San Diego

Once Christmas was over we decided on a whim to hop in the car and head to San Diego to enjoy the beach and take Caroline to Sea World for the first time. she just loved running in and out of the water

pure JOY

after a while we decided to strip her down

Grandpa spent much of the week watching ELMO videos on his computer with his favorite granddaughter

When we woke up to head to Sea World in the morning we pulled back the curtains to find POURING rain. We debated what to do and decided to just go for it! So, after a quick stop for some ponchos we were off. It was pretty wet, but the awesome thing was the park was empty so we were able to spend as much time as we wanted in the exhibits and also caught our favorite show...the comedy seal show!

all smiles the next morning for a SUNNY day at Sea World!

we headed to the Shamu show when we arrived, and it did not disappoint!

oh........guess who this little one is watching, her VERY favorite ELMO!

we planned this trip especially because Caroline LOVES ELMO and Sea World has a new entire Seseme Street section, she LOVED it!

riding the teacups with Daddy

Mom and Car on the ELMO flying ride

this little girl needs to be in gymnastics ASAP, she LOVES walking on beams, walls, or whatever!

Thanks Mom and Dad for another super fun adventure! We miss you guys already!

Christmas Day

Here is the Christmas girl's first look (we woke her up at 8:00 since we could not wait any longer!)
She was super excited about the kitchen Santa left her!

maybe her favorite gift.....a baby stroller from Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Kristen, and cousin Brody

she is obsessed with her new ELMO camera too! (we all know all the songs by heart now!)

getting help from Grandma

Daddy helps Caroline with her new Nike shocks (Daddy just had to get them!)

Grandpa opens one of her dress up chests for her

Cheers Aunt Laura

saying goodbye to "Elfie" until next year

Car's new backpack

After our little family along with my parents opened our gifts, we were joined by Smokey and Laura for brunch.

reading a story with Paw-Paw and Aunt Laura

My Mom and Dad put the finishing touches on brunch

YUMMMM

Car loves her new "lipstick"

Patrick is Christmas-ED OUT! *we still have our third round of Christmas to go tonight, so get-in a quick cat nap!

Ho Ho Ho!

Santa came last night, and Caroline must have been on the NICE list!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we, along with my parents, headed to Mass and then over to Laura's for Christmas Eve dinner. This year's theme was " A Del Mar Christmas/Surf and Turf" including coconut shrimp, crab legs, and filet.....SO decicious! our little Christmas Elf

what a happy girl, that smile makes our season SO happy and bright!

Car and I

cocktail hour

Mom and I

US

Smokey mans the meat

Caroline finds the wooden shoes and of course does some laps

Caroline and Aunt Laura

making sure the cookies are all set for Santa

the "Santa plate" I made a few years ago

Before bed reading the Night Before Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa (they gave her the beautiful Hallmark book where they read the book and record so we will always have their voices)