Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas in the park

Downtown San Jose has a park that they make into a Christmas extravaganza, they have tons of displays, bands and musical groups, a giant Christmas tree, an ice skating rink, and some kid rides. It was a little disappointing this year, mainly because Riley ONLY wanted to ride the carousal and didn't care about anything else...bummer, she loved it last year. She politely walked through with us, and we managed to snap a few pictures. I love going here, so as long as we live in San Jose it will be a Beall family tradition! (that means you have to actually enjoy it next year,Riley)


I had a "Mom" moment on the carousel, Riley was just loving it so much, throwing her head back, laughing and giggling, it felt like slow motion just watching her enjoy herself so much, I didn't want it to end! The whole night was worth this tiny moment with my sweet 2 year old Riley

Christmas Dresses

Riley and Chloe's first matching dresses, I thought my girls looked beautiful today!

Riley's second home for the winter

I love mall play areas in the winter. Especially because there is a Target and a post office in our mall. I can run errands and burn some toddler energy at the same time.

Big Girl

She finally meets him

She was really shy

The kids are waiting, waiting... I love Talia's hand on Riley- you know, keeping her in line.

A few boring Mom moments

You don't need to keep reading, if you don't want to hear some cute simple stories about my girls. I just have to document these cute moments now, or else I'll never remember them.

( Dad's hat)

* Riley named her baby "Baby Jesus" yep she'll be bearing her testimony next month too.

* Chloe learned how to drink the bath water, yuck
* Riley knows that when Jesus was born there was a new star in the sky, and that Jesus's Mom's name was Mary, and that his Dad's name is Mike :)

*Chloe has figured out entertainment via the Tupperware cupboard in the kitchen

* Tonight, Riley and I had an interesting little conversation:

" Mom, I'm mad at you"

" Why Riley?"
" Because I'm mean"

" No you're not, you're a nice girl"

" Oh, OK"

* Riley's new favorite song is now Happy Birthday, and probably 10 times a day she brings me something wrapped in paper, saran wrap, blankets, or anything she can find. Then, she sings me Happy Birthday, and asks me to do it back to her. Its funny, because she gets excited every time I give the present back, she'll say "what is it? oooh I like it!"

* I got a lamo x-mas plate from the $1 store, Riley insisted on eating on it, later that evening, I ask her to go get a diaper from her room and she comes back with 2 bows and says, "Mom, I want these in my hair!" - such a Fancy Nancy (we just discovered these books and of course she loves them)

* This year Riley has some sort of concept of who Santa Claus is and what his purpose is. She asks EVERYDAY to go see Santa Claus. I just tell her he lives too far away. We wrote this letter together, these are 3 things she wanted from Santa, if she only knew how much more is out there!

* Both Riley and Chloe have become partners in crime too. Riley drags Chloe everywhere and gets her into everything that she's into. They seriously adore each other... I hope that lasts forever.

I can't get enough of these girls!

The Oakland Temple

We love this temple.

We were lucky to meet my sister Traci and her kids, Conner and Camryn at the temple lights and to go through the visitors center. Definitely felt the spirit, loved the sister missionaries, loved some of the new exhibits they have. Anyone living close should make their way up their - it was beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, and so peaceful.

We took the train!

On Friday, I finally did what Riley has been wanting to do for so long. We went on a "train ride" (its really just the light rail) but for my sweet little 2 yr old, we'll say train. We have a membership to the discovery museum, and I've been too nervous to take her since I lost her there :( - you remember the story??

Anyways, I bucked up and decided to pay less money then parking downtown, and we took the light rail. For the short duration of the ride, we had fun. Riley sat very nicely, just looking out the windows, and was able to make it quickly on and off , and managed not to get herself caught in the automatic doors -which was my worst thought going into this.
It was a great weather day, and it worked out perfectly.


Riley's waiting for the train



Chloes's waiting for the train

Mom's waiting for the train, so I take a pic of the San Jose Skyline, its little hazy, but there are really pretty hills in the background. The hills around are my favorite part of the Bay Area.

Finally, on the train! Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Caught!!!

At least she doesn't eat it.....she sweetly hands it to me.