Hiking and Sledding and the Rest of December 2020

 December 26, 2020 we hiked to Tooth Rock in Poway. It was a bit sunny and hot for our taste, but the view at the top by the super-graffitied rock was nice. 

I was a little nervous about the girls' scrambling around Tooth Rock because a fall could have been dangerous, but these girls - can't stop, won't stop.

Based on this cuddling pic of Ever and Jim, it appears another Christmas movie was watched that night. 

Tiny and I finished The Trumpet of the Swan together. She enjoyed it. I love her and classic literature. 

Sunday we played Ladder Toss, a new game from Coco.

Tiny colored in her new Christmas activity book (from Tutu, I believe).

On December 29, 2020, while Jim was at work, Cikaneks were kind enough to let the girls and me tag along on a sledding trip to Palomar Mountain. We weren't there too long. The kids burned out pretty quickly. I think Noah started having a meltdown, and Scott had to take him to the car. The girls were over it by then, too, though. 

Our sledding path wasn't the longest or most exciting, but it was fun to get out. The day was beautiful.  

Lots of Ticket to Ride evenings. 

Sometimes Tiny would help replenish the card bank, but this time she just passed out on the couch while we played.

Pre-Christmas and Christmas 2020

Christmastime festivities included a puzzle.

I found a bunch of pictures of the elves on my phone, taken by Wren Bear. 

Also this video, which I'll keep because Little Bear, even though she's really hard to hear over Ever's piano playing. 

Tiny dictated a note detailing her desires for Christmas.

The girls sold golf balls down at the course.

While Daddy and Tiny napped on the couch, Berry set up next to them with the Christmas carol book and sang.  

Ever and Leela performed the dance they were learning in hip hop class.

The children (and Jim) watched many Christmas movies. This was Arthur Christmas, enjoyed on Christmas Eve.

We did the traditional The Happy Prince and Bible reading, and the girls each picked a present to open.

Christmas morning.

Ever's big present was a Harry Potter Lego set.

Jim promptly helped her get started on it.

Berry worked on a Lego project of her own. By 9:30 A.M. the next day, she had finished it. She did an incredible job. No help.

The girls got a microscope. Jim showed them some things on Christmas Day. It has not really been used since. 

Tiny enjoyed some backyard time. 

We took a kite and some golf clubs down to the course on Christmas afternoon. It was a beautiful day.

Tiny's technique is unparalleled.

It was a mellow COVID Christmas. Mamo and Papo didn't travel, so no visitors for us.