Christmas Part 2

Our trip started off with some excitement.  After all getting boarded on the plane, we learned that LAX was slowing down traffic due to high rain volumes, so we all had to get back off of the plane.  Our new flight time was now 11:00 PM!!!  It called for a late night, and I had never seen LAX so busy - even at 2:30AM - it was crowded with people, and getting out of the airport was long.

M in her own seat

We got settled in and had a quick sleep.  At Grandma and Grandpa's M has her own toddler bed.  We all shared a room.  Each morning she would pop up on her feet and exclaim she was 'all done'. 

On Christmas eve - we attended afternoon service.  Then we all had dinner at Grandma's - lots of veggies and fruits from everyone's gardens.

4 Generations

 Christmas morning - Santa found Mikaela in California!!!   She got a tent and tunnel - she must have been a good little girl this year.

Everyone helping put it together.

 Miss Mikaela was spoiled by her grandparents, auntie's and uncle.  The Little Mermaid was quite a hit this year.  Todd and I decided this year to exchange DisneyLand tickets - and we went the day after Christmas (more on that in a later post).

Play dough dentist

Bush Family photo

PNW Bushes

In the afternoon more family came over for Christmas dinner and fun.  Here is a group shot that we are able to get thanks to the neighbor. 

Seattle Gingerbread Houses

Every year for Aunt Melanie's birthday (the 23rd) we celebrate with tradition (of course).  Most people don't know, but her birthday is a national holiday.  😄

M and I got to join in this years festivities as it fell on a Friday (and our plane to California was leaving much later in the evening).

The morning started off with snow - enough to cover the grass in a field of white!  But by the time we got to Seattle - the snow wasn't that far south.

The birthday girl and M

 This years theme was Harry Potter!  for the gingerbread houses.  Full of moving staircases, wizards drawing swords and of course brilliant colors.

Three Generations of Christmas cups

Starbucks Stop

We went around a few shops downtown - and a few people finished their Christmas shopping.  We went back to the birthday girl's house where we had another good prime rib dinner before we were off to the airport. 

Josh & I - he had my name this year for Christmas

Christmas Part 1

This Christmas season was started early in the Bush house.  My sister recently was married and with her work schedule we spent the Thanksgiving holiday all together.  We decided as a family to celebrate Christmas by moving it up 1 week.  We all spent the night at Mom and Dad's and woke up the next morning together.  Since M is still little and doesn't quite understand Santa only comes on Christmas morning... We opened stockings and enjoyed a nice breakfast before moving into the family room for presents.   

Later Grandpa and Nana came over for a nice prime rib dinner and we enjoyed time together.

 Mikaela wasn't quite into opening presents as she had a one day fever - either teething or a little bug.  She got to stay in her pj's all day, which made the little girl happy. 

 Great Grandpa and M put the chocolate drizzle on the dessert!

 Dad made each of us our own set of Wise Men.  It was a pretty exciting gift to open - he carved them out and painted them each.

Todd cutting the ham for the next day's festivities

Later on we enjoyed playing Canasta where the boys beat the girls... 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

... CHRISTMAS!!!

We have been enjoying Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving. While I am one to keep holidays separate, fall always ends for me at 12:01 am the Friday following Thanksgiving.  =)

We started off by

"... kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape... "  - Clark 

and looked for the Bush family Christmas tree. 

The Whole Gang

Bush Family

We both failed to notice that the tree, had a mild bald spot, just about half way up.  This made putting the lights and garland on the tree a bit tricky.

Nana and I

Finished product

Grandpa and Nana have a shed where we cousins made our Christmas wreaths.  They had already gathered the trimming, berries, etc.  We had to put 12 bundles of greenery together.  Then using a machine we clamped them around the metal holder.  In years past they have made them for us, but this year we got to partake.

Decorating

 On Sunday after Thanksgiving, we finally had time to decorate the house and tree.  Oh the wonder of watching miss Mikaela.  She was very particular about where certain ornaments should be placed.  Even several weeks later, her face lights up when we plug in the lights.  The other morning she asked if she could snuggle on the couch and look at the tree.  Of course, I was willing!

We went to the Lights of Christmas, which is in the town I grew up in.  They claim to have millions of lights hanging.  We took the neighbors with us, enjoyed a ride around the train, hot fresh donuts and looking at the lights.   Mikaela is standing near the orange lights - her favorite color.

