December 20: Snowboarding

The rain has made getting up to the mountains tough but also meant some nice powder, which Bill and Zoey took advantage of.  Too busy on the slopes to get any shots of each other.  Although apparently they did do their last run shirtless (tank top for Z) per the tradition of the OG Snowboarding Club that Bill and Zoey board with.

December 17: Griffin's Kindergarden Holiday Show

 The kindergarden classes spent most of December learning songs for their show on the morning of the last day of school before break.  Most of the kids got to introduce a song for the show and Griffin and three of his classmates delivered the last lines.  Somehow Griffin ended up with the microphone and he spoke all the lines while the others quietly recited behind him.  As they were singing their last song it started raining and we all left the courtyard a bit damp.  Then, in the evening, the kids in Griffin's after school care put on a little show and sang the 12 Days of Christmas then recited and acted out Twas the Night Before Christmas. Griffin's teacher told us that he insisted he was a reindeer named "Cuban," not Cupid.  Both shows were mercifully short.

December 16: Aidan Plays Soccer

Football season is over and soccer is here.  Bill snapped a few actions shots of Aidan on defense.

December 12: THE BEACH!

Yes.  Bill and Griffin went to the beach - several beaches, actually, in December.  It has been really cold for the area but we had a hot spell this weekend and busted out the shorts and swimsuits.  And wetsuit.  The ocean was still really cold, but that never stops Griffin.

December 11: Nonnie and Griffin Make a Gingerbread House

Griffin spent the night at Nonnie's.  They were going to decorate a gingerbread house, read books and watch the Grinch.  But Griffin fell asleep at 7:30!!  So, they did most of those things the next day AND went to the Wild Animal Park. Nonnie also bought a house for Aidan, which he made by himself.  Bill thinks we should set the rats loose on one of the houses and tape it...

December 10: BEST DAY OF THE YEAR! (for Zoey, anyway...)

December 15 was the day we were all looking forward to and possibly dreading as well.  The day Zoey was supposed to hear fro Tufts in regards to her Early Decision application.  The news came early.  On Friday I was at work and answered the phone in my usual manner (Hello, thank you for calling Barnes & Noble Escondido, this is Tanya, how can I help you?)  The next thing I heard was elated screaming.  It only took a second for me to figure out who it was and what she was saying.  Zoey was accepted to Tufts!  I had a silly grin on my face for the rest of the day and had to check myself to keep from crying tears of joy every once in a while.  I'm sure it was the same for Zoey.  We celebrated with Killer Pizza From Mars, brownies and ice cream.  Then we went online and Zoey bought her first Tufts hoodie!!

December 7: Middle School Band Winter Concert

Tuesday night we (me, Bill, Griffin, Liane and my mom) piled into two cars and headed south for Aidan's Winter Concert.  Usually we don't take Griffin to concerts since his attention span peters out quite rapidly, which it did this year as well.  Before needing to leave the theater, Griffin entertained himself by writing all over the program.  Aidan's group played later in the evening and Griffin and Bill were outside for the pieces.  But, it was a lovely evening anyway.