Annual Gingerbread cookie decorating at the Way's

Date night, ugly Christmas sweater party

(I did a nightgown, he did a vest) 

Living room pizza picnic with Olivia

Family Sunday Funday

Greg picked up a shift in the busy days leading up to Thanksgiving, so he was granted today off in return. We never ever get a weekend off together, so we decided to celebrate with a trip on the Metro Gold Line to Olvera Street. What's fun about the Gold Line is it's almost all above ground, so it's a really fun tour/view of Pasadena, East LA. Downtown, Chinatown, etc. Mila LOVED looking out the windows and wasn't scared at all. Lunch al fresco, on the busy crowded Olvera strip, was festive and musical and yummy. The only bummer was this was day 2 of no-nap-Mila (instead she just talks and whines from her crib for an hour+, until we finally give up). She's not one to nap in her stroller, so despite an additional trip/Metro break in Old Town Pasadena on our way home, there was no nap today. Of course she fell asleep in the 5 minute car ride from the Metro Station to home-at 5:15pm-so she's in her crib and we'll see what time she wakes up(!) I think this will last her through until morning. 

A blurry but happy girl's night in

Last night, although it wasn't planned this way, we gathered together for a 'Friendsgiving.' All 5 of us girls happened to be free, and Ericka graciously offered to host as she so often does, and the menu unfolded; Cheeses, baguette, vegan potato leek soup, autumn green salad, roasted sweet potatoes and zucchini, raisin quinoa, and vegan apple crisp. We're all such foodies-must be why we get along so well ;)

Sierra Madre

It seems rare to find a park that has a sand box. Not that I'm complaining. 

the hunger games

We've been eating well this weekend. Saturday morning I mixed slivered almonds and fresh raspberries into Trader Joe's multigrain pancake mix. 

Holiday in the Park 2013

We only went to 3 stores (Sheridan Gardens, Flirt, and Peggy Woods) but it was fun to be out and feel festive. 

You know you're a mom when you're at the mall before the stores are open

Wee!!

Quick visits are good for the soul.

Sometimes in life it's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, and avoid breaking a routine, that you're surprised at how easy it is to get together with an old friend (from preschool!) over burritos and have your daughters play together & hold hands for a photo...and be done by 6:15 so there's still time to visit another old friend (middle school!) and her 3 kiddos and sit around the coffee table before heading home listening to Christmas music (don't judge) and carrying your sleeping toddler to bed.....  

First haircut!! (Read: bang trim)

Kissing Colette

We're truly in a 'park phase'

Sweater weather

The Huntington