We got a lovely Christmas surprise when Yoya and Dylan decided to join us on the second half of our family holiday tour. They were really glad about that choice when Kaya blessed them with a award-winning bedtime tantrum on their evening of arrival. I’ll post a picture of this instead.

A highlight of our visit to Maryland was lunch at Ledo’s with my childhood best friend Kim, her mom, her daughter Rose, my mom, and our family. Rose and Kaya were instant friends – much like their mommies on a cold December morning 29 (!) years ago. It was great fun. Here’s the group:

Santa was very good to us this year – and the weather was good enough for Kaya to immediately try out her new pink Cowboy boots. Merry Christmas!

I think we have a problem

We went to visit Santa this past weekend. Kaya was slightly apprehensive at first, but loved talking to Santa in the end. Laney not so much.

Kaya got some clip-on Cinderella earrings from her advent calendar today. And boy did they make her look like a teenager. Prom date anyone?

Laney’s old favorite food was meat (steak, ground beef, sausage, etc). Now her favorite food is meat covered in spaghetti sauce with pasta. She especially likes the mess she can make. She also prefers to eat it while listening to Deck the Halls (which is her favorite Christmas song, mainly because she can actually sing Fa La La La La).

Kaya seems to have hit male puberty at an atypical age (we are being careful not to call her “abnormal”). The cutest part is listening to her try to remember the word “mustache.”

Laney is embracing the true holiday spirit.

Their shirts read, “My grandma is the best. She spoils me with lots of kisses and hugs. I love her more than cupcakes!”