HOLIDAY LIGHTS | GILROY GARDENS

Last night we went to Gilroy Gardens to check out their holiday lights. It's no Butchart Gardens but it was very pretty. 

Aubrey went on a few rides before we watched a short lights presentation set to  music over the waterfalls. It was very hard to watch close up with the lights flashing so fast!

Next we watched a Charlie Brown live show on the meaning of Christmas and drank hot chocolate. 

Then we took the train around the park to see all the lights. 

Catching california snow (soap). 

THANKSGIVING

I forgot about posting these photos from Thanksgiving. It's mostly just food but it was a very good meal that Jared made. 

VISITING SANTA

Aubrey really wanted to visit Santa at the mall this year which is rare. Every year she has been terrified to go near him so when she said ok - we went. 

It was the friendliest Santa I've met. There was no one else in line as it was during the middle of a rain storm and she got to sit and talk to him about all sorts of things. 

Tonight we drove by a few houses to see some lights on the way home from picking up Jared from work and stopped at the best house - The North Pole Make-a-wish house which is close by. 

Santa and Mrs. Claus were there to visit and take photos with so we stopped. Aubrey was in her pj's but that was ok. 

They even gave her a my little pony. We made a donation and were so much happier than with the mall!

CHRISTMAS ADVENT ACTIVITY CALENDAR

After spending much time on Pinterest at all the cute Christmas crafts and ideas, I came across this cute printable advent calendar. I already had everything on hand to make it so that was even better!

Coming up with 25 activities was more challenging. I included a lot of local community events that we normally go to. I also put each day's activities on my calendar on my phone so I can look ahead and make the necessary preparations.

I already had this window already strung with twine and mini clothes pins!

Also this year I finally made us all new stockings. We've had mismatched ones for some time and I wanted a more cohesive look. 

I found table runners at TJ Maxx and turned them into these stockings. They already had finished edges and fringe ready to turn into the cuff. I added some Pom Pom fringe and bells to two of them. I used an old stocking to trace for the shape and size. 

I even had just enough fabric left over to make some reversible throw pillow covers. 

Another Pinterest idea I loved was making this little winter wonderland scene. 

On Monday the tree goes up!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Yesterday I got to watch Aubrey in her class presentation on Native Americans. Then her class got a turkey feast. 

FALL CRAFTS

It seems like it's been a long time since I've made anything crafty but this week we had a RS craft night and made some candle holders out of mason jars. 

I was in charge of helping so I didn't get to make any so last night I made some. They are super easy and everything was from the dollar store! (Except the glitter). 

The leaf jar I bought from the dollar store and glued in fake leaves and then inserted a battery operated tea light. I like how it flickers like a real candle too. 

Then tied some rafia around the brim. 

The glitter holders were more simple. Mix water and white glue together and brush it on the inside of the jar then pour in glitter and swirl around until coated. 

They look much better at night all lit up!

PAIN IN THE TOOTH

Aubrey has been having some tooth pain lately and we had taken her to the dentist when it first started. She told them which tooth hurt, they took x-Rays and said there was a tiny cavity starting and sent us away. Little did we know that the pain was actually from a tooth directly above that tooth. They didn't bother to look at any surrounding teeth. So after another week of pain we took her back and found out she had a huge cavity in the top neglected tooth. They referred us to a pediatric dentist and she had to go in to have the tooth removed. 

This dentist was a lot better experience even though it was under not so good circumstances. They had to give her laughing gas (above) so they could freeze her gums. They had to put a silver spacer where the tooth was so that the hole would not fill in as her adult tooth isn't due to come in for a couple years. 

She's been a good sport about it all and I think she's just happy the pain has stopped. 

She even was playing dentist on Jared that night. 

And last night she put her tooth along with a note saying: tooth ferry, can you get a picture of you and give it to me?

No picture was left but she did leave $2!

ANIVERSARY

Yesterday was our 13th anniversary and we went to 9 hour benefit concert for the Bridge School which was started by Neil & Peggy Young. It was at an outdoor amphitheater and we brought lawn chairs and squished in with 16,000 others. 

The bands included Neil Young, Nora Jones, Band of Horses, Soundgarden, Tom Jones, Brian Williams (Beach Boys), Florence & the Machine, and Pearl Jam. 

It was pretty cool to see classic singers like Neil Young, Tom Jones and the Beach boys! Chris Cornell even sang with Pearl Jam do "hunger strike" which I didn't think I'd ever see live. 

The whole concert was acoustic so it was a pretty unique experience. 

Florence and the Machine were amazing. Her voice is incredible live. The other favorite of the night was Soundgarden. Chris Cornell's voice was another amazing live performance. 

We were at the concert from 5pm until 1:30 am. It was a long night but it was pretty amazing. 

Aubrey's 6th Birthday

Aubrey chose and art themed party this year which I was all for as its a great coed theme!

First we started with painting

Then did some sidewalk chalk

Then they decorated their cookies with edible markers. 

And some face painting. 

We finished with pizza and decorating cupcakes. It was a fun and busy day!