Almost Christmas...

It's been quite a busy time for us here in Newport Beach. We've been running around preparing for Christmas, playing LOTS and dealing with some unexpected illnesses. Last Friday the kids and I enjoyed going back to the marine mammal centre with Laurie and her boys. We never get tired of watching the sea lions and the kids enjoyed seeing it again with their friends. Afterwards we hit the beach! It was a little impromptu visit to the ocean...the kids chased waves and birds, climbed the sand hills and explored every nook and cranny! Our highlight was seeing dolphins swim by right in front of us! The kids could have stayed forever! It was late when we got home and by bed time Katie had developed a high fever...and you know Katie, she refuses to take any medicine! So for the weekend I spent my time cuddling and nursing our little one until the fever broke Sunday morning. She is back to normal now...bouncing around and telling everyone what to do! While she was down, Bill and Maddy went to the Newport Beach Boat Parade...a long parade of yachts, canoes, kayaks and motorboats all decorated for the holidays. What a sight! Sunday we went back to the beach with Bill and Jeff along this time...it was a beautiful sunny day and we stayed for the sunset. We haven't had a lot of opportunities for both families to spend the day together so this was a treat! Later that night we had a knock on the door...Ali had won the candy guessing contest here at the resort and they were delivering his candy! Monday was spent finishing up the Christmas shopping, doing some baking and fixing the leak in the shower! Just when we thought we were finished Maddy informed me that it just wasn't Christmas without a tree to put the presents under....so off we went today to find a tree that we could easily fit into this motorhome...no easy feat!! Just when we thought it was not going to happen I met a lady who was having the top cut off of a tree so it would fit on the table in her house. I went with her and asked the garden centre staff if they had any tree tops they could sell me...they brought out a couple and told me I could have one for free. I am so thankful for their generosity.... Maddy picked one out and we brought it home...we'll get some pictures soon so you can see our special tree!