Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

Tis the season for cookies...decorating Christmas Cookies at school.

This was our first time seeing the Christmas Lights at the LA Zoo. We met up with our friend, Krueger, who had been the very first year they had them. We all agreed that they were awesome! It was a very festive evening with visits to the reptile room and a spin or two on the carousel. There was even a churro and hot coco involved! We once again met up with Santa who was giving out blue candy canes and P told him she wanted a Hello Kitty gift. This time we met his reindeer! That was really cool. We saw some old ones and some babies. People have been talking up Descano Gardens light show but I have to say that the LA Zoo was very enjoyable! L.A.’s brightest holiday tradition shines more brilliantly than ever with “ZooLAbrate” their 50th year! Explore a dazzling wonderland of light with magical Golden Anniversary touches throughout. View real reindeer (including two babies!), visit with Santa on select dates, and enjoy seasonal treats and goodies, all under the stars at t...

The Batmobile has a new driver...watch out fellas she doesn't like to "let it go." #MissPAsElsa #ElsaHasANewRide  

After going to Arcadia for the holiday festival, we ended up in Pasadena for another festival where Miss P ended up bouncing to her heart's content in several bounce houses that the business of Pasadena had set up for this festival. Before we arrived we were starving with hunger but apparently, that hunger went away once she started bouncing. I literally had to rip her away to convince her to eat some lunch. While we were walking to lunch we spotted another Santa walking with a cane and that is when my four year old said to me, "Mom, I think he is a fake Santa. There are real Santas and fake Santa's and I think he is a fake one." I didn't say anything but internally said "Alrighty then." How my 4 year old knows about fake Santas is beyond me! Not wanting to spoil any kind of magic I said nothing. After dining on some Chipotle we returned to the bounce house heaven where she jumped and jumped until Mom got cold and said time to move on. Afterward...

Dad is working an extra shift again today so I took Miss P out for a day of fun. Our first stop was swim class and then it was off to Arcadia to the Artisan LA Holiday Fair. We have been to the fair in previous years but this year it was in a new location. We had fun shopping for homemade noodles, jerky and marshmallows. We also had fun getting P's face painted and having the balloon guy make her a giraffe. We even saw Santa again in front a nicely decorated fire truck (her third Santa visit of the season)!

After taking a little bit of break from swim lessons we headed back in full force last July. We were assigned a new teacher named, Julius, who has just done wonders with Miss P. Not that she was a bad swimmer before but he inspires something in her that i haven't seen with the previous instructors. Anyhow, she has really, really improved as a swimmer. She is just starting to learn the breast stroke and side breathing and even diving off the diving board and she is only 4 years old! It's been a really joy getting up the crack of dawn every Saturday morning to get to our early appointment with Julius because you know your kid is having so much fun and in return is only getting stronger in her skills.

My 95-year-old grandma has improved so much that she no longer needs extra care!!! This is after suffering two falls with fractures to her hip and having issues with her heart. She is really loving her new place and the access to other people it gives her. My mother just took this photo of her posing in front of a portrait she painted many years ago. It hung in her kitchen as long as I can remember and now it's in her new place. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the letters you sent her. She really enjoyed all the messages and is once again in the good spirits I've always known her to be in. THANK YOU!