December 27: Happy Happy Fun Cake!

Zoey had a guest to dinner and together they made this Happy Happy Fun Cake!

December 26: Balboa Park

For over two years now, Zoey has had the amazing job of being the assistant to Ms Frizzle at the Magic School Bus Science show that they Museum of Natural History puts on twice every Sunday. Becuase of this, we have spent many Sundays at the park, before Zoey could drive herself. We try to get down there once a month now and decided to have a family outing. Funny thing was, once we got there Zoey found out that she didn't have to work! She had neglected to read her email and was unaware. Griffin was a bit crotchety but we had a pretty good time anyway.  The model train museum, lunch at the Tea House and a walk through the gardens.  Then a stop at my favorite Japanese grocery store on the way home.

 

December 25: New Bicycle!!!

G.G. and Nonnie got Griffin a new bike this year.  He was much too big for the little read one that was Aidan's but this new bike looked much too big for him.  Amazingly, it's just right.  He's learning to use a hand brake and gears! He has already ridden it to the post office a few blocks away and is riding on the dirt paths of Lake Hodges as I type!  I think he may be the one to get the bike bug that his dad has...

December 24: Family Dinner at G.G.'s

Even though we haven't celebrated Christmas in 6 years, we still gather with my family for their celebration, which is really just a nice dinner.  They haven't exchanged gifts in a while.  That day Griffin's Solstice gift arrived in the mail and he was very excited to wear it.  Aidan orders these hilarious shirts from a website called ThinkGeek and Griffin found a t-shirt with a Lego panel velcroed on to it that he fell in love with.  So, in the photos below he is wearing his new shirt with six Lego guys attached.

December 22: The Necessity of Pants

Aidan does not wear pants unless required by school rules. Special Dress Day, which happens 2 or 3 times a year, and band performances call for pants.  Therefore, Aidan owns one pair of black pants and intermittently is in possession of one pair of pants suitable for ourdoor wear, in the event that he has a class trip to climates colder than ours. He also owns an antique 3 piece tuxedo that his Grandma Annie bought him.  However, in preparation for a trip he and Zoey are taking to NYC from 12/29 - 1/1 with their Grandma Annie, the boy needed some real pants. There was a blizzard not three days before their arrival, almost preventing the trip, and temperatures were in the high 30s. So, when an unfortunate accident called for a trip to the Apple store to fix the screen of my computer (don't even ask) we capitalized on our misfortune with a visit to the Gap, where I needed to return something. We lucked out because they were having a 50% off sale that ended a mere 45 minutes after we entered the store. Thanks to the gentle touch and fashion sense of Liane, Aidan left the store with a dashing pair of skinny corduroys, a suave cardigan and a spectacular pea coat. Actually, we had to order the coat from the Horton Plaza store and Bill picked it up that night. Anyway, it's almost like we have a whole new boy in the house!

The beret is leftover from his halloween costume - Che Guevara. He likes to wear it but does get called names like "communist" and what not when at school and thus worries about the impression he makes elsewhere.

December 22: Funny Business

Despite the big age differences, Zoey, Aidan and Griffin can get pretty silly together, as witnessed below.

Deceber 21: Solstice!

Solstice was a little different for us this year.  Besides the fact that it was the first time in 6 years that we could not go to the beach and watch the sunset (La Nina = torrential rain in December) we had Liane celebrating with us.  Her Solstice present to me was to cook a feast of all her favorite foods, so it worked out perfectly that she made us dinner while we were homebound this year.  Instead of our usual trip to Juanita's, we were treated to sopes, red rice, beans and all the fixings, including Jarritos sodas!  The super sweet soda was actually a nice compliment to the spicy food and I almost didn't miss my beer at all...

The traditional Solstice Cake, made this year by Zoey, is 3/4 chocolate and 1/4 vanilla to symbolize the longest night of the year.  After dinner we moved on to the gift portion of the evening.  Everyone picked a name out of a hat and got a gift for that person.  After a bit of confusion we got it sorted out.  Zoey gave me a gift card to See's (YUM!)Griffin gave Bill a Star Wars Lego.  I gave Aidan a box full of miniature candies and an iTunes gift card.  Liane gave Griffin a very cool remote control car that goes on land and water.  Bill gave Zoey elephant earrings that are symbolic of Jumbo, the Tufts mascot, and an iTunes gift card. And Aidan gave Liane an iTunes gift card. Lots of iTunes going around this  year! There were other gifts exchanged as well and good times for all.