my most treasured gift

everything tastes better in my new mug from Maya.

weekend in oxnard part 2

 Maya and grampa worked hard  building and decorating this gingerbread train

 here is the final outcome, pretty awesome!

 We went on their 8 passenger Duffy boat at night for the annual holiday boat parade.  Super fun, especially with glowing toys.

This was the float my dad and his team worked on.  It took second place-only  because one of the elves fell off into the water before the parade.

weekend in oxnard

 Maya's first meeting with Santa.

 It was just gorgeous every day! Maya was so happy to spend so much time on the sand.

 The wind picked up enough to fly a kite with uncle Dan.

This may have been Maya's first experience with snow.


Maya and I went to see nana and grampa's beach house for the first time last weekend.  Uncle Dan came too.  We had a great time and were so busy,  these are the highlights.

YWCA winter program

The winter program was awesome! We got to play at school in the dark! Maya was ready with her head to toe pink, including her head lamp.  She was riding bikes and walking the tightrope.  The rest of the time she was "cooking" in the outdoor kitchen.

the little chef

Maya is not a chocolate fan at all.  But I think all that may have changed since she licked the whisk clean of the chocolate frosting she made for her chocolate cakes for her school's winter program last week.  After baking these cakes, I am done with all of my teacher support hours for the year! WOO HOO!

3 year anniversary

December 9 was Luka's 3 year anniversary if coming to the US.  Maya and I got him a bunch of balloons and an ice cream treat to celebrate his big day.
And right at this minute he is in Serbia with his mom! Great news.  He took his last final yesterday and flew out last night.  He has waited so long for this moment, Im so happy for him.  He will be there for 3 cold weeks.

Sunday brunch

Sunday my favorite nor cal family stopped in for a quick brunch on their way back home after spending the weekend in so cal.  It has been a year since we all saw eachother.  Maya had a very hard time sharing sadly, but you would never know by these pictures! Maybe Leo's sweet face is a giveaway?
Maya helped me make waffles, and I also made my first vegan quiche which was delish.

Mia's pirate party

Maya's BFF Mia had her 4th birthday party last weekend, and it was awesome!  Mia didnt want to play  with Maya as usual, so Maya found Nelly and became fast mermaid face friends.

he he he!

School Menorah

I know its a bit late, but check this. The morning kids made this sweet menorah for hanukkah.  I think its baby food jars and found objects like pine cones etc.

Toy Drive

I am trying to get Maya in the spirit of giving, not just the spirit of "can you buy me this?" this holiday season.
Its hard for her because she gets a massive amount of gifts in December, for the holidays and her birthday, and nothing all year. So she equates this time of year with being all about her.
I had her pick out a toy to give a boy from Luka=mickey mouse talking book, and a toy for a girl from her=princess beauty box.  These will go to the Childrens Hospital LA.

Ho Ho Ho

Maya is so interested in all of the holidays, and she has convinced me to decorate for Christmas, so here it is!
I actually like it more than our hanukkah decorations from November!

the little artist

I was at the mechanic the other day, and Maya stayed home with Pedja.  She cried a bit and was missing me, so she painted this beautiful portrait of me.  The hook on the bottom is my chin (i mistook it for my tongue), My lashes look like ive  been using some latisse (i wish!), and the pink circle on my right cheek is a kiss from her.  That made me totally tear up.

Night

Luka just finished reading the haunting book about the Holocaust, "Night", and this was his art project he did.   Dont ask about the face.

Gentle Barn

Yesterday was a great day at the Gentle Barn with our friends Violet and Julian.  Maya got to hug a cow (sorry I couldnt get the cows head in the shot), feed a bunch of horses some carrots, and give a big a nice belly rub.  She also pet sheep, goats and a turkey.  The bonus picture is the sweet cow with a red bow on its head.  We all had a picnic and then the kids played for quite a while, then we headed home. Its 50 miles each way, but so worth it to see these animals that were abused or on their way to slaughter have such a peaceful loving home now.

