Christmas Day was a great day in, and out, of Casa Bejos. After a lazy morning of opening gifts we hit the road with the desert in our sights, hoping the fresh desert air would help us kick this nasty ick once and for all. 

This guy, who we were most concerned about, was a serious trooper. Three miles and he walked the whole way! It wasn't, however, always the most peaceful walk as we allowed this newly dubbed Dr. Bejos to wear his "emergency pager" that seemed to have a mind of its own, going off even while not being played with. I guess there could be worse things than having a doctor in the family. 

Merry Christmas 2013

Sending you love, wherever you may be this Christmas Day. 

xoxo

the bejos clan

outtakes

Christmas Tree Hunting 2013

A few years ago, with some friends, we started our own tradition of Christmas tree hunting. Our families have grown over the years and it just gets better and better.

 Over the years we tend to get large bushes trees that take up a lot of valuable square footage of our cozy little living room, so we were determined this year to not go too big. However I think we overcompensated and ended up with a rather sparse tree. It is tall and skinny, no doubt, and does fit perfectly into our living room, but it does resemble a certain Charlie Brown tree :)

We look forward to the day that we can send the kids off to hunt down the perfect tree while we adults sit back, relax and actually talk to one another for a change. Tailgating in the woods? Yes please! In the meantime we enjoy the process of schleping young ones.

the ocean

On the eve of Christmas eve, let's rewind time a bit and revisit the last major holiday, Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving in San Diego was a welcome reprieve from the cold temps that we were living in.

Even the morning that we packed up the car we were dressed in down layers just waiting until we got far enough away to slip into our sandals. Well I was waiting to slip into my sandals but Mr bejos forgot his sandals, a fact he wouldn't let go all. week. long.

It wasn't a quick trip, but the boys were both good travelers, stuck in the car for the long 8 hours it took. Upon arriving we went straight for the beach to appease bejos boy who started asking if he could see the ocean about 5 miles from home. The open space for running was a welcomed relief for all of us.

We embarked on the trip with loose plans that included Balboa Park, maybe an aquarium, obviously the beach, and little else. Disney and Sea World were not even on our radar. There was no way I was going to tackle those big adventures with these little kids. Turned out we needed nothing more than the beach and the ocean. Each day we ventured to a new ocean location, kicked off our shoes and played for hours. Sea lions (or beavers as bejos boy insisted), sea birds, seashells, coves...they were all the play things we needed.

Then of course there was the event for which we had made the journey, Thanksgiving. 15 of us got together for dinner and it was so nice to be together. We met a few new faces who are joining the family (congrats!) and visited with those we hadn't seen since maybe even our wedding waaaaaay back in 2008.

The trip home was a little less successful. Apparently we packed some ants in our pants because no one was happy and content in his carseat. Many more stops, a little more nitpicking, and an unplanned overnight in Phoenix to just get out of the car. We'll happily do it all again though, as the accommodations were fantastic, our welcome was warm, and the weather was fantastic. Lucky for us there is an August wedding in the plans that will get us on the road, back to the ocean.

And we're back

I owe you all quite a few posts, most significantly the stories and pics from Thanksgiving in San Diego... I know. One of these days it will happen, vacation is just around the corner.

In the meantime we have been home with two sick kiddos this week. The eldest bejos boy and mr bejos took a late night trip to the ER Tuesday night where the diagnosis of croup was bestowed upon him. Fun! And as any of you who have had the pleasure of dealing with croup know, peaceful nights are not in the cards. To top off the whole situation baby bejos started coughing, which has not yet, and hopefully won't, develop into  croup. He has however been diagnosed with an ear infection. Ugh.

The silver lining? Yes, there is a silver lining to this situation. Today, the last day of the week before winter break,was declared a snow day! I stayed home and mr bejos gets to make up a few hours from missed days of work this week.

 

AND, I got to wear my new snow boots that arrived yesterday, AND I got a workout in by shoveling all that snow this morning.

Things could be worse.

Here's to a healthy household!

8 months

Look at me being timely and what not with baby bejos' monthly shot. 

What's new? 

Mobility! He is not a typical crawler but he can work his way across the room before you know it. His current objects of affection are power cords and anything his big brother has in his hands. 

Forgive the cleavage...oh those delicious baby rolls :)

Mr. Bejos would call to attention the intense concentration that he takes, as evidenced by the tongue, a trait that is passed down through my side of the family (hello papa bejos!)

He cannot sit up on his own yet, tumbling over in a rather comical way. And while he was sleeping well during the night something happened over the course of the last week and he is up every two hours again. Ugh. I hope it's short lived for his sake and mine. I think it has something to do with teething as he has taken to sucking on his bottom lip and sticking out his tongue like a hungry frog. It's a good thing he is so darn cute.