Centennial Olympic Park

Today we went to downtown Atlanta to go outdoor iceskating at Centennial Olympic Park. Marisa was so excited once again to put on little skates just her size. She was pretty hesitant at first, holding onto the wall, but it only took a little warm-up to feel confident enough to venture out on her own!










Afterwards, we ate lunch at The Varsity. Tim and I have heard so much hype about it so we decided to try it out. The food was fine, but if you ask me, I think it is over-rated. But at least we can say we have been there!
I don't have pictures of it, sorry. I learned a hard lesson today. Don't give your way expensive lens and camera to a 3 year old to walk only 10 feet to Nana because she just might trip on the sidewalk and crack it. Bad, bad, BAD idea. Ohhhh, I'm still hurting inside because of the scare she gave me. First thought: that is $3,000 gone! Luckily, the only thing that cracked was the UV lens filter. Easy replacement. $30 bucks. Whew!

it's all in the little things

There is no better way of putting life into proper perspective than seeing life through my kids eyes. For example, being able to have your own little bowling shoes. Marisa was estatic! It totally made her evening.








And riding on a train and getting your very own ticket.



(my failed attempt to get the ticket in focus and her out of focus.)

And riding on a pink horse with Nana and "my baby".

special delivery

Santa really delivered this year for Marisa. Snow to Georgia and lots of it! Snow was the only thing Marisa kept asking for when we were getting ready to fly out to ATL. We woke up this morning to see white out the window! Although it was almost magical to look at for the girls, their true California girls came out pretty quickly.








One touch of the snow and Natalie made it known very clearly that she hates it. She cried the most. Marisa liked it at first and then after 5 minutes she too didn't like it and said it was too cold. You can tell she wanted to like it, but she is just too much of a beach girl. oh well. It was really cute to see them all bundled up and made for good photos!

christmas day

There is something magical about Christmas mornings. And I think no matter how old you get you can't just get enough of it.

We opened gifts...








...made Christmas dinner...






(my mother-in-law seriously has the best stuffing recipe. I had to take a picture of it. mmmm, I can smell it through my computer.)

...and got to play in Georgia's first white christmas since 1882. whoa!








Merry Christmas!

this is the only time of the year...

...where I just let myself completely indulge in all the absolutely wonderful Christmas sweets. Nothing is off limits for me and neither is the amount. Peppermint oreos, sugar cookies, and all sorts of chocolate galore. And I think having kids during Christmas is even twice as yummy because I get to share memories while baking next to them.

The girls made a gingerbread house with me along with Nana and Leslie. The house came premade, but when we opened the box the cookie was broken. We tried to piece it back to together with frosting, but no such luck.












The girls had fun anyways. Mainly, because they ate more candy than they put on the house. Everytime Marisa would put a piece of candy on the house Natalie would pick it off and eat it. Way counterproductive.

Marisa snuck her share of sweets anyways. I went downstairs to check on Marisa later on during the evening and I caught her eating the icing straight from the bag. :)


After the house decorating the girls traditionally opened up their Christmas pajamas. Natalie vocally exclaimed her excitement by saying, "Whoa!" Who knew a one year old could be excited by that!


(And can I just say that taking a picture of two kids smiling is near to impossible? Especially when the lighting in the house sucks. Grr.)

After that we did some more treat-making by making Santa his cookies, of course! Oh yeah, and we musn't forget the reindeer get hungry too.

on every corner

in California there is a Starbucks. On every corner in Georgia there is a...


I've only been once my whole life, and I don't remember much of it, so Tim and I decided to take the girls today and try to absorb the true Southern experience.

We had...
-chocolate chip waffles
-hot chocolate
-pecan waffle
-an original waffle


It was actually pretty good. And the Southern hospitality from local costumers and waitresses is always a plus I greatly miss. I still don't think I want to try the true meal of the South, "chicken and waffles". Not so yummy sounding.

rain, rain, go away...

...come again another day.

This is Natalie's new face she pulls when she tells me "no".


Stinker.

last day of nursery

Today was Marisa's last day of nursery. Remember this? That was yesterday, right?
We will head out to GA this Saturday for the next two weeks so I'm not sure if it is truly her last day, but it is for sure in her original ward. When we come back home it is off to Primary as a Sunbeam!


I had to take a pic of me and my girly girls with our Christmas outfits. I love having two little dolls. What would I do without bows, tulle skirts, silk dresses, pearls, and nordstrom shoes??

first time at the dentist

I've read so many different things in terms of when to take your child to the dentist for the first time, so I just decided to do it somewhere in the middle. At 3 1/2 Marisa went to the dentist for the first time today. I left Natalie with a dear friend of mine because I was a little worried how Marisa was going to react.
Boy, did I underestimate her. She was amazing! The hygenist kept saying, "I can't believe this is her first time."

But don't you agree that if you were to walk into an office and Toy Story 3 was playing on a tv in the play area, and when you are taking x-rays a mini tv next to you is playing Toy Story 3, plus when you are lying down on the chair and above you on the ceiling Toy Story 3 is playing, you would behave too?



(via iphone)

The office was completely jungle themed throughout. The walls were painted with jungle murals, stuffed jungle animals were hanging from x-ray machines and various others "scary" looking machines throughout the office, and even found sitting on benches. The play area in the waiting room was unlike any I have seen at children's offices. It had sturdy, actually good toys, a big wooden tree that stuck out from the wall to hover over the kids in the play area and a big wooden flower with the tv in the middle. Seriously, how cute is that?

After it all they handed her a green balloon with a purple toothbrush attached and a sticker page with all the Disney princess. They know how to treat a young girl right! No cavities and already looking forward to the next visit!

a new lens

This came in today. Yes...