Silver Bells

The other day I was running around like CRAZY.  I had 5 minutes to run inside, change, grab a few things, and get back in the car.  Forgetting that I had turned on the Christmas station on the radio, I flew back into the car, turned it on, and "Silver Bells" was playing.  It made me laugh that I was running like crazy and that this slow and peaceful song came on; I couldn't even feel rushed now that I was listening to this calm music.  It made me realize how I really need to slow down sometimes and just enjoy my life.

And, speaking of life, we have had a lot of fun recently.  The holidays can be crazy, but I love this time of year anyway.  For thanksgiving, Juan's brother came to town and got to meet Maia for the first time. We had a blast going to the beach...

....and to San Francisco

...and just hanging around together

 After that my roommate Sarah came to visit us.  I felt bad because it POURED the entire time she was here and there wasn't a whole lot that we could go and do.  BUT... we did go to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium ...

Maia loved looking at the fish.

My absolute favorite was the Jellies display that they had...

...and then before we took her to the airport we stopped in San Francisco and did Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf (and a few other places)...

Such a little trooper.

Since then we have been working and waiting for Christmas to get here so that we can go to Texas and spend time with Juan's family.  In the meantime we went and cut down our own Christmas tree with my parents...

And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without getting a picture with Santa.  The girl who was taking the pictures was SHOCKED that Maia not only didn't cry, but that she was looking at the camera....she warned me before I handed Maia off to Santa that she would probably cry (like I haven't seen a MILLION crying baby Santa pictures before)....I'm guessing we will get that crying picture next year...haha.