Merry Grinchmas!

With our passes to Universal Studios set to expire, we made one last family trip Sunday and enjoyed some rides and experiences that we hadn't seen on our prior trips.

Universal has the rights to the Grinch, so this area is set up as Whoville, with a Grinch show. We didn't stay around to watch the show, but we did check out the tree and the other photo opps. 

We went on the Transformers ride for the first time, and then watched the Special Effects show and the Animal Actors show.

The girls enjoyed meeting the chicken and one of the cats after the show.

We needed a snack - a chocolate croissant and mocha hit the spot!

The Christmas lights everywhere are gorgeous!

And in Hogsmeade, the Harry Potter castle holiday light show is beautiful.

Stace and Cora watched the full show while Violet and I rode the ride, and then caught the end of the display.

We loved the snow and the rest of the decor in Harry Potter's world.

Back to the Grinchmas tree to see it lit at night - so pretty.

What a fun family day. It may be a few years before we return, but I think we all had a great Universal experience this year.

Gingerbread Fun

Our friend Rachael had us over Saturday morning for her annual gingerbread house extravaganza.

It's quite an undertaking! She preps all the houses - at least 20? - and sets up all the candy, frosting and tables in the garage.

The girls had such a good time creating their edible beauties. Meanwhile, the grownups enjoyed munchies and drinks in the house.

Cora's coconut snow looked awesome... though it did make quite the mess as the house was slowly consumed.

I got caught up with Pam at Rachael's house, and that day I dropped her Christmas card in the mail. She received a special card... a very special card.  Back when we went to Yosemite, she posted this photo on Facebook with the caption "Howard family 2018 Christmas card." 

Naturally, the idea was sprung then that we would, indeed, turn this memorable moment into our family's card. At least for Pam, Cooper and Wylie!

Later on Saturday, my Christmassy fun continued with the annual Mom2Mom cookie exchange at Ellen's house. It was a great day altogether.

Family Christmas Fun

 We celebrated a very early Christmas Friday evening with my family, since Melanie and Nick are flying back East next week.

Melanie brought a sweet painting project to do with the girls, along with the beautiful seasonal centerpiece on the table.

 So cute!

 After dinner, we moved on to gifts - Cora made scented, colored soaps for Grandma and Auntie Mel.

 And she was thrilled to receive the Spiderman video game from Melly an Nick.

 Violet also loved her Spiderman Doodles book and marker set. She was amazed at how Auntie Mel and Uncle Nick knew she wanted this book, which she had admired at a Disneyland shop, since it wasn't on her Christmas list. Later, it all became clear to her, and she looked at me with amazement - "You must have told them!"

 Violet also loved her big box of classic Legos - hours of building fun are ahead!

 We then took some family Christmas photos - silly ones with the cats...

 ...a normal photo...

...and a REAL-life photo.

 Then, we went to check out Wakefield Winter Wonderland together, a tradition for us for all these years.

I love this picture of my girls!

We had a great night - Merry Early Christmas!

School Fundraiser

 Our school held its big fundraiser, with the culminating day Monday. This year, instead of a fun run or triathlon, the students participated in acts of kindness.

Some were done at home, some at school over the weeks of the fundraiser, and most on Monday. I helped at a station where the students signed T-shirts of appreciation for the school's safety supervisors.

 The students also wrote out kind, encouraging notes to their family members, and to friends.

 Another station involved signing banners of appreciation for law enforcement and the fire department, and writing cards to the military.

After the fundraiser, I went out at Violet's recess and found her walking around with her girlfriends. I love little moments like this!
Kat, Violet's tall friend, came over one afternoon this week for a playdate.

Later in the week, we helped Violet's teacher celebrate her birthday by encouraging the kids to bring in handmade cards, with which we decorated her door.

And Violet had a bit of fun at our little park.

Christmas Train!

What a great and festive day! We  boarded a vintage Fillmore and Western Railway train Sunday for a picturesque trip through orange groves to a Christmas tree lot and "Santa's Village" setup.

My beautiful girls! 💗

Stace has a new phone with a great camera, so he had fun with it.

We let the girls wander down the train to the dining car and the open-air caboose, giving them the phone to stay in touch and take photos. Love this selfie Cora took! (See, they DO love each other.)

Santa Claus was on board, too, passing out candy canes. This particular one was raised in the States but born in the UK to an Irish mum and Liverpudlian father.

Oh, my heart!

We found the perfect tree!

And it didn't have a price tag, but the lovely employee gave us a great deal, about $20 less than similarly sized trees. There's the spirit of Christmas!

Since we're home this year, we thought it would be nice to have a real tree.

Violet wrote a quick letter to Santa - her wish for a dirt bike seemed a little far-fetched since she's never mentioned wanting one to us before.

The stand had animals to look at, a large produce stand and an antique and garden shop. It was fun to walk around for an hour before we boarded the train again.

The trees were all wrapped and put on the train for us.

We had a lovely time, and though I doubt we'll make it an annual tradition (it was pricey), it is something we'll always remember.

Tree strapped down, ready to go back home! You can see the train in the background.

Disney Again!

We squeezed in one more November trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. I'm taking advantage of the last year of Cora having half-day Fridays.

This time we spent some time in Toon Town for the first time in a while.

The Hart High band and color guard performed in a parade through Disney, and we watched to see our friend Melissa's son Noah.

We then met up with Christina, Cami and Melanie and played on Tom Sawyer's Island.

Later, we found our friend Lynnette and had dinner, and an employee gave us this fun dessert for free.

Cora loved the Indiana Jones hat she tried on in the shop. She'd make a great Indy for Halloween!

We then rode a few rides and had a Dole Whip.

We used fast passes to see the Haunted Mansion, which was made over for the Nightmare Before Christmas.

Yet another fun day!