Just when I thought I had covered our trip to CA I realized I hadn't tapped into our digital camera/video recorder. The shots I have shared so far have been from our phones. Steve and I were viewing these new pictures and clips tonight and were almost in tears from laughing so hard. I was able to download and edit one but there are others I will share later.

In this clip we drove to the Dana Point Harbor to watch boats, all lit up with Christmas lights and people (all lit up) dancing on the boats and touring through the harbor. It was pouring but

we were able to watch from the car.

This is a clip taken during lunch at the Coyote Cafe in Old Town San Diego....

Here is a shot from our hotel room. Initially we flew into San Diego and stayed on the naval base on Coronado Island for a few days. We went to the San Diego Zoo, which Ava loved. We also toured Old Town San Diego which was great.

We then traveled up to Dana Point for Steve's conference. Due to the weather we weren't able to truly take advantage of the trails and beach. Instead we went to the library and hit a few Marshall's. I was even able to locate a deluxe indoor playground which I drove to in a torrential downpour. Ava loved it and it tucked her out so I could go to said Marshall's and enjoy an hour or two of discount bliss.

One day we visited my friend Kathy who lives in San Diego. We drove back down north, ate at Old Town again and visited with Kathy. It was so worth the drive. We had a great visit with her!

Here is a shot of Ava in the hotel lobby. The artist made the sculpture out of water and sand only. It was amazing. He had created one in NY and was off to Rome for his next work. This was a BIG hit with Ava.

Ava and I stopped in Old Town San Diego for lunch before our visit with Kathy. We ate at the Coyote Cafe. Two gentlemen even serenaded us while we dined alfresco. Ava, God bless her listened intently with black beans ALL OVER her face :)

After lunch she got ice cream. She kept asking "Dar-Buddy?" "Ice cream, Dar-Buddy?", "Sometimes, Butters hurt Ava"

Translation? Ava will forever associate ice cream with her buddy Darlene from The Golden Guernsey in Oneonta. Butters is a cat that frequents the grounds of the Guernsey and let Ava know he didn't like her paws baby-handling him. She recites these lines all the time!

As we were leaving the restaurant the hostess noticed Ava and began playing with her. She moved some items near her station so Ava could check out the fountain.

Ava became a fan of the Dana Point Public library. She especially liked the tiger and teddy bear. When I suggested we return there the next day she was all for it. Sure enough she took the same seat and gathered the same animals for company.

Wordless Wednesday

Dancing Queen

We have returned from our trip to San Diego and Dana Point. We had a lovely time but we were a bit disappointed with the weather. It rained cats and dogs all but two of the days we were there (one of those two days was the day we left!). I was able to bring Ava to the beach the morning of the day of our departure while Steve attended his last meeting with Lutheran Medical Center. While at the beach Ava and I walked barefoot and played in the sand. It was SO BEAUTIFUL! It was so hard to not imagine all we could have done had the sun been out. Oh well. It was still a fun trip.

I do have some funny stories and great photos but it is late and sleep is calling. I couldn't resist posting this video clip though. We stayed at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel and while there we were treated to Christmas Carolers dressed up in Charles Dickens-type outfits. They were singing a capella and they were very good! We wanted Ava to experience the singing and boy did she!

By the way, I'd like to send a shout out to the one and only Grandma Witthohn who I hear is up North and has been surfing the internet checking out the blogs. See you soon!

While Ava was eating her peanut butter and jelly sandwich today, she decided she wanted to discuss her visit with Santa yesterday and I was happy to oblige. She kept saying "remember Santa?" over and over again. I caught the tail end of it. It amazes me how enthralled she is with Santa and she doesn't even know about the presents part yet. By the way this is the first video clip that I recorded, downloaded to the computer and then EDITED it! Yahoo! I have been meaning to teach myself forever and it finally worked. In learning how to edit. I spared you all 3 additional minutes of me goading Ava to look at the camera and say cute things.

Ohh What a Sweet Baby!!

On Thursday we continued our Christmas-time celebrity photo circuit. This time we went to "Spoiled", a boutique that offers a free photograph with a great Santa if you bring in an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. The photographer took Ava's newborn photos. Its a win-win tradition we started last year and I love it. This year I opted to go early and let Ava "warm-up". We were the first ones in the boutique. We even arrived before the photographer and Santa which made us look like the eager beavers that we are NOT! I had to explain that we were there to ease Ava into it, not to be the first ones in line.

