Happy New Year!

 2013 HERE I COME!!!!!

....wait, what do you mean I can't stay up 'til midnight??

My First Christmas

Today is a very special day. You'll never guess what happened! A man came into the house last night and dropped off a TON of presents.  See the picture below....I am not lying!

Apparently, this event happens every December 25th. All you have to do is be on your best behavior and this strange man brings you gifts. Easy enough. I KNOW I was a good girl this year.


Penny helped me open my first gift....                                    

......and Dad helped me open my second present

 By the time I opened my third gift, I was an expert.  (If you need any pointers for next year, just ask me)

Every little girl's dream is to have a pony. And guess what? That dream came true for me today! I got not one, but TWO ponies!! Don't be jealous.


Luckily I practiced my horse riding at Disneyland, so this morning I hopped right on my hot pink pony and knew exactly what to do.  (Thanks, Tia Montse for a great gift!!)

Now, this pony is really cool too. It neighs, shakes its tail, moves its head and even sings songs. It's a very talented pony. But I'm still a little scared of how life-like it is. For right now, I think I'll just rock n' roll on my hot pink pony until I'm brave enough to jump on this guy.  (Thanks Grandma Karen!)

And here's a picture of me talking to "El Tio".  I was telling him what a good holiday log he's been. The way this Catalan tradition works is that every night you give him a little bit of food and water until he gets very, very full. You have to treat him very well, sing to him and generally make sure he is happy. Then, on Christmas day, you sing a special song to El Tio, while whacking him with a stick to make sure his bowels move and he gets all the poop-presents out! (Unfortunately, I won't be able to partake  this year because I will be spending the day at Dad's parents' house. But I've heard Mateo knows just how to whack him in the right spot so that he poops a lot of presents!)

Next thing I know, Mom and Dad buckled me up and drove me back to Orange County. I woke up to find myself getting smothered with hugs and kisses by some of my most favorite people:

Great Grandma Julie                                                                       



























Great Grandma Charlotte (she came all the way from North Carolina to see me!)

                                                                                              


      Wishing you a Merry Christmas! I hope yours was as wonderful as mine.

  

A Day at Disneyland...Part 2

So, as you can see from the last post, I spent yesterday at Disneyland....I was not scared of those weird people in costume with giant heads, I visited a castle and I also learned how to drive. I know, I am very mature for an 11 month old.


There was a lot more to my day than just castles, cars and meeting odd humans in costume.  I spend this wonderful day with some really great people: Tia Montse, Tio Tom, Uncle Brother, Tia Christine, and my new favorite cousin, Mateo. I'd love to share with you some highlights of my day:


First of all, did you know that I can go on most rides at Disneyland? Yup, it's true. (My parents were really excited to find out that fun fact).  Except, when I wanted to ride Gadget's Go Coaster they wouldn't let me on the ride. Boo.
How long do you think it will take me to grow this tall? - 35inches to be exact

One day I'll be as strong as Mateo....

Oh, and don't tell anyone, but...Tia Montse and Mateo got put in jail for part of the day. I don't know what crime they committed but, just for the record, I didn't do it. 

While Goofy was out saying hello to guests, Mateo and I snuck into his house to take a look around. I played a little sonata for Mateo.





























It was such a beautiful concerto that we both needed to relax on his giant chair. 
























Since Disneyland was decorated for the holidays, Mom and Dad couldn't resist taking me on my first ride, Small World. The entire attraction was decorated for Christmas and, I must admit, that I enjoyed the over-stimulation of the songs, lights, dancers and decorations.

 After that, we went on Pirates of the Caribbean. I was a little cranky but not because of the pirates or the 2 hills, I was just hungry. My lunch was so delicious that it sent me into a 3 hour sleep coma. During that time, Mom and Dad took turns going on some of their favorite rides. Mom- the haunted mansion, decorated like "Nightmare Before Christmas" and Dad - Splash Mountain.


When I awoke, we went horseback riding. I'm a natural, can't you tell?

.....And I figured out how to pull this sword out of the rock. (Apparently it has been stuck there for many years).


























 And before we went home, Mateo and I really wanted to go on Casey Jr.'s Train. We got in the Monkey Cage, while Dad, Uncle Brother and Tia Christine squeezed themselves into train cart.

....And then we met this friendly elephant named, Dumbo, who flew us home. Thanks for a fun day, Mom and Dad! Can't wait to go back and meet some more people in costume and hopefully I'll be tall enough to ride a roller coaster or two. 

A day at Disneyland

...and I thought daycare was the happiest place on earth