As I wrap up the updates today, "more music," "more contemplation" and "more love" weren't directly addressed. So in my own neurotic way, I must address them. As for music, lots and lots of it as we listened to Sarah "rehearse" for her holiday show at school. I must have listened to that CD at least 50 times in the last month! And I am not exaggerating!!! I listened to it 7 times yesterday alone as she "practiced" for our friend, Jaki, who is coming over today! I don't know about you, but there is always music going on at our house!
As for the contemplation part of it? Well, I think I have contemplated, updated and blogged to my heart's content this past week. And I definitely contemplated along the way--although it may have looked like muttering and sputtering and fuming! And love? Well, that's been there all along.
So let's finish our Christmas journey from our fun party to even more fun--and in the sun!
On Christmas Eve we went to the Children's Mass at our church and then came home for a nice easy dinner. (Gotta love those crock pots!) My dad, "PopPop," spent the night with us and was awakened very early the next morning! (JJ woke up at 5:38, but we kept him busy with us until 6:20. He was going to pop, so we finally had to let him out!)
After having a nice morning with presents and breakfast, my dad left, and we just hung out for awhile. J.R. and the kids had to head onto the roof to make sure that the reindeer and Santa didn't damage the roof since a big rain storm was headed in that day. Lo and behold, when the kids got up on the roof, they found chewed on carrot tops! The same carrots that they had left next to Santa's cookies and milk! The looks on their faces were priceless!
Late that afternoon, we headed to the Bay Area to have dinner with my mom. But the fun was just beginning! The next day we headed to San Francisco with the sunlight streaming into the car. Our destination? The San Francisco Zoo. Why? The real reindeer, of course! We had such a fun day at the zoo, picnicking and seeing the animals. It was such a treat to be out of the house and doing something fun in a place that the
kids and my husband had never been to before. Although the wind was brisk, it felt fabulous to be outside and enjoying it. If you haven't been there in awhile. it is definitely worth checking out. It has been redone, and redone well. The exhibits were larger and more realistic. And of course, the old carousel (that my mom rode when she was a young girl!) has been restored and is quite lovely.
After the fun of the zoo, we checked out one of the best streets for Christmas lights as we drove home. The kids were totally blown away by all of the lights and decorations. And after a good night's sleep, we were ready to head off on our next adventures!
JJ and J.R. headed to the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier that is docked in Alameda. JJ has been obsessed with aircraft carriers and the like ever since he saw Battle 360 on TV. (When he watches this, I always draw the curtains and turn the sound way done in hopes of keeping the Bad Mother Police at bay! I still feel that this is not one of my finer mothering moments!) But anyway, the two boys headed that way, and my mom and Sarah and I headed back to SF. I was lucky enough to be heading to the second part of the Impressionist exhibit that I saw at the de Young Museum in August. My mom was taking Sarah over to the Academy of Science to check it out again. The last time we were there, she was just 2, so she had no memory of the place. Let me tell you, though, she has memories now! The rain forest. The white alligator. The butterflies. The "dead cheetah." (Stuffed!) Golden Gate Park was just beautiful that day too, and we had a fabulous time. Again, it was just such a treat to be slightly "tourist-y," especially when the weather was so gorgeous!
I really can't tell you how much fun this was. And it felt so right in that Hundred Dollar Holiday way. I know my kids are going to remember this trip to the zoo and the museums they saw the days after Christmas. And I think since it was right after Christmas, it made it even more special. The zoo was decorated still and so there was still that magic in the air! I hope that we all can find and enjoy that magic next year as well!
Just think of me as you're making your plans! And know that if I could do some of these things, you can too! Breathe. Be you. And do it.
