Merry Christmas!

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. Now that Jacob is almost 2, he really got into Christmas this year and knew that all of those wrapped gifts under the tree were full of toys and games just for him. It took us a couple of hours to go through all of them because he wanted to play with every single thing he opened which was just fine with us. I hated to see it go by too quickly.

Thanks to everyone for all of your sweet gifts!! We missed you all on Christmas Day! Here are some pics of our special morning.

First, I'd like to show everyone what our living room looks like normally:



This is what happens when there is a Christmas explosion:



Jacob in his new PBK Anywhere Chair from Nanny and Papa:



Daddy showing Jacob how to play with his new Magna Doodle:



Jacob and Mickey having fun on Christmas morning:



Jacob loves his Mickey:



Mommy's surprise gift to Daddy and Jacob -- a Northwestern Jersey and long sleeve shirt:



Jacob pushing his new baby doll (the most masculine baby doll I could find, hence the camo gear) in his new shopping cart:



Jacob playing his new keyboard:



You can see the exhaustion on Jacob's face after opening all of those presents:



Catcher was enjoying himself as well (can you see him?):



Ready for Christmas dinner!

Festival of Lights

There is a famous street in San Carlos called Eucalyptus that goes hog wild on Christmas lights every year. They block off the street every year and people come from all over to see this festival of lights. When we first moved back, we actually looked at buying a house that was for sale on this street. Before we even saw the house, our realtor warned us that this was "the street famous for its Christmas lights" and all home owners were "required to decorate their houses." I've even heard a rumor that you must sign papers upon closing saying that you will do so. That house ended up going for $150,000 OVER asking (yes, that's right people) so needless to say, we never even put a bid down.

Ironically, I was in a meeting today with one of my clients and a guy that I've been working with for about 6 months now lives right across the street from the house we looked at! He reminded me that we needed to take Jacob to Eucalyptus before Christmas was over because all the lights are down by 12/26. He told me that one guy brings in snow every year the week before Christmas and builds a ramp that kids can sled down. These people aren't kidding around.

So, we took Jacob to Eucalyptus tonight and I gotta tell you, this street didn't disappoint. Jacob was on CLOUD NINE. He loved all of the moving reindeer, singing santas, and especially the snow ramp (which, by this point, has become a ramp of ice.) I don't think the pictures do it justice so you'll just have to take our word for it. If you are ever in the Peninsula during Christmastime, take a trip down to Eucalyptus. You'll feel like a kid again -- it might even make you believe in Santa.

"Where a kid can be a kid"

It's been quite cold and rainy here lately and Jacob is not the type of kid that likes to be home all day. His first words when he woke up yesterday at 6:30 am were "shoes". He was ready to go out.

So, we decided to take him to Chuck E Cheese. I have not been there in about 20 years so I was hoping they would have at least changed out the carpet since then. Jacob was a little overwhelmed at first but quickly warmed up to the games that he could play within the safety of Daddy's lap. He especially liked the car and jet ski games. He would shout "go daddy! go, go GO!" It was a great way to kill 2 hours, even if they haven't changed out the carpet.

Miniature library police

Jacob and I went to the library today and we met a cute and quite interesting little girl there. We'll call her Lilly since she wouldn't reveal her name. Jacob and I were in the children's book section where we sat down at a table to look at some books. Jacob wanted a snack so I pulled out a little bag of pretzels. Lilly wanders up and starts this conversation:

Lilly: "they say you're not supposed to eat in the library"

me: "Oh really? I didn't know that! I'll just put it away then" (praying Jacob doesn't throw a fit)

Jacob: "Open, Open" (referring to the Thomas the Train DVD that he had picked up)

me: "Jacob, we're going to leave in a minute so let's not open it right now"

Lilly: "why can't he open it?"

me: "well, we're about to leave to go meet his Daddy"

Lilly: "what's his Daddy's name?"

me: "His name is Mark. What is your name?"

Lilly (perplexed): "I don't know!"

me: "You don't know? Okay. Well, this is Jacob"

Lilly: "Why isn't Jacob talking anymore?"

me: "Jacob is still a baby so he doesn't talk as much as we do"

Lilly: "Does he still wear diapers?"

me: "Yes, he still wears diapers. He's not potty trained yet."

Lilly: "I'm potty trained."

me: "You are?! That's great!"

Lilly: "Are YOU potty trained?" (referring to me)

me (laughing): "Why yes. I am potty trained. I think most adults are potty trained"

Lilly: "I don't think ALL adults are potty trained"

I start to ponder this remark and realize Lilly is right. I have a very dear friend (who shall remain nameless) that is clearly NOT potty trained when she consumes too much vino.

me: "Okay Jacob, let's go check out our books so we can go bye-bye"

Lilly: "Remember, next time there is no eating in the library. You can go eat outside."

me: "Okay sweetheart. I'll remember."

Kids. You gotta love 'em.

