Low Tide

Everything moves like the tide.
The moon shines down on us, lighting up the night sky, and disappearing during the day.
But it's there; pushing, pulling at us.
Leading, keeping everything on course, subtly pulling us along.

All week, there's been a very low tide in the evening. It's perfect for a late-in-the day walk on the beach, like after Zoe wakes up from her nap.

I come home with another jar of shells, and six sandy shoes left on the front porch.

Pretty Girl

Zoe in her Christmas dress, going to church with Nanna.

Standing on his own two feet

Nobody cry. It's just standing- barely. He's still our baby.

O Tanennbaum

Zoe helps the Nanu Nanus pick out and decorate the Christmas Tree. She had such a blast with one of my own favorite holiday traditions. Nene put up the lights, and Nana dragged out boxes of ornaments collected over a lifetime, and Zoe had the thrill of a new discovery hung hook by hook.
Her favorites were (of course) a glass Nemo fish, and Micky Mouse making snow angels- each hung at her eye level.
It was pretty special watching my own daughter hang the ornaments that I remember making, receiving, giving and hanging myself through the years.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Today, all the stars aligned, and Zoe and I went to Disneyland.
Mom watched Julian while studying for finals, and Kelly watched him while she took her tests. Meanwhile, Mommy took a 2 1/2 year old (without a nap) to the most overstimulating place on Earth.
She did pretty well, all considered. It was chilly, but there were almost no lines.
The fact that there were no lines got the best of me, especially when I saw a line-free Pirates of the Carribean. Bad idea. Poor Zoe is going to have pirate nightmares to the tune of "yo ho ho ho, a pirate's life for me...". She yelled, "no no no no no!" all the way through the ride.
But she LOVED Dumbo and the new Nemo Submarine adventure. She also loved the castle lit up at night, the character christmas parade, and rocketship ride that is still at the entrance to Tomorrowland. Number One on Zoe's list? I think it was a Small World afterall.

Tilden Winter Fantasy

Tilden Park is currently hosting a "Winter Fantasy" event at their victorian Carousel. The carousel turns to Christmas carols and Santa offers his lap to young ones for a photo op. There was a Santa's Village with lighted scenes of reindeer stables and a huge Christmas tree.