Merry Christmas

Christmas was so busy these photos didn't make it up here. The kids were so happy with their ice cream truck and the big blue dinosaur even if they take up way too much room in our house. Thanks Santa!

Polar Express experience

Experiencing the Polar Express story at the Essex Steam Train. What a fun experience! The kids received bells, got their tickets punched, were served drinks in fancy chairs and got to sing along and see Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and some friends.
#ibelieve
#canyouhearthebells

Merry Christmas eve

As always Christmas Eve is filled with tons of food and great family fun. We sang Christmas carols, danced and played, and of course ate more than out full. Off to bed... Santa is coming!

Christmas Circle Annually trip

Annual trip around Christmas circle in Chula Vista. So fun to see all the decorations.

Diego also helped me out as my little elf today finishing cookies and wrapping presents. He mostly ate raw cookie dough (no worries eggfree because of Callie's allergies) and cut the wrapping paper all crazy ways as I tried wrapping things.

Everything is done. We are ready for Christmas now!

#christmascircle
#mommyslittleelfhelper

Packing up

Manny gets so anxious when the suitcases come out. He knows it means we are leaving and he wants to go. He always ends up sleeping on top of the suitcase hoping he gets to go too. Sorry manny you can't go and even Diego can tell you that.

Winter solstice

We spent the evening singing Christmas songs at the bay withhullabaloo and then had a beach bonfire with smores. What a fun way to celebrate the season.... CA style. Yes that's hats in 60 degree weather. It has been cold here lately though, 38 degrees this week when I woke up.  That's cold for here!

Twelve days of Christmas

Another super fun family tradition! The twelve days of Christmas. Ever since I was a little kid I could remember the excitement of waking up and immediately opening a small present for the twelve days leading up to Christmas. I can remember all my friends being jealous as every day I talked about he excitement of opening something. I can remember my mom sitting on the side of my bed and smiling as I opened crazy things. Even when I was in college I got useful gifts like underwear socks and deodorant!

Now my mom has passed on the tradition to my kids and she wraps all the presents and gets them to CA for the kids. This year there were more than 12! Which turned out good since Manny ate the first present of the year!

Thanks GiJu Betti for carrying on some awesome fun family traditions. This morning sure was a funny gift.

#twelvedaysodchristmas
#makingmemories

Christmas ecard

This is the second year I haven't printed Christmas cards but instead just email everyone. Here's to saving time, money, effort, and some trees! Love you all!

Annual Santa photo

Annual Santa photo at the mall. Callie cried while waiting in line but then was fine sitting on his lap. Diego ran right over by himself. At least Callie smiled for the photo :)

#santasforreal
#believe

Season of giving

Continuing on our giving back and doing good for the holidays. GiJu somehow ended up getting Callie two very similar American Girl dolls at yard sales. We decided to share with a little girl who really wanted one but wasn't going to be able to get one for her birthday or Christmas. So Callie and I gave her doll Samantha a fresh hair cut and outfit to go on to her new home.
I was so proud of Callie as she said we should send her a stroller too since she had two! The feeling of giving is growing inside her! Can't wait to hear how Samantha made another little girls Christmas brighter.
Callie wanted one photo with both dolls before she said goodbye and then she put on matching penguin pajamas like her new (also named) Samantha.

#spiritofgiving
#twinsies

Crafting time Monday

Crafting time at the Chavez house. We got the coloring contest trees from Sprouts and Callie got right to work. You can see she drew Santa on the side, hilariously cute!

And we worked on some small gifts for the kids teachers. This year we went with EOS lip balm on a cute holiday card. Rudolph is my favorite! And yes I realize that the penguin should have an orange nose... I couldn't find orange at Target today.

#christmascrafting
#teachersarethebalm

Annual Christmas pj cousin photo

Grandma picks the best outfits for these silly kids. So funny even if hard to get them all to look and smile at the same time.

Papa Kiki time

the kids were so excited to spend time with Papa Kiki tonight looking at the Christmas tree and watching the train go around. It's hard to get them out of there! They never want to leave. Why would you when you can stay and be spoiled by grandparents?!

Manny eats chocolate! AGAIN!

Our very positive and fun filled day with Matt & Brycen birthday party was spoiled by returning home to this mess!

Manny tore open wrapped presents that had chocolate inside and ate the whole box of chocolate! The kids were appalled he opened their presents which was the least of my worries.

Ended the day at the emergency vet getting the chocolate out of his system and doped up on drugs. Oh manny you'll never learn and apparently neither have I.

Later we got to open the take home gift from the party and crack open fossils and gemstones just like a real archaeologist. The kids loved it.

Manny is starting to feel better and nurse Callie is watching over him and reading him a story in her vet outfit. She loves him too much.

Christmas Giving 2016

Christmas is about giving.... and for me giving to those truly in need. That's why my family has decided not to buy each other any gifts. Instead of the adults trading gifts we choose a charity each year and all contribute to that cause. This year was my turn and I chose Urban Refuge who helps people who have found themselves homeless in our local area.

We had a blast collecting this huge mound of items to giveaway for their annual Christmas dinner. Then Callie and I got a chance to volunteer at the event this past Saturday. It was truly a privilege to serve dinner to the over 150 people who attended. This was Callie's first time to volunteer and I could see the impact it had on her. I hope to inspire her to always help those less fortunate and can't wait until next years charity choice.

A big thanks to my whole family for helping make this years giving a big success!