"Home" for the holidays....

It's kinda like we have 2 homes:-)...this year we decided to stay at our Cali home for the holidays for the first time in the 4 years we have lived out here. It's bittersweet not to be going home (Illinois) to spend Christmas with family and see friends, but we decided it was just too much this year. And I'm no hypochondriac by ANY means, but this whole H1N1 (and flu season in general) deal just makes me a little uneasy with Ezra at just over 5 months. Just seems like once we pass the 6 month mark with him, I'll be a little more brave.

And even though we're sad that we won't be seeing grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins on Christmas, we've been busy making some memories of our own for the first time! We've been doing Christmas "stuff" most days and have been having a blast...Sophia is a such a fun age (and challenging at times, but mostly fun:-)!

Here are some pics of the holiday fun we've been having!

Chillin' at home with my Christmas cuties....Ezra's shirt says "Not An Elf" just in case there was any confusion. (Thanks Aunt Amanda...getting some more mileage out of that one! :-)

Making Gingerbread Houses with our friends Ashley & Dustin (who Sophia calls "Miss Actually" and Mister Dustin).

This is Sophia's....Ummm...I don't know what to say about it....

Our attempt at Marshmallow Snowmen...one was propped up with a toothpick that ended up looking like a crutch. Another was on it's way down in this pic...but we had fun!

Ezra riding in our friend Ava's sweet walker! Thanks for letting Ez take a spin, Ava!

Our first Christmas tree since we've been in California! There's marshmallow garland on it which has mysteriously dwindled since we put it on...hmmmm?!?!

Just too cute....

At Sophia's Christmas Dance recital with her friends Sophia and Celia and their teacher Miss Shannon:-)

And this one is from Thanksgiving...but I mean, come on....hilarious!

Did I mention we aren't going to be wearing coats, hats or mittens this Christmas?!?!...this might be easier to deal with than I thought:-)

Merry Christmas!

J, K, S & E