Christmas in California: Part 7

So part 2 of our trip started the day after Christmas.

We left at 7 am to head down to Ventura where Stephen's sister lives.

We rode with Nancy and Patrick and met Michael and Patti down there as well.

Alice did really well during the drive, it was like 6/7 hours.

Like I said in the beginning of this series, Alice continually surprised us with how well she did.

I was really excited about this part of the trip because it was the first time Alice would get to play with her cousins.

Last time we saw them Alice was just 3 months old, so there wasn't much "playing" going on.

I really look forward to many years of them all playing together.

There is, Avila (5), Emma (3 1/2), Mae (2) and Walker (4m).

They are all tons of fun and have such different personalities (though I can't really say much for Walker, I just met him and he mostly slept :o)

We got to Ventura late afternoon and said hellos and such, grabbed some pizza and headed out again.

Because much to Avila and Emma's excitement, we were going on the Polar Express.

The girls love the movie and it was a surprise Christmas present to go.

So we got all the kids in their pajamas (like in the movie) and boarded the Polar Express (a normal train decorated with Christmas decorations and workers dressed as elves and such)

Alice looking out the window.

Emma, Nancy and Patti.

Michael and Patrick as well.

Blair and Mae.

Mae had her ticket and Santa bell that they handed out to all the kids.

How Walker felt about this experience.

Singing Christmas carols.

Then Santa walked through and this was the look on the girls faces (Avlia, because of the movie, very much believes in Santa but Emma is unsure)

Getting candy canes from Santa.

Walker, used to chaos and noise, fast asleep.

After the train ride the girls when on a merry-go-round.  Alice didn't go because I thought she would probably not like it.

Mae was sooo upset when the ride was over.

Christmas in California: Part 6

Christmas day we did what we do every Christmas.

We went over to Stephen's Grandma's house with his mom, Patrick and Stephen's Aunt and Uncle for donuts and presents.

Usually Michelle and Blair are there with their little ones but they decided to stay home in Southern California this year since they now have 4 kids under 5.  Which makes traveling, difficult to say the least :o)

So that meant that Alice was the only child there and was the center of attention.

Which she didn't seem to mind :o)

We all got lots of wonderful gifts.

Alice with Nana and Papa Grande.

Checking out Great Grandma's tree.

Alice (the squirmer) with Great Grandma.

Alice was fascinated by the moving Santa and kept trying to steal his glasses.

Great Grandma has a play room with tons of toys including this stuffed elephant which Alice wanted to ride.

Then began the second half of our trip....

... yep, I said half, prepare yourself for lots more pictures :o)

Christmas in California: Part 5

When we go to Napa to visit family we like to try and play tourist for a day.

I mean, it is the Napa Valley!

People come from all over the world to taste wine and eat amazing food.

So my parents played tour guide, chauffeur and on-site baby sitter for a day.

We went out to breakfast.

The restaurant had tiny doll (or Alice) sized condiments that kept Alice entertained.

Love this face she is making, she had recently discovered how to wrinkle her nose and was doing this all the time.

Outside the restaurant was a bocce ball court.

"Hey mom, I got the ball!"

Then we went to Chateau Montelena (if you have ever seen the movie Bottle Shock, it's that winery)

We did a wine tasting while my parents took Alice to play outside on the winery grounds.

Then we went to the winery Castello di Amorosa.

It's my favorite winery for 2 reasons, 1, it's a beautiful castle! And 2, they have a ton of dessert wines and I love me some dessert wine.

Alice storming the castle.

My parents took Alice, and the camera, while we did the wine tasting.

She was very excited to find a cat.  She had been missing our kitties.

Alice had recently discovered her belly button.

Checking out the geese in the moat.

I guess they were stinky :o)

Exploring the vineyards with Nana.

My little monkey climbed up this fence on her own.

Oh and that weird pile of fur/feathers is a sleeping emu.

Then this adorableness happened and I about died.

Alice almost never holds our hand while walking.

After the castle we went to Saint Helena and had a couple of Woodhouse chocolates and then onto Yountville to Bouchon Bakery so I could have one of their amazing macaroons.

We then dropped the boys and Alice off at home and me and my mom had a girls date to the movies.

It was a really fun day.

Skip forward to Christmas Eve.

My mom made an amazing turkey dinner.

And my grandparents, my aunt, my bother, his daughter and her mother Jenna all came over.

After everyone left it was play time with Nana.