The Long Way

  We loaded up to grab some ice cream. Plugged in our destination and followed the GPS to ice cream. We drove past Baskin Robbins but opted to keep going to get our favorite brand of ice cream here, New Zealand Natural. The GPS said we had arrived, no ice cream shop in sight. So we did a quick google search and found another location just down the road. Then we hit traffic! It was at a standstill. So what would have normally taken less than 10 minutes, took us over 20 minutes. The GPS took us to a random loading dock and said we were there. So back into traffic we went. And headed straight to the Baskin Robbins we had passed 30+ minutes ago. The kids were worried that we were going to a bad ice cream place. No one had any complaints once their ice cream was in front of them. EL tried rainbow sherbet. After a couple bites she said, "Mommy, I only like rainbows in the sky, not my ice cream."
  The next night we just walked right over to BR and enjoyed a cool treat. EL tried chocolate chip in vanilla. Much better choice for her.

 The sun setting on a wonderful holiday!

 My daily run included amazing views like this!

Christmas 2013

  Christmas day started bright and early. The sun was shining and the kids were dying to see if Santa came back after they went to sleep. It is such a wonderful thing as a parent to watch their faces light up. We opened stockings and handed out the gifts. We took our time opening gifts, taking turns so everyone could see what the other got. Breakfast on the patio and then it was time to play with some of the new toys!! DB tried out his new helicopter, EL got her babies out to play, and MA was all over her ipod.

 Someone snuck into our bed early Christmas morning. 

 Of all the gifts Santa left, this Dora key was what she grabbed first and carried around!

We ended the afternoon with a game of Clue

After dinner we drove back to Mr. Phil's to avoid the traffic on boxing day. 

Christmas Eve

  We wanted to spend Christmas at our house. Logistically, it just made sense. Everyone in their own beds, enjoying the comforts of home for this magic night. Before we drove home we stopped at the Surf Club for a drink. Santa happened to be there too. Lucky us! He chatted with the kids and made sure to tell each one to go to bed early that night. Parents everywhere appreciated that!

 A quick walk down to the beach for some sibling pics.

  Once we got home we had dinner and decided to go see some of the Christmas lights around town. There is a big competition every year and entire neighborhoods go all out. We went to 2 different spots. It was amazing to see all the light and all the people. We parked the car and walked up and down the street. Some houses had music, one even got volunteers from the crowd and did the Aussie version of the 12 days of Christmas.

  After we got back home the kids started to hang their stocking when they noticed something had been left for them. Santa had been there, leaving gifts and a note. We read The Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Polar Express and tucked everyone into bed.

Gingerbread House

  We continued the tradition of building gingerbread houses this year. The kids picked out an Outback shack and a train. EL, DB, & Matt tackled the shack and MA and I did the train. The train was definitely the easier of the two to assemble. The kids had fun decorating with the lollies. And managed to sneak a few to eat too!