Holiday Train

The holidays have slowed down my blogging quite a bit. We have had a busy few weeks around here full of Christmas activities. I attended a Christmas gift wrapping party last night which was really just an excuse to drink wine. But hey, I wrapped most of our gifts in one night so I call it a productive "meeting"!

I've been meaning to post pictures from our trip to see the holiday CalTrain. Every year they decorate the CalTrain and stop at a few stations along the peninsula where Santa gets out quickly to say hi while carolers sing songs. Unfortunately, people were packed in there like sardines and we didn't get to see much but I still love the fact that they do it (and it's free!)

Of course Jacob met his BFF Owen there. :)

The hugger

One of the things I love about Jacob is how friendly he is. When he sees another child, he is quick to dance, blow kisses, or embrace him/her (as long as said-child isn't approaching Jacob as if to take a toy that Jacob is holding. Then he'll just bash said-child over the head with it without thinking twice.)

We threw a surprise baby shower last week for Lindsay who is expecting her 2nd baby girl in a couple of weeks. Jacob adores all of the kids in this playgroup and frequently tackles (err, hugs) them without notice. It's a good thing they are all good sports about it.

Our friend Millie took some really great photos.

Playing peek-a-boo behind the post



Trying to get a decent photo of the 2 of us (if it weren't for that darn "say cheese" face!)



A little better -- but no smile from Jacob



Hugging Emma



Hugging Owen



Right after hugging Elin



Trying to run off of the concrete steps



We really need to work on his "say cheese" face.



Putting leaves on Jaemie's head. You really can't ever get enough of that.



After hugging Lindsay -- the new mom to be!!

Once again, where's the snow?

Mark and I were lucky to have the opportunity to go to Tahoe last weekend after Thanksgiving while Nanny and Papa watched Jacob (thanks Nanny and Papa!) Jacob was in awesome hands and still asks for them even though they've been gone a week now.

Tahoe was awesome and since there was no snow and no skiing, we were forced (forced, I tell you) to consume lots of wine and Bailey's and coffee to pass the time. Our one visit to the casinos was a blast and I had no idea I could spend 3 hours at a blackjack table! Mark and I played side by side the whole time and by the end of the night, the whole table was coaching me. Man I love nice people. They didn't even get mad when one lady hit on an 18 (what was she thinking?!) It's a good thing we don't live in Vegas. I could get hooked on blackjack.

Here are some pics from our trip and from Nanny and Papa's visit. Jacob is lucky to have such awesome grandparents!!

On the walk from our hotel to the village



The big chair in Squaw village



The only patch of snow at Squaw. You gotta hand it to them -- they really wanted to take advantage of whatever snow existed so they started going down the slope in tires.



My gorgeous husband



The gingerbread village they built at our hotel.
It's real! And the picture really doesn't do it justice



Back at home at the Oakland Zoo



We can't ever get enough of those goats

Where's the snow?

Jacob's ready for it but it's nowhere to be found! Too bad we're not still in Chicago.

Santa baby

With Christmas only 4 1/2 weeks away (yikes!), I realized that I have been neglectful in teaching Jacob "all things Christmas". We do have one Christmas book that we read all year long because he loves it so much, so he knows who Santa is and what he looks like, but that's about the extent of it. So, as one of our first lessons yesterday, he learned what Santa says. I'm hoping to get him as familiar with the jolly man as possible this year before picture-taking time, so we can avoid the meltdown that tends to happen when he sits in Santa's lap. That SO doesn't make for good pictures.

Just a little something to tuck away for later

Jaemie and I took Jacob and Owen to the Oakland Zoo yesterday. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. Even though we are officially in mid-November, the skies were sparkling blue and cloudless and it was about 75 degrees. Now I'm starting to realize why San Francisco is the most expensive place to live in the country.

Jacob and Owen were on their best behavior. In fact, I don't think there was one incidence of pushing or biting the entire day. That alone is reason to celebrate! At the beginning of the day, we asked them to hold hands and follow us and would you believe they HELD HANDS AND FOLLOWED US? It seriously had to be the cutest thing I've ever seen. Of course I had to snap 20 pictures of this event but I don't think the pictures even remotely capture how cute it was. And here's the best part...Jacob and Owen will likely be quite embarrassed by these pictures 15 years from now. I'm already stocking up on my "embarrassing Jacob photos" for future slide shows and photo albums that I will whip out whenever his girlfriends stop by. ha. I can't wait.

Once again, Jacob loved the goats. He couldn't understand why they kept running away from him. Catcher (our cat) has a similar reaction whenever Jacob comes near him. He runs for his life. Poor baby...he just wants to love on them SO much.

Jacob passed out as soon as we got in the car and Owen kept asking "Ja-bah doing?" We kept saying "Jacob's sleeping Owen. He's night night." Owen clearly didn't want Ja-bah to be night night because he kept screaming "wake up Jeff!" This will only be amusing to those of who know the Wiggles. One of their most popular songs is "Wake up Jeff" and Owen knew exactly what it meant. I'm telling you, those Wiggles really know how to get into a toddler's brain.