The Party

Isabella was a-buzz all day at the anticipation of our church's Christmas party. It was her first chance of the season to see Santa. This is Scarlett, pictured with Isabella (she made me wait to take the photo until she ran to get her headband.) Isabella was too busy eating her brownie and ice cream dessert to worry about apparel.

Isabella coming off the stage, after singing with the other primary kids, who were all greeted on stage by Santa. I was so happy she was happy after seeing Santa. I was unsure of what her reaction would be this year since last year it was this:

(Christmas 2011)

This year, however, she couldn't wait to talk to Santa. She knew what she wanted to ask for, for Christmas, but more importantly, she had a very pressing question, which she needed to ask him first: Where was Rudolph?

Well, Isabella and Santa had a lovely conversation (when Santa could get a word in edgewise) about Rudolph and California weather and Tonka trucks. I had to pull her away when we all realized that she would just keep going, if she could.

Matthew seemed a bit suspicious of the beard. 

The party was lovely. Santa was a big hit. Isabella went to bed happy, but woke up in the middle of the night oh-so sick. In the hustle and bustle of the day, I paid little attention to what she'd been eating. Turns out she'd had consumed more sugar than was humanly possible. She missed church the next day, but her Sunday school teacher gave me this picture, which had been made into an ornament, and I just thought it was the cutest thing ever.

The Tree

'Tis the season...our Christmas adventure began, this year, with a trip to one of Napa's better known tree lots (downgraded from my original plan to drive up to the mountains and cut down a tree on an actual tree farm--too rainy). Still, Isabella was super excited to be going to a "Christmas tree farm", in town.

Running through the forest of trees at Steve's Christmas Tree Lot.

And that's where she met her rival... Julian. Julian could almost out-talk Isabella. Almost.

When he realized he'd met his match, he decided to test her muscle strength by squeezing her bicep. He deemed her "pretty strong". Isabella grew weary of these games, which were merely a distraction from her real task at hand: running through the entire lot looking for the perfect tree. (emphasis on "running", not so much on "looking") Mark and I grew weary of the hefty price tags and hatched a plan to extract Isabella from Steve's and take her to the only other affordable tree "farm" in town we could think of:

Blasted Home Depot! The most unromantic place to buy a Christmas tree, but the prices can't be beat.

Lucky for us, Isabella can muster up enthusiasm for almost anything (except making her bed)--even at the Home Depot. It also helped that we ran into her BFF, Ally.

 Mark debuts a tree.

Trying so hard to be good.

Autumn, Ally's sister.

Back at the ranch, the decking of the halls begins. 

'Tis the season to be jolly...fa la la la la, la la la la 

Guest Blogger

This week, guest blogger, Isabella Holsten, shares her photo essay of her snow trip to Truckee, CA. Pictures and words by Isabella.

 That was so funny that mama was laughing so hard at my picture.

 My favorite part was when I was driving my train around the island.

 I was taking a picture of the silly, laughing stairs.

 Snow. Houses. (Looking through a screened window.)

 The basket with the candles upstairs.

 Taking a picture of the steep downstairs.

Matthew's so funny, he tickled me in the eye.

MoIA (Museum of Isabella's Art)

Life of a Preschooler, Uncut (unless there's some serious adult supervision)

November 18 - there is no more wall space available

This comprehensive exhibition focuses in depth on Isabella Holsten's beginning months in her new role as Preschooler. On view for the first time, in Isabella's playroom, these works reflect her recent development as a painter--who uses lots of different kinds of paint: tempera, watercolor, sparkly...

A Big Green Pond

The World We Live In

Brown Turkey

 Watercolor

Me: "What is this a painting of?"
Her: "I don't know."
Me: "Well, what were you thinking of when you were painting it?"
Her:"I was thinking about my sweater and how the jaguar ripped it to pieces."

 Ornament

Gobble Gobble

This year Isabella planned the Thanksgiving menu.

She also learned a bit about the pilgrims. Clearly, the tradition of football after the big Thanksgiving feast began with them, because how else would she know to decorate her hat this way?

Dear Isabella,
Your teacher is thankful for you because you are confident and play well with everyone. You are always willing to help your friends and teachers. You have a very generous, loving heart.

Mrs. O'Bryan and Ms. Judy
November 20, 2012

Among many other things, we are grateful for good teachers, who love and care for our daughter.

This is How We Do Sick Days!

I kept Isabella home from preschool due to a bad cough but there are only so many episodes of Dora the Explorer one can watch before it's time to GET. OUTSIDE.

Matthew was fine with the idea, too.

So was Rosie, the red calf.

Sometimes it's nice just to be home, sick.

A Few of My Favorite Things

 Matthew having fun with big sis.

Story time with Nana. Matthew provides the raspberry sound effects.

Isabella, age 16, talking to her BFF, and checking her email. Oh, wait. That would be Isabella, age 4, talking to Nana, while playing a game on the computer. She was wearing her skinny jeans, though...(seriously? Skinny jeans for preschoolers? That's one I just don't get)

New Christmas Pajamas from Nana.

Big sister trying to protect little brother from camera flash. So sweet.