Making cookies!  M and I have been baking up a storm the last few days!  Spritz, Ginger Cookies (trying out Gluten Free Flour) and Reindeer Droppings (well, that's what the hubs called them, a chocolate kiss wrapped in cookie dough, and rolled in powdered sugar)

 Last Friday we got a special treat of waking up to SNOW!!! M's first comment upon seeing it "It's messy".  I had to persuade her to go for a walk, but she quickly warmed to the idea.  We enjoyed swinging and building a snowman.

Not pictured is our Santa pictures... I was to impatient as it wouldn't load up.  Little miss was not happy to see him. 

A typical toddler day

Here is a little sneak peak in the life of Mikaela...

Eating "gra-ola" for breakfast

This girl loves to eat her granola for breakfast, and she also likes to have a napkin handy nearby. 

Feeding Goldie

Tunnel time with Mumford

Time for Mascara

Time to clean my face

Mikaela likes to join momma while getting ready.  She helps herself to my lotions and makeup.  She's become an expert at blush and chapstick. 

Bubble bath time

I'm running! I'm running

M enjoys going in the stroller while I run.  She knows the routine, and doesn't ask to get out, until we have hit the neighborhood to finish. 

 

Painting (and really any artwork) is enjoyed by M.  Especially hanging it on the fridge.  Her creativity and imagination is starting to emerge.

Counting her alphabet, color coding and singing.  It amazes me the knowledge that she gleans, and then puts into practice.

Good night bug, don't let the bed bugs bite!

 We often take roll call at bed time, making sure all of our friends are there.  Captured in the picture is George, baby, Harry, Elmo, and her pillow pet pig. Not seen is baby bear, princess, bunny, and anybody else I may have left off.  She likes to have her book, prayers, cuddle, and then lay in her bed get her back rubbed.  If anything is left, she reminds us.

 Quotes by M:

"My Jake Browning!"  "Huskies win"
She knows only the important letter of the alphabet "M" for Mikaela, and "W" for Washington!

Yawning in the kitchen, M asked if I was tired.  She then stated that she was tired in the kitchen too.

We were out running and someone had placed a kids play kitchen set out for free.  I told Mikaela we would go get the car and come back.  Well, when we came back, the kitchen was gone.  She said "they need to share"

She often prays for her family and friends at daycare, listing everyone by name. 

Florence

We left Rome by train, and headed to Florence. It was a nice short train ride to town, followed by a not so short walk to the BnB.  Todd was a great navigator on the trip.  I dislike getting lost, and just wandering around (esp if I have a specific destination).

Our Pink Room

 I misread the details of the BnB and thought we would be sharing a bathroom with one other room... turned out to be a few more.  Not exactly what we had in mind, but we did our best to move on from that.  Florence was not our favorite spot, it didn't hold the same magical feeling of Rome, and the old history.  Although I would definitely stop in Florence, because there are a few must see places - including the Duomo and Michaelangelo's David.

Leather market - San Lorenzo's

We made eating gelato daily a must - I usually had pistachio and Todd chocolate.  We always ate somewhere new, and sometimes took the recommendation of Rick Steve's books.  We made the exception at Grom's eating there TWICE!!! it was so yummy.  And Florence was also a bit rainy.  One night the rain was unbelievable, and the thunderstorm was quite epic - lasting through the night.  We even woke up because of it, and couldn't get back to sleep, so we listened to the Dodgers play in the NL champsionship!                                                           

Grom's Gelato

 Todd watches a show called Diners, Drives and Dives - one night the host was in Florence Italy, so we wrote down the name of the restaurant and walked across the Ponte Vecchio bridge to find it.  We may or may not have been lost as we did, which made the calzone all the more delicious.

Gusta Pizza from Diners Drives and Dives

Ponte Vecchio

"Gates of Paradise" depict Old Testament

Duomo

 Right below the paintings on the ceiling is a walkway - less then 1 meter wide, but don't worry, plexiglass protects you from falling!  Yikes I can't believe we did this.  The top of the dome is 463 steps and 40 feet high ( or something like that).  You can say that I didn't stop to enjoy the view inside, but once we were outside, the view of Florence was gorgeous.

Michaelangelo Pieta -

I learned during this trip I am a fan of Michaelangelo.  Pieta is a term used for the depiction of Mary and the crucified Jesus. Here the artist has also added himself in. His statues are very real and life like.  David was UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Walking in the museum and you turned the corner and there he stood, towering over everyone.  The details in his musculature and tendons, made my PT mind swoon.  I learned later that for his time, it was seen as taboo to dissect the deceased, but he had a monk friend, who allowed him to see the human body.  His work reflects his studies.  

Tiramisu

Peace out Florence