I love the fourth of July! Most years that we've lived here in CA, we've gone to the Rose, White and Blue Parade - a local parade that's really close to where we live. It's so fun and I think I love it the most. When the army reserves come rolling through, I barely hang on from bursting into tears. My heart is so grateful to live in the USA. I love living here. I love the people, I love the diversity. I love the opportunity. I don't fully understand what a big deal it is to have lived in North America my entire life, because I haven't experienced any amount of my freedom being removed from me. Undoubtably I take it for granted to some degree. It's a white woman's luxury that feels a little uncomfortable to type, and yet I'm so grateful.

A trip to Half Moon Bay with Conor! Traffic is seriously so insane here these days. It can be painful to get to the beach. We were planning on going to Santa Cruz, but there was a couple accidents on the 17 and early Friday afternoon traffic... so change of plans! Half Moon Bay was cool and breezy and beautiful.

Conor and I have talked about visiting the Cable Car Museum for a while. We finally did after Christmas. It was such an interesting place - really cool! Not super fancy (it's free), but it's the hub of the cable cars so we could see the wheels and how everything works. We also drove down Lombard Street. It was really steep!

Whenever we stay at our home base for Christmas, I always miss family. However, I love that we don't have anywhere to be. I love that we can take our time and open gifts at whatever pace we choose and just savor the moment. It's easier to do when I'm not thinking about where we need to be next. That being said, this balance of staying home sometimes and going to Canada other times is working for me. I always am so excited to go up and I can't wait for our next Canadian Christmas. I look forward to both ways!

We took our sweet time on Christmas morning. I made Baked Oatmeal for breakfast and I can't wait to make it again - it was delicious! We played with toys as we opened them... facetimed with family, ate lots of treats (that's all Greta ate!) and just hung out. I'm not sure that there was anything that stood out all too much from this Christmas, but it was a relaxing, easy day that we truly spent together. And that was a gift in and of itself.

Extra bonus, the girls liked the dolls I made them! Holly thanked me over and over again and has proudly shown the doll to everyone possible. And if she hasn't had her doll to show, she's told people all about it! Makes my heart swell.

Playing some blog catch-up this week....

Christmas Eve was wonderful! We went to Ranchos San Antonio in the morning and walked/hiked with friends. We actually made it all the way to Deer Hollow Farm and we loved looking at all the animals. We spent a good couple of hours outside and it was foggy, misty and beautiful.

One of our traditions is to make Swedish Gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve. When we're celebrating at our own home, we like to deliver them to a handful of other families who are also staying local. I love doing that!

And then home for dinner and Christmas books and Santa prep.