We rang the New Year in (on East Coast time) with the Kempfs and Winkels. We had such a great time. Tons of food, drink and fun. 
The kids did exceptionally well. They roasted marshmallows and made smores and then did sparklers. That was a favorite for all of them.
Happy New Year (or maybe not...huh Lauren?)!
La Jolla is one of our favorite places to bring people from out of town. It really doesn't get prettier than this. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining bright. The seals were out (although I didn't get any pictures of them). Lauren and Allie were wishing Daddy was here to take the climbing on the rocks. That is not something we where going to try without him.
Now is this Papa's girls or what?
Santa came and we even had to wake the girls up in the morning to get things going. Lauren got her monkey that she wanted (thank goodness). Allie is here opening up a new camera from Nana. I can't tell you how many pictures they both have taken.
I had WAY too many presents this year. I must have been really good.
Casey and I are posing with our matching vests from Joey. Thanks Joey!!!
The girls spent most of the rest of the day playing slumber party with their new sleeping bags from Grandma and Papa. Those will come in handy when we move to Japan and are waiting on our furniture.
For Christmas Eve I cooked a yummy standing rib roast complete with green beans, new potatoes and popovers. After an early dinner we went over to church for the bell ringing children's service. Lauren and Allie sang Wonderful during the service. Lauren must have had a little too much sugar at some time b/c she was not her normal serious self while singing. She was acting like quite the ham. She saw me giving her the eye, but was taking full advantage of the fact that I could do nothing about it at the time.
After church we came home and ate French Silk Pie and then opened the traditional one gift (always new pjs). 
Check out the cookies and milk for Santa. We also had to leave a trail from the fireplace into the house. Initially I had gifts stacked up there, but Lauren quickly informed me that Santa might trip on them. They went to bed very easily ready for Christmas morning.
Grandma and Papa got in to celebrate Christmas with us on Saturday. Their flight got in pretty late so they went on to the Navy Lodge and would come over first thing Sunday morning. They took us out to lunch at Point Loma Seafood for my favorite scallop sandwich. Yum! Here is a shot of them with the girls overlooking the bay.
Here are the girls getting ready to make cookies. I am so glad that I told them we were going to decorate sugar cookies or else we would have never gotten them done. As much as I love baking and cooking, doing sugar cookies are not my favorite.
Uncle Joey was here to show Allie that you don't put the toothpick in your mouth and then use it to spread out the frosting.
Now there is a proud girl of her snowflake.
Navy was in a bowl game here in San Diego so we just had to go. We had a big group meet up to tailgate before the game. There was tons of great food and drink with great friends. We had such a blast even if Navy couldn't pull out the win.
Here Condra, Meredith, Me and Susan are sitting on the back of the truck taking it all in.
They also had craft tables set up for the kids to draw, get their face painted or make a gingerbread scene. We went to the breakfast with Condra and Landon and Cole. We met The Hunts and McCormicks who were quite as timely as us.
When Santa arrived we got to go sit up on his lap. The girls got their picture taken by the photographer from the Coronado Lifestyle Magazine. She said they would be in the November's issue. We will have to have some friends send us it since we will be in Japan by then.
Another fun Christmas event was Chad's work children's Christmas party. They had two huge bouncy castles, cookie decorating, face painting, pizza, etc. The girls spent 99% of the time in the bouncy castle. That was until Allie got crushed by two older boys. Both girls are very brave of Santa this year. This was the 3rd Santa they have seen. Chad was flying that day, but managed to make the end of the party.
Friday night was the annual Coronado Christmas Parade. Lauren got to walk in it with her Daisy troupe. She enjoyed herself as they walked down Orange Ave. Chad, Allie and I watched from the street. It was such a fun night.
Our friends, Mark and Colleen had a Army/Navy party for their daughter's first birthday. Mark went to Army, but we are still friends with him. On the West Coast the game started at 9:00 so we were up early to get to their house by kick-off. They had a ton of food for brunch all of which was delicious. Chad stood by the tv b/c with all the kids it was a little hard to hear the game. We had a great time, especially with the outcome...Navy 38...Army 3.
Wednesday, the del had their Christmas celebration. Santa was there with his elves and we had a successful sit on his lap along with pictures. Games and refreshments were on the sun deck and Village Elementary kids sang Christmas carols. The ice skating rink was open on the Windsor Lawn and we sat and had hot toddies while we watched. It was a beautiful night.
They were also brought up on stage during our lunch at the French Market to play the tambourine. They loved being on stage.
Such fun it was to see Disneyland through their eyes.
The girls had a blast playing together. They managed to get in a movie of Belle.
Colleen set a beautiful table and they have a huge house to fit us all in. Once the sun set, Mark lit a fire in the pit outside and we had drinks and dessert out back. Thanks to the Winkels and Kempfs for such a memorable Thanksgiving. We are off to Disneyland in the morning so I am off to bed.
Last Saturday was Lauren's last soccer game of the fall season. We had a party after the game at Coach Marc's house. We had tacos, quesadillas, chips and guacamole and Christy made cupcakes for dessert. Coach Marc handed out trophies to the whole team. Lauren was thrilled with hers.
There were mountains all around the hotel. That night we had a nice little dinner in town. The next day we woke up to more swimming and the headed home.