To kill some time we went to the sister boutique next door. Ava was having fun hiding behind a display when I saw Santa walk in looking for the photographer. As he chatted with the clerk, I got Ava's attention. She came out from behind the display and....ahhhh.....I wish I could have captured the look on her face as she saw Santa in real life for the first time. It was pure magic. She stood there in awe as he continued to talk. When he was finished he left the shop we were in to go next door. To my surprise Ava began to follow him out. I fumbled with my camera trying to get the shot and managed to get something. Ava and I headed over to the boutique next door and the scene was a bit more "lively" as many more children and parents had arrived. I let Ava run around and watch the other kids sit on Santa's lap. I believe in her mind she had some unfinished business with the man in red and was very curious. Luckily the children that went before us were in good spirits so that helped set the tone a little more. When it was Ava's turn I put her down and told her "okay Ava, go see Santa". And just like that, this little Angel in front of me with her brown curls and little reindeer dress walked right up to Santa and let him pick her up. For a brief moment she looked a bit anxious but as he spoke to her she relaxed. Santa smoothed out her dress so her little reindeer showed and Ava began playing with his beard. We got some great shots and I can't wait to see them.

When the photographer was finished, I was about to call Ava to me but I paused when I saw her sitting so quietly on Santa's lap listening to him talk to her. When I did call her, Santa picked her up and placed her on her feet. As she walked away I told her to blow Santa a kiss and that she did. She blew Santa a sackful of kisses. Then she blew kisses to the photograher and then to all the kids and parents on line waiting for their turn. I could have stood there and watched it forever. I was so proud of her!! The whole experience was pure sweetness.

Wordless Wednesday

I subscribe to a cooking blog and every Wednesday the writer submits a "Wordless Wednesday" photograph. It is usually of a cookie or muffin or something. I love the idea but in my case it will most likely be of Ava eating a cookie or muffin. In this shot taken yesterday, Ava is eating a frosted cookie while we shopped at the military base's grocery store.

Our visit with Star

So we suited up and headed to downtown Anchorage to see Santa and Star the reindeer. Steve wasn't able to join as he got a stomach bug. I got it a few days ago and still can't eat anything too intense. Word on the street is that Anchorage got a shipment of bad turkeys :)

If one ever finds themselves driving around Anchorage looking for a parking space, in a pickup truck no less, I say GOODLUCK. As we made numerous laps, Ava repeatedly saw all the fake stuffed bears out on the sidewalks meant to lure people into the souvenir shops. It wouldn't really be noteworthy except that she is in that repeating phase where she mercilessly says the same phrase over and over again without taking a breath or even stop to hear me respond. Ackkkk!

We finally found a spot and were off. We got to Ray's Camera Shop (the folks hosting the meet and greet) and see 4 hay bales out front but no santa or reindeer. I entered the store already wondering what was up. I greeted the two women at the counter and informed them why we were there. They looked at each other and one of the girls said "oh, yeah, well, the reindeer got tired and Santa's out back and out of uniform". Now I am the first to admit that timely is not a word that describes me but the flier said 12-4 and we were there at 2. I stood there holding Ava with my jaw open and not really sure what my options were. I felt like Clark Griswold at Wally World when he found out they were closed for repairs. Given our locale, chances were good that if I looked around the camera store I could have found a fake moose's nose to punch. Anyways the owner of the shop said that the reindeer was walking back to his house a number of blocks away but since they just left he would call them. I urged them not to as I didn't want to be responsible for further tiring a reindeer. Besides, who knew how Ava would even respond to it. As luck would have it they weren't too far and agreed to turn around. . Then the owner looked at his assistant and asked about Santa. I jumped in and said "thanks but not necessary. We can see Santa some other day". So a few minutes later Star, the tired reindeer came back, walking down 4th Avenue. At this point about 5 or 6 people from the store had gathered to see the look of wonder and amazement on little Ava's face when she saw the reindeer. I felt the mother of all anti-climax's coming on. I prompted Ava (who was playing in a mud puddle) to look. She did and cried out "moose!" which was cute. But as the reindeer approach she headed straight to the back of my leg saying "Mommy". I thanked the handler repeatedly and he kindly indicated it was no problem. He sat down on a hay bale with Star beside him. I sat down on a haybale with Ava on top of me with her back to the reindeer. We goaded, and prompted but no dice. She was not going to warm up to Santa's little helper. The handler even gave her a frosted mini-wheat to feed him which she kind-of, sort-of but not really got in his mouth so I tried to feed him but he spit it out. Twice. He was probably thinking "you're the pain in the ass that dragged me back here. It's going to take more than a frosted mini-wheat lady". A few pictures were taken while Ava climbed ever higher in my arms and people stood around and watched. They printed the pictures out and we were on our way. Funny thing, the whole drive back and every day since our encounter Ava has said "pet...reindeer...nose" and "feed....him" and to her the trip was a complete success.