So our friend's Ryan and Rhonda and there Kids Teagan and Rowan had us over for a cool play date called "Wine and Whiners" This was our second time attending, there third time hosting.
Rhonda just had her new baby boy Rowan a few months ago, he is such a sweet little guy, it is amazing that they were hosting a play date already. We were happy though, as it was a blast.
The idea is that each family attending bring a bottle of wine and some cheese, other snacks optional. And then the grown-ups can enjoy some conversation and wine while our little Whiners play.
Sachi joined us which is great, her parent's both work so they are only ever able to attend weekend events, it's always great to see them, and here are Gabriel's parents.
He just woke up from a nap I love that picture with his hair sticking straight up. Gabriel is such a sweetie and we have been having lots of fun hanging out with him, sometimes he is very shy and hugs his mommy close, but other's he is so forthcoming and has a blast, it is fun to watch.
This is Sophia, we actually saw her unexpectedly three times in two days. This very morning we took Holly to Studio Grown and she was there with her Daddy. you will see those pictures another time.
Holly found the play kitchen and all the wonderful wooden play food. She personally doesn't have this food cutting set although I have given similar ones several times as gifts.
This used to be a Bento Box filled with "yummy" play sushi. Holly dumped it all out before setting it on the table to share with Gabriel. It would make a fun logic or shape game to put all the pieces back in. I have been thinking of getting Holly something like this, but she has so much play food now already.
Here is Sachi playing with one of Teagan's necklaces. Holly has a few like this and really likes them. Holly and Sachi are starting to warm up to each other as well. On this day they actually played together a little which is great.
Sachi is a little shy in new places and doesn't see us all too often, but we have seen her a few times lately so I thinks he recognized Holly and opened up to see the familiar face to play with.
Here is our Host Teagan. She wanted to hang out in her room and play for a while while everyone arrived, it was a little chaotic, but after not too long she was ready to venture out and check out the crowd who were all excited to see and play with her.
I love this toy. Its like therapy in a game. this is exactly the activity they gave Holly to do on the Mullins (well not really exactly - they gave her a small real one) but the concept was the same.
Putting the coins in the slot and then being able to figure out that you need to turn and rotate the coin when the piggy is in a new or different direction. This piggy had a few coins that you could retrieve from a side door.
She did great. She didn't quite get the turning completely, but with a little bit of practice she was figuring it out, but she got bored and wanted to see what other's were doing before she really mastered it.
I wish I took a picture of our spread. The food was amazing, Salami, Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, and of course wine. Just before the party ended the girls ended up in Teagan's room Dancing up a blast, But you have already seen the video of that in my recent Dancey Dance post.
She did great. She didn't quite get the turning completely, but with a little bit of practice she was figuring it out, but she got bored and wanted to see what other's were doing before she really mastered it.I wish I took a picture of our spread. The food was amazing, Salami, Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, and of course wine. Just before the party ended the girls ended up in Teagan's room Dancing up a blast, But you have already seen the video of that in my recent Dancey Dance post. 
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving days here in Sunny and cool California. We started the day with some decorations, we strung up these leaves on baking twine, found in the neighborhood when we went for a walk.
Here is Holly playing before the big meal. She had just woken up from her nap and was hungry but luckily she waited patiently and played in her Animal Clubhouse.
It was great to have her sitting at the table right next to me, and there was so much really yummy food for her to try and us to eat.
Green Beans, Stuffing (with these amazing orange crazions) a baked onion dish, cranberry chutney (with pears - so yummy) Yams, Mashed potatoes, green Salad, and a Yummy Walnut Cranberry bread. of course there was turkey too!
Holly tried a little bit of everything, but she was a pretty picky eater and decided today that she didn't like turkey. The food was so bright and colorful, she really liked that part of it all.
Oh yes and I can not forget the corn on the cob, one of my favorites, Holly grabbed this Peirce right out of my hand and soon chomped it all down. The turkey was delicious.
I convinced Joel to brine it (soak in a salt water solution) it was in there for about 14 hours, typically it is an hour a pined and it was a 18 ponder, but any amount of brine helps so less was fine.
Holly liked the bread also she ate several bits of that but then would gt made if she ran into a cranberry bite. See that bruise on her hear? That is from her new favorite skill. Couch Diving!
