In 2013, we will be moving our blog over to: (drumroll, please)
fivesorbellos.blogspot.com.
(Not because we really want to, but because we filled the 1G capacity of the last one.)
So don't get too comfortable reading this blog; first add the new address to your RSS feed. Ready, set, go.
And now read on.
December 19: I had been looking forward to this all month: walking down our street, dressed up in Biblical costumes, and singing to our neighbors. We had a good turnout despite the frigid cold, and had a great time! (Especially at the end when we drank cider and ate cookies at Bethany's house.)
Singing to the Lilidolls.
Colson was trying to dodge my camera, but I fooled him with a simple, "I'm gonna geeeeeeet you!"
The heavenly host
Wise men
December 23: We left for Atherton on Saturday, and on Sunday night we finally visited Redwood City's Bethlehem A.D. It's a very cool reenactment of Bethlehem in Jesus' day, complete with over 200 people in costume/character at any given time. An empty lot is setup to have you follow a path through the city, past merchant stalls, animals, prison, and finally the cave holding the baby Jesus. We almost didn't make it because it had been raining all day, but the rain let up at around 8 p.m. and I am so glad we went!
Outside the gates we watched the angels dancing on the roof across the street.
Shiloh signed our names on the census.
They had 3 REAL camels!
One of the most memorable stalls was this one with the most ginormous "mini-Rex" rabbit I have ever seen.
And finally, the newborn King. Music playing. Angels dancing. Wise men, bearing gifts.
At the hosting church across the street (Tapestry), we had free cider and donuts while enjoying live worship music... with wise men chillin' behind us. :)
December 24: Christmas Eve dinner was split pea and red lentil soup. It was nice to spend time at home and see my family.
Teddy continues to be a HIT with my girls. He is growing so big and cooing and smiling. We love him to pieces.
December 25: Altree (Nicholson) Christmas
The best present a 4.5 month-old could ask for: wrapping paper.
The joy. A princess castle. :)
Breakfast was a jimmy dean sausage and egg dish, monkey bread, and fruit salad.
Dad's new Surface. T is trying to win him over to the dark (Microsoft) side. :)
December 26: Christmas afternoon we drove back to Davis to have dinner with the rest of the Sorbellos, Armstrongs, and Pleaus. Then, on Wednesday once Shiloh got home from work, we drove over to Seine Avenue for our second (Sorbello/Armstrong) Christmas.
Captain America! All the cousins still seem to really enjoy dressing up, so Grammy found them some great costumes.
The girls got new nightgowns. "Just like Wendy!" said our Peter-Pan-obsessed eldest.
Can you believe we're about to add two more babies to this pandemonium? Watch out Grammy!
December 30/31: Two years ago we started the "tradition" of going to Shaver Lake with the Foresters and Shabaglians for New Year's, however it had to go on without us last year because we were celebrating Gracie and Kevin's wedding. (Happy anniversary, you two!) This year we headed up the mountain outside Fresno with even more friends than before. Five families. Ten adults. Ten children four and under. Four bedrooms. One cabin. Wooo!
Shabaglians, Geisels, Dildines, Foresters and Sorbellos. It was fun!
Shiloh and David got started on the dominoes right away and this is where the men spent a lot of their weekend, playing/arguing.
Fortunately for us, the girls actually liked snow this year. But not as much as they like their daddy.
Sledding! And they didn't even cry (at first)! Sofia wasn't thrilled about it.
We made the hike all the way down the (small) hill to the waterfall without too much trouble. I really appreciate that Sofia prefers Shiloh, because that leaves me with Siena who prefers to walk by herself. :)
Competitive? These guys? No way... but Dave has a distinct advantage with his 4th percentile son.
Hungry hippo only came out once due to its ability to immediately increase the noise level and chaos with these sons-and-daughters-of-competitive-dads.
We rang in the new year with the kids at 8:30 so they could go to bed and leave the adults to some peace an quiet!
Shiloh brought along his clippers and gave several haircuts.
And there you have it! 2012 at an end. This blog at an end. Head over to fivesorbellos.blogspot.com for 2013!