The Gentle Barn

There's more than just animals at the gentle barn! There's Hello Kitty, a Butterfly and Spiderman too!

The Weitzman's

I had a great last minute Thanksgiving surprise, in that Randi and her family were in town, and we got to meet up with them for brunch on Friday. As she explained to Maya, we met in 10th grade when she transfered to Taft from Arizona and didnt know anyone.  I introduced myself, and we became instant friends. We have been best friends ever since.  She lives in Sacramento with her husband Dan, son Max, 7 and daughter Matilda, 3, and the last time we saw eachother was at my baby shower! It was great for us to be together, and finally meet eachothers daughters.  We met at Urth Cafe, and the baristas make GORGEOUS designs on your drinks.  So gorgeous that we both took pictures of them! They were cranes.  How someone can make a crane out of foam on top of tea, I will never know, but its beautiful.   The drink was a green tea latte Ive been hearing raves about, and we were not disappointed.  Randi went back and got a second one to go when we were done, it was that good!

First night of Hanukkah

Happy Thanksiving

Here was today's lunch menu: Crock pot Tofurky stuffed with stuffing, gravy, roasted brussel sprouts with apple cider reduction, chunky cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pudding with pecan crunchies.
It was awesome.  The tofurky and gravy i purchased, and made everything else so it wasnt too overwhelming and I didnt spend all day in the kitchen. I loved heating the tofurky in the crock pot.  Genius! And so easy! They included a recipe for a cranberry/onion baste to warm it up in, which was delish!  It was also nice having a big lunch instead of dinner this time, I think Im going to keep up that tradition.

Produce adventures

At the market the other day, Maya asked me what that spiky thing was.  I picked it up and said I wasnt sure.  She asked if we could take it home and "explore it" (thanks Dora).  I loved the idea, so we did.  Its called a horned melon.  Its orange and has sharp spikes on the outside.  When we cut into it, the seedy flesh was a gorgeous green.  The flavor is mild, like an apple or cucumber, but its not sweet or sour.  Its like nothing we have ever tasted.  It was quite interesting.  I was so proud of her curiosity and willingness to try something new.

LALALALLALAAAAA

Pedja decided he wanted to learn how to play guitar a few weeks ago, so he took one I had in the basement, and went up to the local guitar store to have them re-string it.  Turns out they have free lessons on Saturdays for beginners. He's been going, and actually is quite good after just a few weeks.  Maya decided she wants to play too.  She strums and makes up songs and sings. Its awesome.

Fashion Island

Every now and then we meet up with Auntie Bridgit and cousin Charlotte to hang out.  This time we met at gorgeous fashion island in Newport Beach.  They have a gigantic tree already set up (its not even thanksgiving yet!) and there were kids climbing all over these "gifts"

Play date with Lennan and Isla

I hadn't seen my friend Jade in over a year, so we made a plan for her to bring her girls Lennan (the ladybug) and Isla (in the dolly stroller) over to play with Maya.  It was kind of a disaster. Maya had the tantrum of all tantrums, and ended up in her room with Luka most of the time, while the girls played in the den.  It was crazy.  Im not sure what the heck was wrong, but she screamed and cried for a LONG time.  I know you cant tell from these cute pictures.

Surprise! Maya's sick again!

I ended up taking Maya back to the doctor yesterday.  Friday Pedja called me to come home asap as Maya wasnt feeling well and he thought had a fever.  He was right.  She was a mess, she was congested and her fever got up to 102. Saturday she had a low fever and was still congested. Sunday no fever but this cold was still hanging around. Monday her snot turned yellow which had never happened before, and Tuesday it was even darker yellow and very thick. I thought maybe she had a sinus infection, and wanted her ears checked again.  The dr. said it was a virus, and needed to run its course of up to 2 weeks.  Her ears, chest, and throat were all clear.  As long as those stayed that way and her fever didnt come back, we had to let it ride. Sigh.  Preschool is for the birds!!

Color me mine

I took Maya to the paint store to get some birthday gifts out of the way. She could stay there for hours.