Christmas 2015

We have been trying to get into the holiday spirit lately, and it has mostly been a success (note: 1.5 year olds are not really into mixing cookie dough, just throwing it into the ground and screaming if they can't pour it out on their own).  

But we made some gingerbread houses with Kelly and Io (and proceeded to eat the house immediately)

Grandma and Grandpa Rees are here to celebrate the holidays with us this year, which has been great. We took them to Zoo Lights first, which was cold but fun. Spencer looks hesitant on the train ride in the dark but he talked about it a lot after we got off.  

He really liked the manmade snow at the zoo in particular

We also wear classy gear like Star Wars Santa hats from the dollar store and Old Navy Santa pjs: 

Spencer also got into the Christmas caroling spirit:

And then, the big day. Overall, Spencer really liked every single one of his Christmas gifts (sleeping bag, fire truck, bubbles, train, drum, you name it!), so it was a successful Christmas in our house.

He really liked playing with his basketball hoop, drum, and firetruck immediately upon opening them, so much so that he often didn't even want to open the next gift

Always a few more...

From my phone.

Here is Spencer and his new obsessions: wearing my shoes (preferably high heels) and jumping (or very slightly getting some  air)

He is not limited to heels though, boots are also an obsession, since we had one day of rain but he insists on putting them on always:

Of course these boots too, which are basically his height:

He also loves the bus and demands going on it (sometimes several times daily), even though we drive to and from daycare and rarely go on it recently. This play bus at the Balboa Park was therefore a huge hit:

He also remains a very clean eater:

Which extends to having his first pumpkin pie:

Another love continues to be trucks, and he can now name several of them on their own. "Fire truck" is the most popular right now, and he even got a great hat from a coworker's kid's hand-me-downs:

And here is yet even more photo evidence that we are into Christmas way too early than is healthy:

Finally, here is another from the aquarium today - I wish I had more video of this kid and his talking. He favorite thing that made strangers laugh today was stating "I don't like it" emphatically when the fish or sharks in the tank swam too closely to him. He is also into "Go go" when we need to come with him somewhere, and pointing out "kit(ty) cats" at all costs.  I will work on videoing his lengthy conversations soon.

Epic long weekends

The start of the holiday season means that we actually brought out the real camera again and took some photos.  Here are a few keepers, starting with picking out our Christmas tree at a farm in Half Moon Bay (yes, it was actually cold, and no, we weren't prepared for the level of manual labor involved).  Having kids has apparently turned us into people who put up a tree as early in the season as possible.

We also decided to head down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and it was a hit, as expected!

Of course Chris wanted to stop by at Asilomar beach before driving back home:

October life

Here are some shots from early fall in SF.  Spencer never ceases to entertain!

Attempting to tide pool at Half Moon Bay (he just wanted to go underwater; they didn't want him to disturb the sea life; we had to leave early):

A visit from Aunt Katie and Uncle Nick!

Actually able to get in the ocean a few weeks later, and loving every minute of it:

Goldfish livin:

Pumpkin head:

Pumpkin patch with daycare!

Daycare Halloween party #1:

And party #2:

Actual trick or treating!  Good thing he doesn't really understand the whole candy concept yet:

And a beautiful hike near home:

And of course there are a few videos too.  Apparently he can really tell us about the potty (too bad this was a one-time occurrence so far)

He is easily excited in the backyard (aka dirt field):