The Holidays and a New Year

Well, Christmas has passed yet again (and a good one it was). Joe and I spent the holiday in Shingle Springs with my family. The highlight was definitely having everyone together, and Shingle Springs was a beautiful escape from the bustle of Los Angeles. Good food + good company = one great Christmas! We also celebrated Tabria's (my niece) 1 year old birthday; I just have to mention that while she wouldn't eat any of her cake, she LOVED my gingerbread cookies, and as the only baby in the house received more attention and more sweets (aka gingerbread cookies) than her mom probably would have preferred. I didn't manage to take many pictures (silly me) but I did take a few of us out frolfing (a favorite activity for the break. . . at least for all the boys and me). I even managed to win one game (of course that's when you count my 3 stroke handicap on each hole).

Unfortunately, Joe and I had to leave Shingle Springs the day before Jenni had her baby. We were definitely hoping that the baby would make her appearance a little bit sooner, but on that note, Joe and I received the greatest Christmas present this year . . . a new niece and a new nephew (both healthy moms and healthy babies). Christian Gabriel was born on Dec 26th and Lydia Kayla was born on Dec 29th, making Joe an uncle and myself and aunt for the 22nd and 23rd time each. I am so excited to meet the two newest munchkins, hopefully in the very near future.

Of course, after Christmas comes New Years. Joe and I were back in Santa Monica and had a HUGE celebration which consisted of watching a movie, and when our friend called at 12:07 to say "Happy New Year!" we said, "oh yeah! Happy New Year!" Then of course . . . we kissed. Aren't we cool? I felt more than a little like an old, married, pregnant woman (which apparently I am), but nevertheless, I am very excited for the year. It is definitely going to be a year of change. I have set all my resolutions (which I am not going to publish online) but I am determined to work hard, and hope to be a better person by this time next year. On Saturday following the holiday, we decided to make up for our lameness, and went hiking up Santa Ynez Canyon. It is amazingly beautiful and so close to our house. After following a half dozen wrong trails we finally found our destination, a waterfall (only a trickle at this time of the year) but worth all the hiking around.

Yes, the weather is SO nice that I was only wearing shorts and a tank-top (but I guess that kind of weather is just the norm around here . . . they keep telling me it is cold and snowing in other places around this country . . . I guess I will just have to see it to believe it :)

Even the pregnant lady can climb ropes . . .

The only negative thing about our hike . . . Joe came home with a FLAMING case of poison ivy, which he is severely allergic to, and still recovering from. Poor hubby! Oh, and we seemed to have tracked some kind of nasty roach into our house. Ick!

Finally, I had my 26th birthday. I am officially closer to 30 than I am to 20 (hence the old lady, see above). Joe was so sweet. He made me breakfast (in bed!) which was delicious; I may have mentioned it before, but Joe is a REALLY good cook. He also took me out to dinner and we walked on the beach while the sun was setting. It was beautiful. All in all, a great day and birthday, and a great way to start out 2010.