Irvine Regional Park Train and Zoo with Noah

Trains, animals and cousin Noah? Nothing beats that entertainment value in Samantha and Amelia’s book, so when the girls found out we would be meeting Noah and his entourage (Cousins Allison, Zack, Ben, Great Auntie Lynn and Great Uncle Steve) at Irvine Regional Park, they cooperated lightning fast to potty up and get out the door.

Samantha and Amelia with engineer Noah.

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Last year, we rode the special Christmas train at the park to see Santa, but this year, the regular train was just as fun– except for a few minor technical difficulties. The tracks were slippery (or, more likely, we were all just too heavy from all those Christmas sweets) and the train had a hard time making it up the hill… after sitting stopped for so long, Samantha and Amelia were ready to jump ship. There were only so many “I think I can, I think I can” comments we could make to keep the girls occupied! Thankfully, Noah’s crew never fails to entertain.

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Last year on the Christmas Train:

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So much bigger now!

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Ben’s disappearing arm trick kept the girls occupied.

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After our ten-minute-turned-thirty-minute train ride, we walked up to the zoo; or, rather, I drove my car while Uncle Steve pushed the twins up the hill to meet me there. Thank you!

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Two little birdies.

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Fascinated by deer, or in Noah’s case, giant ornament decorations on the ground.

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What an entourage!

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Samantha was a big girl carrying her own lunchbox around and then thought it was hilarious to walk around with it on her head.

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Of course, Amelia had to follow suit.

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The girls kept asking the cougar if he would like anything out of their lunch boxes. I’m fairly certain he would have rather eaten one or two of the creatures holding the lunches… starting with the meatier one.

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Thanks for a fun outing, Noah and crew!

Lots of love,

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Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, we had to bribe the girls to take some Christmas photos by holding certain sugary items in their stockings hostage. Samantha and Amelia aren’t dumb– they know when to give in and put on the cheese for Mommy!

Samantha, Christmas 2015:

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Love Samantha’s Dr. Seuss inspired Cindy Lou Who uneven hair flip!

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Amelia, Christmas 2015:

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Love you, sis. Until you threw my new Frozen football in the toilet today (true story).

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I forgive you. But only because I’m going to get you back.

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Tee hee.

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Hark the herald angels sing!

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Mischievous little elves were already up to planning some Christmas Day shenanigans.

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Ha! Remember that time the other day when Mommy was on the porch talking to the neighbor and we unwrapped five presents? That was the funniest!

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S and A 2013, 2014, 2015:

s and a    Amelia 2013, 2014, 2015:

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Samantha 2013, 2014, 2015: sam

Merry Christmas 2015!

Lots of love,

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Silly Christmas Videos

We’ve been having fun making silly videos this Christmas! Thanks, Santa, for the bribing opportunity. The girls are obsessed with these!

Amelia’s video:

Samantha’s Santa message… remarkably similar to Amelia’s…hmmmmm….

Our slightly frightening family video:

Lots of love,

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Newport Beach Boat Parade

Christmastime in the OC means instead of frolicking in the snow, we go to the beach and watch people’s fancy yachts decorated to the nines parade around the bay! Jake and I haven’t been to the Newport Beach Boat Parade in several years since the twins were born, but we think it needs to be an annual tradition now. I wasn’t sure how much the girls would really care about the parade, but even though they stayed up way past their bedtime, they were in good spirits and loved waving to all the boats. I think a chocolate dipped frozen banana and hot chocolate may have helped…

Hmmmmm… which chocolate dipped banana stand to choose? THERE’S ALWAYS MONEY IN THE BANANA STAND (Arrested Development reference).

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While waiting for her banana, Amelia was feeling silly and pretended that her face was stuck to mine.

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We were so lucky to go to the parade with the Smiths who are locals and go every year. They knew the perfect place to park and a low key place to watch the parade away from the other millions of people on Balboa Island.

Sebastian, Amelia, Samantha, Kennedy and Kennedy’s friend, Maddie.

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S and A always have a blast with Kennedy and Sebastian and the kids played together on the sand for a good thirty minutes before the parade started, playing games, collecting shells, and playing “Red Rover” with seaweed. IMG_0500 (1)   IMG_0506

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Kennedy is hired to be my mommy’s helper at home! She entertained the girls with games and even let them take turns holding her beloved stuffed puppy and puppy purse. At one point, Amelia ran off to look at a kayak a little ways down the sand, and a very concerned Sebstian ran after her and grabbed her hand. “I brought her back to her mommy!” he exclaimed proudly when he returned her to me. IMG_0511

Whether big or small, all the boats looked so festive.

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The girls’ favorite was the Frosty boat, complete with someone blasting karaoke Christmas songs.

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Lucero and Ryan with the kids. Lucero and I agree that if we HAD to settle for this yacht, it would do.

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Hot chocolate coma.

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My personal favorite: the dinosaur boat, complete with real fire spouting out of the volcano. I had to keep reminding myself these are people’s personal boats that they decorate themselves– the things people spend money on!

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Amelia was devastated that she spilled her hot chocolate, poor thing. We took off shortly after and the girls conked out in the car on the way home, despite all the sugar overload. My definition of a perfect outing.

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We will have to make the Boat Parade with the Smiths an annual tradition!

Lots of love,

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