The Rabbit Died

Not exactly Immaculate Conception, nor a Christmas miracle, but let's just say God surprised us with an early Christmas present. Hard to believe we'll be the parents of 3 next June!!

PETA disclaimer: No rabbits were actually harmed in the confirmation of this pregnancy.

It Gets Even Better

I am one of those ridiculous people that breaks out the Christmas CD's the day after Thanksgiving. I began decorating my own room for Christmas around the age of 8. I yearned to go to Midnight Mass every year, convincing my parents to at least stay up and attend the 8:00 service as it seemed more romantic and I wanted to go to a candlelight service. I began sending my own Christmas cards before I was out of high school and I love playing Secret Santa and picking out fun little surprises for someone.

I'm a self-professed Christmas junkie (and our attic full of decorations proves it, much to my husband's chagrin).

And now that I have kids, the magic of the season and all it's activities is just multiplied times ten. Besides the fact that some days I look a bit strung out with all I'm hoping to accomplish, I'm just plain giddy inside that Christmas is coming...

"Constructing gingerbread houses" at preschool, which is a nice way of saying, "we gorged on candy and sent them home on a sugar high."

Livy joined me in deciding that picking out and decorating the tree is her favorite part of Christmas. We'll see if her answer changes after she sees the stash of presents on Christmas morning...

One thinks Santa is an evil man, the other was more than happy to sit on his lap and tell him about the bike horn and streamers she wants him to bring.

Liv's first holiday ballet performance and our little ballerina said she liked it and wants to perform on stage again. Wow! And doesn't she look so old??

The first of our Christmas crafts...we actually have 3 ways we're counting down the days 'till Christmas.

Nah, we're not excited or anything.

Thankful for Cousins

Girl babies abound in both of our families, so Livy is thrilled whenever she hears we are getting together with the cousins. The girl's cousins up North, Lexi and Brooke, are 7 and 4, while the cousins down South, Marin and Brooke are 4 and 3. Umm...we get together with the cousins and don't see the whites of Olivia's eyes until bedtime (when she's amped up on cousin adrenaline) and she's already asking if she'll get to see her cousins in the morning. Malia loves the attention she gets from the cousins, but doesn't yet grasp the nirvana of being born into this family of XX chromosomes.

Cousin pictures at Grammy's house

The temptation proved too great.

Upon arrival back in Ventura, we were back in cousin mode with the Southern cousins in town. Does life get any better?

Parade watching and candy gathering at the S.P. Christmas Parade

Is this not just incredibly sweet?

Upon returning to preschool last week, Liv was asked to add to her Book of Feelings, which gives the kids a prompt (I am excited when..., I am sad when...). Olivia's (completely unprompted) response that day:

"I am grateful for going to my cousin's house."

I Pity the Fool!

Halloween 2.0

Once upon a time on a clear and crisp Halloween eve, family and friends gathered at the Mowad house to mark a night of spooky fun, with dirt-y treats for kids and frost-brewed treats for the adults. I think many agreed that the sequel was just as good, if not better than the O.G., with the kids really getting into the trick-or-treating spirit this year.

The troops gathered to plan their strategy.

The posse arriving at the first house.

Livy's cousins, Marin and Brooke (ladybug and Tigger), and their cousins Kaylyn and Keira (geisha and butterfly), all in town for Uncle Matt's fantastic Navy promotion party the following day. (Commander Matt Mowad, woohoo!)

The Dad's made a nice showing (aren't Beauty and her Beast just amazing??)

And the Princess (along with the Bee, Beekeeper and Gypsy) lived happily ever after.

* Thanks to Tracy D. for some of these photos!