Christmas in California

The ocean...some warm sun.....what else do you need?

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

The most wonderful time of the year at the happiest place on earth....what could be better?

Today we had a bit of holiday magic at Disneyland with the family.  I was a lot more comfortable at Disneyland this time.  Last time, I liked it, but I was a bit nervous.  Today, I understood what it was all about.  I enjoyed each ride, rather than being just a bit nervous on them.  I love Pirates of the Caribbean, and enjoyed Peter Pan a lot more this time. 

Look at my long legs...

Our thotful spot!

Seriously, all that food I'm eating is going to my legs!

It was quite a long day, but a fun one!  When are we going back Mommy??  (Mommy keep telling me that there are NO immediate plans and that super fun things like Disneyland are best in moderation to keep the fun alive....I don't really get her point!)

Nana

Tonight we drove down to Los Angeles for a bit of southern California Christmas magic! 

The first stop on our agenda....

meeting our Nana.  Nana is our Mommy's grandmother, our Grandad's Mom. 

So glad we got the chance to meet.  She was a nice lady.  She gave me a cool Santa hat that has springs in it...(you can't imagine how Mommy LOVES that hat).

Gotcha!

Today is a very very special day for Mommy and I.  We celebrate our 'Gotcha Day' which in adoptive family life is the day that my Mommy came and 'got' me.  Today, Mommy took me out for a special day just the two of us. We went to the Oakland zoo (one of my favorite places) for our day.  We also went to Chipolte for lunch (did you know by now..it's my FAVORITE place to eat) and had a family dinner tonight to celebrate the day when two years ago, my Mommy brought me home to be a forever family with her. 

I remember the morning.  She took an hour off work to come with my bio mom, Mama Lillian so that we could take photos and Mama Lillian and I could spend time together.  Mama Lillian was pretty sick and had to lie down most of the time, but still we got some photos all together and Mama Lillian was really glad to have the time together.

Then, Mommy had to go back to work and around 4pm, she came back to the orphanage, driving a very big landrover (she was borrowing Aiden's car seat while he was home in Canada for the Christmas holiday....after Christmas he and his family brought a new carseat back for me to use) and she picked me up. It was VERY hot that day and the landrover had no air conditioning and we got stuck in traffic going home.  I cried because I was hot and Mommy got very distressed and cried too!  But, then we got home....and we got take out from the Impala indian restaurant (the start of a very good tradition) and had a very fun night.  And, from that began a family!  I'm so so glad my Mommy came and now we have a fun time, looking at each other and pointing and saying, "Gotcha Gotcha Gotcha!" 

THEN

December 1, 2008

NOW

December 1, 2010

It's the Most Wonderful Time Of the Year

Today we trimmed the tree.  Don't worry...Mommy didn't give me any scissors.  She did let me put the decorations on the tree though.  We put on Christmas music and holiday cheer and the whole family decorated the tree.  We are lucky, not only do we have a tree upstairs for everyone to see, we also put a second tree downstairs in my room.  It is the tree that we put up in our house last year in Africa and it is decorated with ALL Tanzanian decorations....banana leaf angels, masai beaded stars and snowflakes, ribbons, beads and a banana leaf tree topper angel.  How amanzing to have our American tree and our African tree all in one house.  Just like us....

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Happy Turkey Day from your favorite turkey...

Let's face it....I'm an animal.  A squirrel, a monkey, a turkey....mommy is always calling me some funny animal name....I kinda like it. 

In any case, today was Thanksgiving.  I did not eat any turkey though...that's for sure.  Mommy, Clara Shei and I don't eat meat.   My uncle does though....and I'm always trying to explain to him that cows give us milk and say moo and are nice to us and we shouln't eat them.  He hasn't yet been convinced.  He ate turkey today, but not me!  Don't think I missed out though...there was so much food and it was sure good (in case you are not aware, I am RULED by food). 

