Christmas - New Year's And more

This'll be a long one!

So much happened before Christmas and during the Christmas/New Year's time that I just didn't get around to posting it. I've been chastised by my net/blog-focused friends and family, so add another resolution to the list. I'll start with our trip to the States, since that was the highlight. More of the lower-lights to come shortly!

Mostly we are starting our year, thanking God for the continued blessing of our children, health, families, friends, and opportunities in our lives.

We spent 2 wonderful weeks in the States, one north of Miami with the Sedacas and one in San Francisco with the Bibbins'.

The boys LOVED (re)meeting their Sedaca cousins. OK - it didn't hurt that the Faircloth cousins had a motorized car, but I will assume it was not only that.

A really fun trip to pick strawberries...

The family enjoyed being all together for the first time in a long time. And naturally fondue was had (secretly the reason I married into the Sedaca family). And sometimes, the fun was just too much for the boys. :)

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the beach, and the boys fell more in love with their Auntie Vicky.

And the Sedaca brothers bonded in their usual way, a nice glass of wine on a comfy couch.

Then it was off to San Francisco.

We were delighted to meet our new cousin/niece - yes, a girl. They still make that model. Timothy was delighted to relinquish the position as the smallest in the family, and continue to squeal and say "bebe!"

Among many trips to the park,

visits with friends and family, and just hanging out, we also went to Fisherman's wharf for the obligatory seal siting and - new - a visit to the aquarium. The boys loved seeing the fish, and more importantly, standing on the underwater people mover. And a trip to Ghiradelli!

We rung in the new year and toasted to having the whole clan together again. And, naturally, we headed to wineries to make sure the California still was producing wine. The boys loved it ... well, running through the vines and the breadsticks, but who's counting. Uncle George got the honor of sitting at the coloring table at one winery.

What a wonderful way to celebrate His birth and ring in the New Year! Thanks to our families for a great time and for their love and patience with our Thing One and Thing Two.