Christmas. A look back at two months ago.

Visits with cherished friends.

Our first night in our first home.  A priceless moment.  

Heavy lifting.

Indian Food with Grandpa Pops.

Night before Christmas jammies.  Traditions continue.

Tired Santa working hard to assemble this tricycle.

How lucky is Chloe to have them in her life.

Always making me laugh.

A house full of love at my In Laws.

She loves her Uncle Matt. 

Chloe couldn't get enough of Grandma Locklins six Christmas trees.

Flour Fusion, Wildomar, CA.  Have you been?

With Tia!  These two have the sweetest exchanges.

Drippy candles, Italian food and this man.  A dreamy night.

Birthday date night with my handsome man.  He's born on the 27th of December  

Tree Shopping, back in November.

Popcorn! while tree shopping, thank you Home Depot.  

This man knows how to pick a good tree.

For the first time ever we ventured out to a store on Black Friday.  One quick trip to Home Depot to pick out the perfect pine for our desert home.  It instantly made our apartment cozy and brought some of the holiday feeling we'd been missing with the still hot temperatures.  That might be the only shopping we ever do on Black Friday.  For me the time is all about family and setting foot into a busy, crowded, retail crazed store is the last thing on my list.  I like our time together to be cherished.  That night AJ and Kevin hit up the iPic theater to see a movie and my dad, Chloe and I continued the family tradition he and my mom started when we were children and watched The Velveteen Rabbit before bed.  If you don't have this movie you must get it for your Christmas collection.  Meryl Streep narrates, as usual, she (and the illustrations) is perfection.

Let's just say our tree was one crispy little guy by the time we traveled to Temecula for the holidays.      He was removed for fear of fire a week before we left.  But oh how we enjoyed that sweet pine scent.  And the twinkling lights.  Oh the lights, my favorite part.

Christmas 2011. Part 2.

Dinner at Urban Tavern, a kid friendly yet chic spot.

Chloe making faces at the other diners-my grandma taught her this. 

Chloe's first year, a beautiful album made by Grandma Karen. 

A wooden baby puzzle to match daddy's.

The camera's of Kevin's life...one is even his late grandfather's.

Getting styled out by Uncle Matt.

The night before Christmas.

Christmas morning.

In her Christmas pj's.

My cousin Morgan made her this adorable apron.

In her special dress from Gramsy.

Grandpa, that bow is perfect on you!

Teaching Kevin how to carve the bird.

I'll be honest we catered everything but the Kale from Whole Foods.  Shhh!

Beautiful Grandma.

 Like I said, they are all so amazing.  specially this little sleepy bloom.