I'm actually not sure what to do with her, it reminds me of when she was around 10 months old, just before baby proofing, what a nightmare it was no rest, chasing none stop. Only this time, I can't just baby proof and be done with it.
I can;t even go to the bathroom now, for fear she will climb onto the couch and fall or the entertainment center while I am in there, so I have to bring her with me, she is tall enough to open the door even.
So I have to lock it while I go. After our amazing dinner we decided to whip out Rock band Beatles and play with the family, It was a lot of fun and of course Holly had to be in on the action.
Here you can see how she tries to get up and down, at least with these ottomans she is able to see a defined edge so I worry about her galling much less. Yet even here she will punch her luck and stand right up, which makes Mama nervous.
My how things change, so fast you don't even realize it. But looking back at pictures from last Thanksgiving it's amazing. Lucian came by to see us with his family and he wasn't sitting up yet. For that Matter, Holly wasn't walking, barely cruising, just crawling around.
She didn't have her high chair yet, and we just started puree's with her, none of which she really liked, so she hardly even got to try our Thanksgiving Dinner. She was still using her Bouncer and Swing, and look at that Spread, now we have to keep everything 8 inches into the center of the table, Less she might grab it.
Daddy had long long hair, and Holly's was so short. She looks like herself, but cute round and pudgy, a baby face still, now she is a full blow trouble making gremlin of a toddler, but we love her to bits and can;t wait for her to actually eat her own Thanksgiving Dinner this year.
Holly is running around with the Big Girls, Teagan and Sophia. They were dancing and playing and have a great time. bored with the grown-up party in the living room, the girls decided to get the party started on there own.
Here is a video of the three of them Dancing, they were having so much fun, it was too bad the night was coming to an end and it was almost time to go. Upcoming Post with all the pictures and details about this fun mommy, Daddy and Holly Playdate to come. But for now, here is the video: 
I love how Holly turns everything into a little hat. This is one of her favorite Purses. She got it as a gift from her Great Great Granny Irene. She loves her little Holly bag.
She wanted to bring it with her to Music class, but I convinced her to leave it at home, I didn't want to risk loosing it.
She looks like such a little gymnast in her "leotard" and tights. I am planning on signing her up for gymnastics class sometime at the start of the new year.
I think we will continue with Music class also, she really enjoys it. Especially since her Best buddy is in class with her and the cost is so reasonable.
Here is Satine, one of our friends from Play Group. Her and her Mommy came with us to Music class to check it out and see if she was interested in signing up.
Here are our Friends Emily and Brandan, we are missing them. They have left for the Holidays to go and see Brandan's grandparents in Singapore.
I love this little face Holly is making, so mischievous. She loves running around the room and greeting everyone in class, saying hello to all her friends.
Here is ivy. She is one of the older kids in the class. It is fun watching her interact and follow along with the songs and sing, she has such a higher level of sophistication.
Here is Holly stalking the Guitar. William is a big fan of it too. For a few days he didn't want to let his mom play it either, so now he has a snack when she plays.
Here is our friend Alex. It has been really fun seeing him week by week in Music class. We used to see him all the time in swimming, so we have known him since he was such a little guy.
Its neat seeing all of the kids grow up together each week. All at different stages, a few just learning to walk, others now starting to jump and climb like Holly.
Its neat that they all get to know each other too. Here is Mira making friends and giving a kiss and hug. Mira is one of the most affectionate little girls I know.
Holly on the other hand is one of the most smiley little ones I know. She is always so happy, but especially when she has the freedom to run and play at her hearts content.
I think Satine really enjoyed joining us for the afternoon, but it turns out that she is now in a french speaking day care two days a week and one of those days is Tuesday so we sadly aren't seeing that much of her any more.
This is one of my favorite outfits that Holly has. I think she is starting to out grow it though and is getting too tall for me to be able to still snap it shut. I think in about a month it won't fit at all.
Here is miss Chloe smiling away. She is such a sweetie, also always smiling and happy, she is a curious baby who like Holly wants to explore everything.
Here is Holly with her Tanta Kat and they are dancing around music class. Its hard to remember which song they were dancing too, it may have been the hoppity song, or even just ring around the rosie.
It is nice to have Kat with us to be able to toss her around, we sometimes sing "the grand old duke a york" in class, a variation of the song we know and love from swimming.
Its great seeing Holly playing with her tongue, it needs all the stretching and exercising it can get so she can start to form words. She does this thing where she twists it around.
