December is the Time (for Ho Ho Ho) Part 4

To wrap up our yuletide festivities, our annual holiday hike:

Little slow poke.

Family selfie!

Sissies.

I've also wanted to make a buche de noel for years, but it looked too intimidating. This year, I finally made it and I think it turned out pretty good!

That's right, it's a cake that looks like a log.

Finally, what would Christmas be without Chinese food?

Waiting for shumai.

Perusing the menu.

Playing with the menu.

Eating cotton candy burritos.

Either eating or taking a nap.

Hi Ho Hi Ho a-Hiking We Will Go

More snaps from our hikes around Mission Trails...

First hike around Kumeyaay Lake.

Zeus got to come too!

Funny faces.

Hiking with Lolly.

Strolling across the bridge.

Victorious after a steep hill.

Hi Ho Hi Ho a Hiking We Will Go

Hiking with the kids and dog is one of my favorite activities these days. Here is a smattering of pix from several recent hikes:

Super cute duo!

Love this photo of Dillon on Cowles.

Scrambling with pal Layla.

Bridges of San Diego County.

Walking across the old dam with my Zeus.

Wordless Wednesdays (84)

Taken 10/3/2016

Presents! Gimme presents!

To say Dillon is excited about presents it a bit of an understatement. This kid LOVES gifts! Luckily her extended family is quite generous and she and Quinn got tons of fun stuff for Christmas. We opened a few gifts on Christmas Eve and then everything else on Christmas Day. Best part? All-day pyjama lounging! [Notice there are no pictures of mommy at Christmas...no one ever takes pictures of the photographer...]

Zeus could barely squeeze into the office.

Dillon teaching her loveys with the school set from Aunt Julie.

Frozen wrapping paper for extra excitement.

We think she's part dog anyway.

Dillon opening "gifts" she wrapped herself.
She is holding up a coveted bobby pin.

Take a Hike

Sometimes it's easy to forget we live so close to the great outdoors! Here are pix from two recent outings to Mission Trails. Good for the body and soul!

Enjoying the view.

Wild animal sighting.

Dillon, Austin and Zeus get some free range time.

Modeling the kid-sized Camelpack from Aunt Julie.

Group selfie.

When you gotta sleep, you gotta sleep.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies

Now that she is four, I thought it was time to take Dillon to a local production of The Nutcracker. It was performed by the youth ballet, so I thought it might inspire Dillon (who actually needs no inspiration when it comes to dance). She got to wear her fancy dress and sat through most of the ballet very well (I strategically fed her Raisinets and M&Ms the whole night).

Pre-ballet photos with her fans.

Zeus is definitely not allowed at the ballet.

Smooosh.

Proof we were really there.

She looked so lovely.

He could crack some large nuts!

During intermission she treated me to her own rendition of the "ribbon dance" otherwise known as "The Dance of the Mirlitons."

And of course once we went home, she wanted to continue her performance, this time in a pas de deux with her clip dolls.

That Was Then / This Is Now (21)

Once upon a time Zeus was so tiny we had to put him in a box in the backseat of the car.

This was the day we brought him home. Only 8 lbs!

Then we had a baby and things got a little cramped.

Life with one car seat.

Then we had another baby and things got really uncomfortable. Somehow we still make it work!

Umm, guys, a little room, please!

Where's Zeusy?

We met up with some fellow Swissy owners downtown at the Quartyard. I think Zeus was the oldest dog there--and also the most handsome! Can you tell which one is him?

Handsome devils.

The Littlest Mermaid

Although it gets more complicated as our family grows, we still love going to the beach. Dillon has a great time in the sand. Here Craig is helping her transform into the Little Mermaid.

Neither of them have any legs.

So happy to play in the sand.

Little Mermaid and Sebastian!

5.5 mos pregnant on the beach with Zeus.

That Was Then / This Is Now (16)

First of all, I have to say Zeus is ageing remarkably well! Dillon too for that matter. Here they are when Dillon was 3 months old and when she was three years old.

Taken: 1/26/2012

Taken: 12/25/2015

Snow! Tiny Bits of Snow!

We kicked off 2015 with a trip to Mt. Laguna for some fun in the snow. Of course, everyone else had the same idea so we pulled off into one of the many other parks in the Cleveland National Forest. Alas, Dillon doesn't really have snow gear, so she ended up in sneakers and socks for gloves. I think it's safe to say, she still had a blast.

Lovely blue sky.

Improvised sock-gloves.

Not exactly snow shoes--but they're stylish!

This was Dillon's first time seeing any snow.

She seems to really like it!

Zeus loves the snow--it's in his Swissy bones. Here's a quick video of him frolicking at the park. Music is "Trepak" (aka "The Russian Dance") from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.