Our Growing Family: NYE in California

On Thursday Josh worked half a day then we loaded up the car to head to Dallas. We got to his parents, sat for a few minutes then headed to the airport. I read on the AA.com site they recommend getting there 3 hours before your flight due to extra security. Seriously, it took us 20 minutes to check luggage and get through security. Since we had TONS of extra time, we had an early dinner. Josh noticed our flight that was supposed to leave at 6:55 was now delayed until after 8. We finally left the ground a little after 8:30. My poor girl was soo tired and slept off and on during the flight. We landed at LAX and had to wait almost an hour for our luggage! We made it to my sisters, in Glendale, at 11:45, with just enough time to unload the car, say our hello's and grab a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year! Alex stayed up until 1:30 (yes, 3:30 Texas time!) and was up at 6am. We are used to the first night in a new place not going well, so we were expecting it. She slept with us and tossed and turned most of the night. We were on the go most of the time we were there so Alex was lucky if she got in an hour nap each day in the car. Considering she went to bed late every night, woke up by 6 every morning and hardly napped, she was great! We did notice on the last day that 2 new teeth broke through the skin while we were there and the other 2 are about to. (Alex now has 2 of her canine teeth!) The teething added a little extra fuss.

Friday we stayed at the house most of the day. We all woke up, relaxed, had a yummy brunch and opened presents. That afternoon Josh, Laith, Hudson, Izzy and I went to the mall to find all three kids coordinating outfits for pictures they were having made Saturday. Alex got to stay home with my parents and Jodi to rest.

Saturday afternoon we took the kids to a friends studio for pics. Alex napped about 20 minutes in the car and was not happy about pictures. I haven't seen them yet, but from what I saw, we may have a handful of good pics, but I think it's going to be slim pickings! After we got home, Alex got to nap for about 30 minutes then we went to Granville for dinner and walked around the Americana for a little while. We ended our night early so we could take Alex home so she could go to bed.

Sunday we all got ready and headed to Pasadena to do some shopping and have lunch. We passed by the Rose Parade route where all the bleachers were still set up. The whole set up looks much bigger on TV! We had a great dinner at the house. My sister and Laith are great in the kitchen so we had delicious food the entire time we were there!

My nephew got a kitten 2 weeks ago. He is a little black tuxedo cat named Houdini. He is the sweetest cutest cat I have ever seen. Alex LOVED him and he won Josh, a dog person, over. Every time Alex would see him she would laugh and yell kit or kitty at him. He ran from her so she would look for him, then he would come back to see her and let her chase him again. Sunday night he was on my lap and Alex was beside me. He slowly started reaching for her with his paws until he was pretty much in her lap. She just let him sit there. It was the cutest thing. One afternoon Josh was napping and Houdini was snuggled up next to him. I think Josh actually liked it! The Stafin house is now in negotiations for adding a kitten, but it's something we really want to think about and if we do, it wouldn't happen for several months.

Monday morning Alex started getting sick. She has a snotty nose and a cough. Last night she was running a temp. I think it's all due to the drastic weather changes, teething and lack of sleep the last several days. I'm keeping an eye on her and I have nothing planned this week so we can work on getting back on a sleeping schedule and so my sweetheart can get caught up on some sleep!

holiday brunch tradition, crackers with the paper crowns and toys in them!