Christmas

During the week of Christmas, we left for a four-day trip to Pismo Beach.  Ryan found a rental house about twenty minutes from the ocean for a super good deal.  We spent Monday at the beach itself.  Pismo Beach is really strange, because they allow both dogs and vehicles on the sand.  Plus, the slope of the beach itself is uniquely shallow, so you can walk a long ways out before the water gets very deep.
  

Sand Yoga

The water snuck up on them while I was taking pictures.

  

I worried Wiley's heart might explode.  He had fun.

Connor and Elise collected a huge variety of shells.

Barnacles on Sand Dollars

 
Tuesday morning, we drove south to the La Purisima mission.  Connor is supposed to study the missions as part of fourth grade in California, so we decided to tour this one.  It was pretty awesome - a part of history I never knew much about.
  

Tallow Vats

Ryan and I have started trying to identify mushrooms, just for fun.

We couldn't identify this one, either.

After La Purisima, we stopped by the monarch butterfly grove.  Corinne wasn't even born the last time we came, I think.
  

Pinned to the Box

  
We went home on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.  On the way, we stopped in Solvang and bought goodies.  Some nice people offered to take our picture in this sleigh thing.

  

Christmas was great.  This year we followed the four-gift rule: "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read."  I don't even know where I heard that silly rhyme, but it was wonderful.  I think the kids all appreciated their gifts much more, and we didn't hear any "Is that all?" type comments.  The limit didn't apply to gifts from relatives, or stocking stuffers.  We spent the day relaxing and watching Christmas videos.
    

Stockings

Painting Easel

Elise got Heelys and a sleeping bag.

Gifts from Nana and Al

Connor's Super Smash gift became a distraction.

Wooden Bowling Set

Frozen Comic Book

Jigsaw Puzzle

The day after Christmas, Ryan went on his monthly Critical Mass ride.  He really appreciated the Beardmo hat Kelli gave him a year or two ago.
   

    
On Saturday, we used our annual passes for a second trip to Six Flags.  It was okay, except that this time it was really cold and windy.  I know, we sound so whiny, but we didn't even think to bring good jackets.
   

Hanging Out at the Kid Rides