Christmas Tree Tradition

Since Magnus was 1, we've been going to Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol. Every year the farm adds a new attraction. Since we've been going there they've added a train ride, zip line, and swingset. This is on top of the other things that they normally have. It is a fun place to be and this year, they added functioning toilets! The kind you sit on and can flush! How nice is that! Yes, I do get excited about bathrooms...

A favorite of the kids! They get such a kick out of trying to get the animals to take the feed from them. There's a little moment of hesitation and fear, but once they get a bite, it's all "mommy, he ate it from me!"

If you happen to go during the weekend, you might be able to see Santa. I guess Santa doesn't work during the week?

As always, everyone wants to get a chance to cut the tree. Even the mama with a baby strapped on!

After they exhaust themselves from cutting the tree, playing in the dirt is a good killer of time while Daddy finishes the job.

Having your little brother pull you around on the wagon is pretty fun too. Even if you brother only weighs 20lbs!!!

Love this place! Although, John says that this is the last year that we will be going to get our tree from there. He thinks we spend too much money on the tree and it never looks as good as the $40 tree my sister gets from Costco. I don't know. We'll have to see what happens next year....

Academy of Science

In the fall, we got to go here for a Homeschool Day. The tickets were so much cheaper than going on a regular day. I suggest waiting to go until they offer this. As always, there's always so many things to see and do here. Some thing new we tried out during this trip was their cafe. Oh.My. It is delicious! Maybe we were hungry, not sure. Eat a snack or something before hand because it is expensive!

We got to see a reindeer. How cool is that?!?

And then there's "snow" Hypoallergenic and all! Didn't know snow came in this form, but whatever the kids liked it!

The Best Gift Ever

 I thought it was a good time for the kids to help out more. So I bought them a broom and dust pan for Christmas. They were not thrilled with it. They were actually offended by it, but I thought it was awesome. I guess I might've forgotten what it's like to be a kid. Sweeping is not so fun when there's other things that are! They did have a good time guessing. One of them thought it was a guitar! Hmm, I have phenomenal wrapping skill!

Somebody liked it though!

Thanksgiving Tree

This year, we started a new tradition for Thanksgiving. Each day, everyone is to write down one thing that they are thankful for. I was a little concern that Soph wouldn't understand the intent of this project, but she got right with it. It was such a cool thing to see their little minds working. Sometimes the thankfulness came to mind right away and sometimes it took until dinnertime until something would pop up. I loved it! This is surely something we will keep doing!

Another thing they also really enjoyed was hole punching the paper to attach to the tree. It's the little things that motivates, right?!?

 These were written by Magnus about his friends. I thought it was really sweet. Good friends are so good!

 This was an assortment from all of us. Some are silly and some are deep.

And this one is my favorite from Soph. Again, it's the little things, right?!?

Gingerbread Holiday Tradition

Every year, I embark on a mission to find the perfect Gingerbread Kit for the kids. Some are too small, some too big, and some that just doesn't have enough candy in them. There's always a moment where I throw my hands up and just get whatever because I haven't been able to find the "right" one. I don't know if there is really a perfect one for us... 

 This has turned out to be the best one so far. Lots of candy and lots of frosting.

 I helped with the piping of the frosting because those things could be tricky sometimes. But everything else was done by Magnus. It's good to have a growing Grandberg.

 This required a little more of mom's help. Piping is hard for a 4 year old and putting on dainty little dots requires a lot of patience. You know, as a mom of 3, I have uber amounts of it....

 And what do you do, after it sits for a few days and mom doesn't want it on the counter anymore? You shove the whole thing in your mouth!!! As you see here!

And here!

Jordan-Love Deeply

Back at the beginning of last school, our dear friend Jordan came into some horrible headaches. After many doctor appointments, prayers, and treatments it became clear that he had a brain tumor. But let's back up to some history on him.

 Jordan was born a little before John. Their moms were obviously pregnant at the same time, but they were also attending the same church. Basically these two had a relationship from the time they were little. They became the bestest of friends. They survived going through the rough adolescents stage, multiple friends and girlfriends and the discovery of God. 

After high school, John and I got married. Jordan was the best man. A few years later, Jordan started dating my good friend from high school. Soon after we had a baby and they got married. Since then our relationship has blossomed in all aspect. Most importantly, we.laugh.a.lot.

Many years later and many children later, there is a brain tumor. Needless to say, we were all devastated. 

One night before he started radiation, we got together with some friends, in cahoots(our inside joke) and put together a lovely date night for him and the wife. It's only fitting to have one last hurrah before life looks different.  

 On the menu for these two lovely people was their favorite-deviled eggs and pizza from Round Table. But not just any pizza, half pineapple cheese and half olives and mushrooms. I discovered this delicious drink Jordan is partaking from Trader Joes called Sparkling White Grape Juice. Hello-delicious!

 With a lot of candles, and empty condo, and yummy foods, a night of sweetness was to be had!

 These 2 pics are hilarious, but they are also so sad. True nature of the effect of a brain tumor. Holding your head because you have a headache. Which, I never asked if that helps???

And losing your balance therefore dropping your leftovers. I am so glad Ally decided to take a pic instead of crying. I know I would have.

So, many weeks of radiation, many different side effects, and many uncertainty, we have the news that this father, friend, brother, son, uncle, nephew, husband, cousin is well again. The surgery took the tumor away. The radiation radiated what it needed to. Life is still not the same, but I don't think any of us want it to be. Life is richer, love is deeper.

Chabot Space and Science Center

After we saw Nia off to her new home, we went across the bridge to Chabot. This was our first time being here and we were quite impress with their planetarium. It was so big and amazing looking compared to the one at SRJC. It was so big and so amazing looking that both Soph and Odin were scared of it. Odin lay faced down on his dad and Soph sat face down on my chest, wimpering the whole 45 mins of the show. But it was still awesome! Magnus, John and I loved it! 

 Little Soph feet compared to an astronauts.

 Nothing excites this boy quite like a video game. Here was a simulated landing that Magnus was perfecting. He spent about 20 mins on it until we told him it was time to move on.

 Oh look it here! Bill Nye! Loved this guy's TV show from when we were little.

 Awesome Odin in the carrier. For most of Odin's life, whenever there is a field trip, this was his mode of transportation. We're so thankful that he likes it!

 I forgot what this was, but Magnus was trying to pull up on some weights. He was so excited that he could lift it!

 That John and Bill Nye, becoming such close friends! They even have a secret handshake!

 They even pose alike!!!

 So close that Bill even knows how to play a Cambodian game of "Lok Lak"!

 Here we were outside looking at all the various telescopes. They had some nice guides in the different rooms. Odin's favorite part was going up and down the stairs and running around. I guess telescopes are not something a toddler is interested in.

Soph wanted to join Magnus in the wind tunnel, but was scared. So big brother holds her hands until it got to be too much and then she wanted out of that thing before it was over.

This was definitely was a good field trip. I would've loved to see more shows in the planetarium. Perhaps when the kids are a little older and can handle it.