Month: December 2010

In an effort to keep everyone from going mad on this soggy, seemingly 17-week long vacation, we’ve had a couple of outings this week. On Monday we met the Becks and the westside Moisions at La Brea Tar Pits. I think the kids would have been content to run up and down this hill the entire time.

Ezra and Finn also really liked the guy playing folk music outside the entrance. They were captivated (again).

Yesterday, along with the Heffs, we tried bowling for the first time at 300 in Pasadena. The boys had a great time and have already begged to go back. Here’s Ezra rolling his ball down the little ramp they have for kids.

And here’s Lucy. She has a flair for the dramatic.

Finn got a spare early on and gave himself a round of applause.

And, lastly, some video. That is, HD video from my new camera! Thanks, Bruce!

We had a pretty fun Christmas this year! After last year’s stomach flu debacle (Bruce and I got sick on Christmas Eve and had to cancel all plans) we were happy to be sickness-free and able to travel. We stayed home and had a very mellow Christmas Eve — made pizza with the boys, opened presents, played with new toys, etc. The boys went to sleep without their usual haggling after being told that Santa Claus would only come once they were asleep. (I wish we could use that line the rest of the year.)

We moved the couch away from the fire place so Santa could get in and it worked! Stockings were filled, presents left, cookies and milk consumed. The boys were thrilled to wake up to a Batcave for Finn and a new bike for Ezra.

It took us a while to get moving but we finally tore the boys away from their new stuff and hit the road to visit the Becks in Temecula. We had a great time celebrating in their new house. Always fun to have all seven cousins in the same place.

Of course, I took a ton of pictures. Here are my favorites in the form of a slideshow.

Bruce took the boys on a hike in Eaton Canyon on Christmas Eve. Despite the chilly temperatures, they loved playing in the water, digging in the sand, throwing rocks, etc.

Finn’s awesome feet.

Finn took a couple of pictures, too. These two are my favorites.

And here’s a video.

We joined the rest of the Pasadena ragamuffins in need of a trim at Little Kuts last week and the boys got spruced up for Christmas. My iPhone photos are a little blurry but cute.

What’s better for a rainy Christmas vacation day activity than the ubiquitous (this year) Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Man kit? Nothing. The boys loved making them and eating all the leftover candy. At one point, Finn was spooning leftover sprinkles into his mouth. Pure bliss. Here are some pictures.

Getting started. Finn needed some help getting the icing on, but then he was off and running. Ezra couldn’t get the M&M bag open fast enough.

Ezra really got into the piping.

Caught red-handed. Ezra could have eaten the entire bag of icing.

Ezra’s gingerbread man:

Finn’s gingerbread man:

He was very happy with the final product.

We took Ezra and Finn to Japon Bistro for dinner last night and ended up being blown away by the adventurous spirit of both boys. They’ve had and liked Japanese food before and they are generally pretty good eaters, but last night’s meal went beyond our expectations. It started with Miso soup and salad — nothing terribly unusual. Finn ate most of Bruce’s salad, and Ezra loved the soup.

Next up: deep-fried soft shell crab appetizer. They loved it. In fact, they were still talking about it today and asked if we could have it for dinner.

California roll.

Shrimp tempura.

Tamago.

Something unidentifiable from my plate that looked so unappetizing to me that I wouldn’t even try it. Ezra ate the whole thing.

In fact, the only thing they didn’t eat was the white rice. I realized at some point in the meal that they hadn’t eaten anything since lunch except for a pear and an apple. Perhaps starving the children is a good way to get them to try new foods.

Much to Finn’s excitement, we got our Christmas tree this weekend. He had asked me every day last week when we were getting our “kissmas tree” so he’s finally satisfied. The boys went crazy looking at all our ornaments and loved putting them on the tree — generally in clumps along the bottom half. We couldn’t agree on what to use as a topper until Ezra made one from Lego. It’s a star.

There is something so extremely satisfying about popping bubble wrap, especially when it’s the kind with the giant bubbles. I like to do it with my hands. The boys have a different approach.

I took the boys to see Santa on Thursday night, not really sure of how it was going to go. Ezra seemed excited but Finn was apprehensive. He wanted to go but wasn’t so sure he wanted to sit with Santa. Luckily, the Santa at One Colorado in Old Town Pasadena and his photographer are very patient. Finn initially balked at the idea, and stayed a good safe distance away from the sled.

So, the first pictures were just Ezra and Santa.

But after a few minutes, Finn decided Santa was an OK guy and he cautiously climbed up on the sled. We didn’t get a lot of smiles from either boy, but afterwards they assured me they had a great time taking pictures with Santa.

Ezra was mostly concerned with making sure his Belize t-shirt showed in the pictures. And, after it was over both boys told me they forgot to ask Santa for anything for Christmas, but Ezra had told Santa he went to Belize. That boy is obsessed; I think I see a second trip in our future. Hint, hint, Jamma.

The Christmas season has officially started for us with the annual construction of the Trader Joe’s gingerbread house. Bruce and the boys built it yesterday morning while I was at a meeting for Cottage.

Here the boys are admiring their work. (Finn was also having a conversation with the little people.)

The systematic disassembly and consumption will probably begin today.