The shakers are a favorite, but she has these at home so she might bring one to me and then run off to find something new to pick up and explore.
Here is Chloe playing with one of the drums, and Holly and Adrian in the background negotiating on who will get to play with the blue drum next.
This is a really fun rattle toy, you can rub something across it to make sound or shake and bang it, every which way it goes there is something coming from it.
Now all three kids have a drum of there own to play with, but it seems to me that they like it better when they get to play the drum that someone else has.
Isn't that always the case, the grass is always greener and it starts when you can barely walk. its such a weird thing but seems like it is human nature.
At this age though, most of the time there wants and desires are fleeting and they can be easily appeased with a momentary distraction of something else to play with like this tambourine.
Holly was happy to grab a shaker, or a clicker, or a clanger, or some other means with which to make loud noises, and loud noises she made happily.
She had fun figuring out how to play this instrument. At first she thought it was meant to simply be banged against the floor, but then she discovered that with the stick rubbing across it is made new noises.
This is an overview of the room, it seems like Chaos when you just peek in, but in reality it is just the joy is many toddlers exploring and learning about music.
Finally Johnny got a turn at the drums, he had been patiently waiting like such a well behaved gentleman.
Here is Mira looking through the last of the instruments, the pile in the middle slowly begins to spread across the entire class as children take various items to there parents to play with.
Holly found Chloe's drum from earlier, and since she has one like this at home she wasn't to eager to play with it and instead brought it back to Chloe, how sweet is that.
Finally it is time to clean up and everything goes back into a bin, I am lucky that now only does Holly help with this part, she likes it. For now at least.
Some of the other kids are much less eager to put the toys away and do not want to give up there prized possessions, I mean really they fought hard in the battle to win them.
After that we played some songs on the Piano which Holly also really loves. She wants to help play the piano too, and now she is tall enough to reach the keys, so Kat kept hold of her so she wouldn't be disruptive.
And class ends with a little snack break. Holly is an expert at finding out when someone else is eating a snack, and she is always happy to have them "share" with her.
Here we are on our Monthlyish visit to SuperFranks. We went with our Alameda Mommies group, it was fun seeing them out and about in a different environment.
Here is Araliya and her Mommy Alex, and Melanie, Eliana's Mom. I love her little hair cut its like a "page boy" it is so adorable on her. I think it makes her look younger then she is though.
Here is Holly playing with the pop up toy. Its one of her favorites, but now that she has mastered it she doesn't play with it as often as she used to.
This is a cool little School Bus. Holly doesn't know what these are yet, and she will "never" be old enough to ride a school bus, as Joel says she will stay this age "forever"
Here are our friends Emily and her son Brandan, he is just about a month older then Holly. They were in Music class with us last session, but didn't sign up for Winter classes because they are traveling to Singapore for the holidays.
They actually already left and won;t be back until February, I suppose if I had to go that far to see my family, I would stay that long too. And here is Eliana with her Mommy.
Here is Holly playing with the Xylophone. It frustrates her a little bit that the "BamBams" are attached and she can't run around with them banging on everything.
So once she is done making music she moves on to her newest favorite thing to do. Climbing, onto everything in her path.
Here is little miss Chloe with some "BamBam's" of her own whacking them away on the drum. They are attached also, which mommy thinks is a nice feature so you don;t miss place them.
Here Holly has discovered a tower of Giant Lego's to know over and she is slowly trying to rebuild them, she just gets into everything.
My mom got this little blue's clues top from a friend of hers I think it is supposed to be a 3T shirt, but it fits Holly like a cute little dress and I think the color on it is great.
Speaking of great color, I think this is one of my favorite of Chloe's dresses. She looks really good in red, it matches her coloring. This dress is so "classic"
Here are the girls Bouncy Bouncing in the Jumper. The one at Super franks is really nice because it is relatively small and all the kids around are close in age to the girl so it doesn't get to wild in there.
Here is Holly attempting to make us a smooshy face through the netting. She has become quite the expert at navigating the rocky waters of the jumpy house.
This is a fun new thing, a cool See Saw. Holly has been on quiet a few of these as of late. I remember loving them when I was a little kid. It always reminds me though of the Brady Bunch episode when they are trying to make a world record.
And lastly here is Holly flying down the tub slide, she is getting to be quiet an expert at this too. Kat got some great shots of her going down.
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