~ new years eve (night) ~

Gone are the days of heading out for a nice dinner, having drinks and ringing in the New Year at 12:01am ... we can barely stay up to watch the ball at all! :)

But the girls had fun playing with their slide, dancing to Rihanna and keeping us smiling ~

To a healthy and happy 2012 ... cheers!

No worries ... Sloane was unfazed by the little trip / push (thanks Estella!)

Happy New Year ...

hug ... 

& kiss!

~ new years eve (day) ~

Today is Mom's last day with us so we decided to take her down to Pebble Beach / Carmel.  We love this part of Northern California ... the scenery is breathtaking, Pebble Beach is an experience & the town of Carmel is quaint and simply beautiful ~

The drive is only about an hour south and it was a perfect way to say good-bye to 2011!

Why they call it 'pebble beach' ... although these 'pebbles' are huge!

the girls loved watching the birds run in and out 

seals are atop the far off 'island'

squirrels at the beach ... and they get super close

Alex & Estella down at the beach

Lunch in Carmel 

Thanks for visiting, Mom ... hurry back!

~ the day after christmas = shopping ~

What else is there to do on the day after Christmas ... shopping, of course!  So off we went to the Stanford Shopping Center ~ we walked around, let the girls wander, ate yummy sandwiches and bought nothing (go figure!)

' Girls ... sit down so Mommy can take your picture '  

and here we go again ... 

Sloane's personality 'peeking' through :)

~ christmas morning 2011 ~

As expected, the girls didn't really know what to make of all the presents under the tree ~  they would open one and be so focused on the new toy they wouldn't want to open anything else.  (I'm sure this will change significantly in years to come)

Estella's big gift this year was a bike.  "Nowadays" these beginner bikes don't come with training wheels. They are simply low to the ground and the toddler / child learns to balance by 'scooting around on it'.  Soon after they can graduate to a normal bike and never know the difference.

I'm guessing this new invention will cause Alex to miss the quintessential 'running along side her, promising he won't let go but then doing just that to watch her ride off by herself' ... therefore, we'll just have to wait till she asks for her first BMW for that scenario to play out :)

Sloane's big gift this year was a little piano.  I wouldn't necessarily say she's following in Billy Joel's footsteps but she loves banging and banging and banging away :)

Other than that they got some puzzles and more of their beloved books.  They also got some more of their all time favorite things in the world ... more Toy Story paraphernalia (little stuffed dolls and a tent to play in)!

On a personal note - Alex surprised me with the iMac I'm typing on at this very moment.  Since having the kiddies we generally don't get each other anything for Christmas so this was a complete surprise.  A nice surprise though and exactly why I'm Mrs. Guido.

Merry Christmas all ~

Thanks Santa! 

Estella's new bike :)

Sloane is in love with Buzz Lightyear ~ 

Toy Story ... of course!

They love their new tent!

~ christmas eve ~

A wonderful, relaxing day at home ~ Mom cooked a delicious meal and the girls are happy as can be!

Sloane is obviously still too young and even though Estella knows what "Santa" looks like - we're pretty sure she has no idea that they'll be gifts tomorrow morning.

Is it also possible to get a sweet picture of the two of them --- perfectly lit by just the lights of the Christmas tree??

No.

Maybe next year :)

soothing light and calmness

' Sloane ... stand  next to the tree so Mommy can take your picture! '

' don't touch the lights, Sloane --- no lights! '

they say it's almost impossible to catch a person's personality in a picture .... 

mission accomplished!  This is Sloane Maggie Guido --- for sure! 

' what are you talking about?? i'm an angel. ' 

' now I'll pose with this christmas ornament ... '  

' stare lovingly into the lens ... piece of cake -- what was all the yelling for? ' 

now let's try it with both girls ... 

pretty good ...

but still no smiles :(

' Mommy ... Sloane is eating the lights! Stop it Sloane! ' 

' what is wrong with her, mommy??  seriously! ' 

Merry Christmas, everyone!