Christmas break #3: Chico

Still going on Christmas break pics! I am technically on break until Monday, so this is allowed.

(Lovely Christmas dinner at my dad's house.)

(Thanks a lot, Leslie and Scott. They got David the Mischief Maker's Manual.)

(Hedo, named after Hedo Turkoglu, watched the festivities from the couch.)

(Jay-Mo thought 45 degrees was perfect swimming weather.)

Christmas break #2: Fresno

Christmas break #1

This Christmas David had the brilliant idea of wrapping presents in fake gift boxes. A toaster that plugs into your computer and makes up to 4 slices of toast in 30 minutes! A Visorganizor so you can carry up to 7 pounds on your hat! The iFeast portable mp3 player/feeding station for your dog or cat!

My brother, mom and dad tried to act excited about their gifts, but their faces didn't lie.

So many Christmases

And so many beautiful Christmas trees. One of my favorite parts of Christmas morning is waking up early and looking at the tree, glowing and ready. It is so peaceful.

Merry Christmas

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Let it snow!

(Golfing in the middle of our street.)

Woke up this morning to a beautiful Winter Wonderland! I've never seen anything like this. They say it is the biggest storm the mid-Atlantic has seen in decades. We could not leave our house all day, except to walk next door for some chicken wings. Even that felt like an adventure.

It really feels like Christmas here.

California, the East Coast wins on this one.

California dreamin'

(Union Station in DC.)

I'll be home for Christmas! Just 1 week left....

Lighting of the monument

In Baltimore, Christmas season begins with the lighting of the Washington Monument, the first monument built in honor of George Washington.

And to top it off, we're expecting snow this weekend! I see little flurries outside the window, and my heart is flurrying too. Cheesy, I know, but I'm not exactly familiar with a winter full of snow. Hopefully it sticks! That's what us California people say, because it never sticks. Ha ha.