Christmas Journey - scroll down to start...

...and then we were really tired. We are home for a couple days and then off to southern southern California for the final Christmas and New Year's celebration of the year.

...Maia got some push and spin toys... 

After all the presents were opened, we got to try out eachother's toys. Shealyn got a car... 

Here Sofia is helping Maia open a present while Maia reads a new book.  

...and everyone thought the penis baby was really cool. 

Maia helped Grandma clean up toys... 

...and Maia learned to climb up and down the stairs. She brought her new skills back home and is up and down the stairs here, too (oh dear!).  

While we were there, we did some relaxing... 

Santa brought Maia a Little Tikes "row-row", just like the one Sofia loved at Children's Learning Center. Then we packed up the car and hit the road for our journey north.  

Christmas started a little early here. Santa came before we left for the Bay Area, knowing of course that we wouldn't be here on Christmas morning. "Santa brought me a penis baby!" Sofia exclaimed. Paul (or Matthew) is a hit.  

We had a little holiday party and invited some friends, neighbors, and coworkers. I baked some cookies - some old favorites and some new ones. It was a fun, casual, no-stress gathering. Oh, and Maia looked cute. 

Today's the day for solar power installation. Hope our neighbors up the hill like it, they're the only ones who can see it. 

There she is, just before leaving Arizona. It was a looooong day, but they made it back with no trouble. 

Goodbye Beemer, Hello.... Vanagon?

Yes, you read it correctly. We traded in our BMW (sold it on eBay actually) for an old VW Vanagon. Chris is on his way with Chuck as I write this to pick it up - in Prescott, Arizona. Why, you ask? Cold hard cash. The BMW was a great car, and someday maybe we'll have another one, but it was a little fancy for a family living on one income. And besides Chris claims that it makes him drive like a jerk - imagine that. Now we'll have a vehicle worthy of carrying sheets of plywood, sacks of concrete, and up to 7 people! Whoopee! No, really, it'll be good - let's hope they make it back without too much trouble.

Maia, Sofia and I went to see The Hollow Trees CD release show today in Hollywood. It may not be apparent from her face, but Sofia had a fun time listening to the music. If you have small children, Santa might bring you their new CD. 

A little egg nog, a little music, a little girl with sparkly eyes, what fun... 

Sofia had fun. 

Decorating the tree. 

Happy Birthday to me, We got a Christmas tree, They shook all the bugs off, For a small fee.

BADDDDD Trojans! 

Big game day - what a disaster! I think that was the worst game I've ever seen. Ughhh! Maybe next year. 

Roaaarrrr!