Ice Kingdom California Style

One of the good/bad things about where we live in the lack of winter weather. 

It's lovely to be able to play outside all day every day during the 18 day winter break! I never, ever have to dig my car out of the snow. What exactly does it mean "my pipes froze?" 

It's sad that we have no concept of a white Christmas, the beauty of the after ice storm when the world is covered with God's glitter, or any of the other winter-y activities. 

This year, there was an event at the Queen Mary where they created an ice kingdom. They brought in 9 Chinese artisans from Harbin, and went to town creating "The Nutcracker" out of ice. We were blessed with the gift of tickets to the event, so we bindled up and headed over to give our southern California babies a taste of winter.

It is 7 degrees in the structure, so they provide us with parkas - much needed parkas! 

 Every single thing is this picture is made of ice (and 3 minutes in - we all felt like ice blocks!) 

 The had a replica of the front of the Queen Mary - steps up to the top, slide down! 

 Katie loved it.....

 Becky...not so much

 My soldiers!

 Katie had a little trouble with the "no touching (and no licking!) the ice " rule, so we ultimately zipped her arms right into the parka - problem solved! 

The detail and intricacy was amazing

No real winter experience would be complete without some ice skating. Mind you, by the time we finished with the Ice Kingdom, it was 11:30 - and 72 degrees out! We didn't skate long - but they made the most of it! 

 The southern Cal twist on apres snow play hot chocolate in front of the warm fire...gelato! 

 Momma elf with her baby elves! 

While not the "typical" winter wonderland experience, it did just fine for us! 

I am finding that many things "not typical" do just fine for for us! 

Merry Christmas

A baby came to save who came in the most humble way. 

It seems to me that this should be something we celebrate every single day - and not with tinsel and reindeer and cookies but with acts of kindness and compassion and grace and mercy. 

However, celebrate we do so from our family to yours - 

Merry Christmas! 

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

A Pictorial (mostly) essay.....

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 stepped waaaay outside my comfort zone and went to a cookie party - and had a ton of fun! 

 what are the holiday's without a half marathon with some friends!?

 besties.....

The people are the reason for the season - and some of the fun things we do with them! 

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

And the school and church holiday programs begin! 

The eastside Christian one is always an awesome night of celebrating the birth of Jesus. It was especially awesome this year as Cami had a one line speaking part!  

(these photos are a reason I am coveting a really good zoom lens....but the girls have their blue dresses on!) 

 Katie's class presented "Pies and Poems"  - where they did a collaborative poem reading about the holidays in December

Katie also participated in our church's Christmas disability nativty program. Each year, the adult disability ministry performs the story of the nativity - and they included the little kids. This year, they played to a packed sanctuary - almost 1000 people. It was amazing to see the outpouring of love & support for this ministry by the people in our church. 

One of the other things our church does is have the 9th & 10th graders serve in the children's disability classroom on SUnday mornings as one-one buddies. We have been so blessed by Katie's buddy, Connor, this year. He has such a sweet heart for all the kids - and Katie just adores him. 

Her personal fan club was there - Miss Fonseca and Miss Stephanie from school 

..and her therapist Natalie - who is more a member of the family than a paid therapist. 

Cami's class also presented the nativity story in the last chapel before break - she was a star...in more ways than one! 

looks like Christmas, sounds like CHristmas...next up - feels like Christmas!