Winter Wonderland

Our family participated in our schools crafting fair called Joyous Elves. We spent the morning wool felting, leather stamping, bath salt making, felt sewing, candle making and apple strudel tasting. We finished our day at the Winter Wonderland. The kids pegged Matt so many times with snow balls, he finally retaliated. Kids scattered everywhere when this big Marine jumped the hay stacks into the snow. It twas a wonderful evening being surrounded by hay rides, Christmas songs and people you love.

Picnic in Carmel Valley

What a wonderful day for a picnic! It rained thousands of leaves everywhere. Some leaves were almost as big as Connor. What was really fantastic is we found two different types of salamanders. We all made a blanket of leaves and sat around singing while eating our snacks. What a way to start the winter.

Celebrating Chanukah

As the nights get colder and longer there also comes time when Chanukah is celebrated. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days in honor of the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks.

The children playing with the Dreidel to win chocolate gelt.

After the gelt is won, latkes (potato pancakes) with homemade applesauce are eaten, the menorah is lite and the kids try to play with the melted candle wax and blow out the menorah candles, we say goodbye to our friends.
We are so blessed that friends were able to share a part of their culture.

Gilroy Gardens

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...