenter. I had to say as the others did that the profile of James looks so much like Maddie! You have a beautiful family and I love reading your blog.