I had mashed potates, cranberries, veggie stuffing, coconut sweet potatoes, green beans, home made rolls and PUMPKIN PIE!  Yummy....I love Thanksgiving.

Clara Shei turns 2

I can hardly believe it myself!  How did my sister get so big so fast? 

Well...somehow she did.  And, we celebrated this special event all day.  After church we headed out to.....(drum roll please).......THE MALL! 

WHAT?  The mall?  We spent a two year old birthday at the mall?  Well, my sister is clearly a fashionista, but we didn't really do any shopping.  Instead we started out at Nordstrom Cafe, which is one of Clara Shei and my favorite places to eat.  After that...Mommy took us to the Build a Bear workshop (where she swore she would NEVER set foot in) and let us each build a reindeer.  Clara Shei wasn't very sure about how to get the stuffing into her reindeer (Clarice).  I had no problem stuffing my Rudolph.  After we had given our reindeers hearts, and baths and birth certificates, we headed out to the play area at the mall and had so much fun running around with all the crazy kids there. 

All in all...this was a pretty great day!  I only have a bit of trouble with the idea that it is a day just for Clara Shei.  It's really hard for me to share the spotlight, much less give it over to her for a whole day!  Still...I guess it is Clara Shei's day after all....and at least she shares her cake with me. 

Museum time...

Mommy returned! And, to celebrate....we went to the California Academy of Sciences.  We saw the penguines getting fed....one funny little penguin just kept coming back for more.  He was so silly.  We also got to visit the tidepools and we touched starfish and sea urchins!  AND....we got to go in the fish tube again and see lots of catfish.  My Mommy explained to me that these fish got into a fight with kitty cats and won...and took the cats whiskers when they left.  Wow...those are some mean fish....I'm going home and checking my Bada's kitty cats to make sure those fish didn't steal THEIR whiskers.  If so....I know where to find em! 

Taking a break!

Mommy took a break and went to DC for a week to take care of some grown up things and see some of her friends. 

But before she left, we got the chance to go to my friend, George's 4th birthday party!  It was such fun.  He has a very fun backyard with a playhouse complete with climbing wall.  And, he has a whole lot of very cool friends.  AND...his mommy made some fabulous food and yummy cupcakes.  All in all, it was a great party and I hope he had a wonderful 4th birthday!

And, Mommy....having so much fun with Uncle Gogo and Bada....but I miss you.  I love your daily phone calls and wonder if you are in the phone.  I always ask Bada, "what is in there?  Is Mommy in there?" and point to the phone when she calls.  Wherever you are Mommy....I miss you.  Come home soon!

Boo....

...at the Zoo!

We spent our Halloween Day at the Oakland Zoo's celebration of all things creepy crawly and Halloween inspired.  We participated in a costume parade, saw animals and visited especially the elephants and giraffes.  I wanted to climb right in with the giraffes and a giraffe came right up to talk to me, just as if he recognized me.  I think I could have climbed in and fit right in!

Afer our afternoon at the zoo, we went on to Walnut Creek Center where they were having trick-or-treating.  Clara Shei and I have never been trick-or-treating before.  It was sure fun.  It took me a while to get the hang of it.  I couldn't figure out when to say trick-or-treat or when to say thank you.  I'm still not sure I get how to use trick-or-treat.  I just go up to anyone and say it, but I don't expect candy or anything.  I just say it.  Like "Merry Chistmas", I figure this is how you greet people at Halloween time.  I kept saying it to everyone, like the people in the coffee shop waiting for their coffee.  Mommy kept apologizing for me as people said stuff like, "oh honey, I wish I had candy for you right now".  I don't really get what is wrong with everyone...I mean, not that I would turn down candy or anything at any time....but I am just trying to be polite.  What's with everyone??

Tonight, we went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  By now, I had the schtick down.  I'll be an expert trick-or-treater...don't you worry.  I've got the perfect mix of polite manners, cute looks and persistence.

And...I'm a giraffe.  It doesn't get better than this.  Happy Halloween!