Holiday Fun!

It is that time of year again.  Santa is in the air and we started off the month having breakfast with him! Liam and Elsa have very different feeling about Santa.  Liam loves telling Santa what he wants for Christmas.  Elsa doesn't.

After fun earlier in the month, and after Liam's birthday, we headed over to Berkeley for Christmas Eve with Arne's family.

After a nice evening, and a night of sleep, we woke up to Christmas morning fun.

After a nice lunch, we headed over to Millbrae for Christmas afternoon and dinner with Karna's family.  There were more gifts, and a skee ball tournament (Liam's gift from Grandma).

All and all a lovely Christmas holiday.

Liam is Seven

On Winter Solstice, Liam turned 7!  It was the day after school got out for winter break, and he planned a party for his friends at his house.

He was very excited to have his friends create Galaxy Jars.

They also played with hex bugs and other of his toys.

Then it was time for the Treasure Hunt.  The kids used the clues to find the treasure.  Sam won!

What a good group of friends!

After pizza they headed outside for a Chase pinata!

Elsa took off the body and then the kids claimed the prizes.

We then gathered for Birthday Cake.

After his friends left, his family came over for a late lunch, present opening and fun with balloons.

A great day for Liam!

Liam's Broken Arm

While playing on the bars last Sunday, Liam fell and broke his left elbow!  We went to urgent care and they were not sure if it was really broken, because the X-rays did not show anything clear. By Monday night the elbow was swollen, and Arne took Liam into the orthopedist that Elsa saw in January and he left with a huge cast.  The cast comes off January 6, and until then, Liam just wants to be able to straighten his arm.  Overall, he is still in good spirits!

San Diego Fun!

For veterans day, we went to San Diego.  This time I went a day early for a conference and kayaking with friends.

On friday night Arne and the kids flew down to join me.

The kids enjoyed the hotels sand area on Saturday morning, before going to Legoland.

Arne and the kids went on a few rides Saturday. Arne rode a roller coaster for the first time in all our visits.

Then Elsa did her first trapeze class. She was fearless. Also, there were traveling rings at the trapeze school.

Arne made a long video (4 1/2 minutes) and a short video (30 seconds) of the trapeze class. 

Next they visited a nearby park named "Grape Day Park". There was a remarkable climbing structure modeled after a tangled grape vine arbor.

The late afternoon "golden hour" was perfect for taking portraits.

Sunday morning we did Legoland rides.

After many years of intending to, but never actually making it, we finally visited the Museum of Music Making near Legoland. Elsa got in some beach time.

 Back now at the Legoland hotel, we played in the pool and on the play structures until dinner time.

After dinner, in the park, we went to a 3D show then on all the fun rides!

Monday morning, we got in the park early to did the rides again.

We were also able to check out the lego movie set and play with some legos.

Elsa enjoyed taking pictures (over 200!) of her lego mini-figure all around the park.  Liam also joined in the fun.

The best food at the park is the apple fries, which we enjoyed at one last visit to mini-land before leaving the park.

On the way to the airport we stopped at the San Diego Botanical Gardens and their awesome treehouse and play space.  It was a nice break before the long ride home.