Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas in Los Angeles

This year we spent Christmas with Jeff's family in the LA area. The weather was perfect while we were there and Nicholas and Lexi both had such a blast playing with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

In addition to both a relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we also went on two outings. On Friday evening we went on a Polar Express type train ride. The kids wore their PJs and traveled to the "North Pole" where they picked up Santa. They also enjoyed some chocolate milk and cookies, all while singing Christmas carols. The day after Christmas we drove down to Orange County to a discovery museum. The museum had a special Star Wars exhibit, highlighting the models and costumes from the movies. The boys were in awe at seeing some of their favorite Star Wars props in real life.

We also were able to see my family while we were visiting too. My parents and Becca and Brian came to Christmas dinner at the Daems house. It was very nice to spend the holiday with both sides of the family, although we missed Rachel and Chris. Not to worry...after our day at the museum we enjoyed dinner with the rest of the Herman family in Irvine.

We had a great few day vacation and look forward to our next trip to LA.


Grandma and Grandpa have a basketball hoop in their courtyard. Nicholas and Lexi both loved playing basketball.


Lexi in action


There was a lot of lifting Lexi to the basket


A happy boy


They also have a tether ball, which was a big hit too!


Getting ready to board the train to the North Pole


The girls on one side of the train


The boys on the other side of the train


Looking out for the North Pole


Oh Nicholas!


Hailey enjoys her cookie


Lexi digs into her milk


The train conductor punched Lexi's ticket


Matthew's ticket was punched too


We found Santa!


Christmas Eve...a pretty girl all dressed up!


Hailey and Matthew


The men prepare the fondue beef...our traditional Christmas Eve dinner


The kids enjoyed their fondue earlier in the evening. The adults ate after the kids went to bed. It was a very nice evening.


The other side of the fondue table


Lexi liked her fondue...she really chowed down


Hailey liked it too!


After dinner we went outside to sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn...so the reindeer could find their way to Grandma and Grandpa's house


Running around to make sure the lawn is thoroughly covered


The present mountain!


Nicholas' Santa gifts


Lexi's Santa presents


Lexi checking out her Santa gifts


Santa brought Lexi a Cinderella accessories kit. I brought down her Cinderella dress from Halloween. She was the perfect pretty princess.


Present opening shots: Grandma got a new dish drying rack


Hailey got a new DS game


Lexi shared some food with Uncle Mike from her new tea set


Aunt Jennifer got a gift certificate for new sunglasses...only after having to wear Matthew's clown glasses


Some Star Wars museum shots: Hailey with Chewbacca


Yoda


Hailey and Nicholas with Darth Vader


C-3PO



R2-D2


Hailey and Lexi with Princess Leia's costume

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