Sydney had her first class at Shredder Ski in Boulder on Thursday, January 7th. Their website describes the parent-child class as an an opportunity to focus on balance, strength, and coordination, learn proper ski/snowboard stance, become comfortable with ski/snowboard gear,
and ski/snowboard down their smaller Yeti hill. Not only did Sydney ski down the small hill, she also skied down the BIG hill at her very first class, and she absolutely loved it! (She also snowboarded down the small hill, but she definitely prefers skiing.) Photos and a video of Sydney’s first time on skis:
We spent 8 nights in Tucson in late December/early January, and Sydney had a great time! She visited the zoo, the children’s museum, several different parks, a library, and a bookstore. She also enjoyed spending time with a few friends she met last year: Zoey (3.5 year-old daughter of Mom’s friend Erica), Mom’s friend Nancy and her golden retriever Alex, and Danica (Zoey’s awesome babysitter). Sydney also made a new friend this year: 3-year-old Lily. Photos from Tucson:
Sydney and Mom feeding the giraffe a carrot (12/28/15) at the Tucson Zoo
Riding the carousel at the Tucson zoo
How tall am I?
Playing the drums at the zoo
and the xylophone
First shower EVER! (12/29/15)
Scanning groceries at the Tucson Children’s Museum (12/30/15)
Using a debit card to pay
Sydney enjoyed chocolate frozen yogurt at a frozen yogurt shop mom used to frequent as a child!
Playing with new friend Lily at the park. Lily’s mom was very kind to share her nuts, so Sydney sat and ate nuts, while Lily made bubbles! (12/31/15)
Sunny afternoon at the park in Tucson (12/31/15)
New friends, Sydney and Lily!
Happy girl!
Watching the bubbles
Walking Nancy’s dog, Alex (12/31/15)
Or is Alex walking Sydndey?
Playing at the park with Zoey on New Years Day
They roared like lions
And giggled a lot!
Swimming with dad in our hotel’s shallow walk-in pool, which was PERFECT for Sydney
Playing with rings
Tucson scenery
Loving the mountains, the saguaros, and the weather!
In two days, we drove from San Diego to Tucson, spending a night (December 26th) in Yuma, AZ “the sunniest city on earth.” From San Diego, it was less than three hours to Yuma and Sydney actually fell asleep in the car (she hasn’t done that since she was an infant)! In Yuma, on December 27th, we visited a date farm, where we sampled and purchased various kinds of dates. Of course, Sydney’s favorite dates were chocolate covered!
The driving time from Yuma to Tucson was almost four hours and Sydney did not sleep at all. We sang songs, played “I spy”, played with Sydney’s sticker books, took and watched many videos of Sydney saying things like “I have my apple… Can I see the video of me saying I have my apple?” or “Dad, two hands on the wheel!”
After three nights in La Jolla, we spent four nights near Poway with the Wright family. Sydney had a great time with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We went to the San Diego zoo and the beach in Del Mar. We also went for a walk on a local hiking/biking trail.
Look at me! (12/23/15)
Giant bear!
We ate lunch on the benches near the monkeys with Grandma and Grandpa
Sydney really enjoys climbing on animal sculptures
Posing at “Sydney’s Hangout” with Erica and Brian
The night before Christmas, Sydney opened a present! Christmas pajamas from Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, Erica, and Brian! Sydney loved her new pajamas and she was excited to open more presents the following morning.
Erica, Brian, and Grandma working on a puzzle together, on Christmas morning.
Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jim
Posing with new friends: Unicorn, Santa Claus, and Lavinia Chandelier
Lavinia Chandelier was thirsty
Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, Dad, and Grandpa are making breakfast
Sydney wanted to sit on the puzzle and be spun around the table
Good times with Aunt Sandy!
And finally, here is a short video of Sydney opening her first present on Christmas morning … and then asking for more!
Our first real family vacation was to San Diego, California, in late December. (I’m not counting our month in Tucson last year, because Allan worked the entire time.) We spent the first three nights in La Jolla, where we went to the beach, the Birch aquarium, and La Jolla cove to see the Sea Lions. Sydney also enjoyed swimming in our hotel’s indoor pool.
Walking on the beach is fun (12/20/15)
Let’s go, Dad!
Dad, you need to take your shoes off!
Waiting for the waves
That was fun!
Checking out the fish at the Birch Aquarium (12/21/15)
Sydney was far more excited about the play area at the aquarium than she was about seeing the fish.
This water table with boats was a huge hit!
We added “walls” to direct the water flow and send the boats down various paths at various speeds.
Can you see the excitement on Sydney’s face?
We love seeing her this excited!
Sea Lions napping at La Jolla Cove
Too bad Sydney won’t nap!
Sydney LOVES to swim! The pool water was cold, but Sydney didn’t mind.
Sydney LOVED celebrating Hanukkah this year. She lit (fake) candles, she said the Hebrew Hanukkah blessing, she sang and danced, she spun a dreidel, she ate sweet potato latkes and chocolate (Hanukkah gelt), and she opened presents! We had EIGHT very FUN nights!
In preparation for Hanukkah, Sydney made her very own menorah in a class at the JCC. First we sanded the wood, then Sydney decorated it with paint and sparkles, and finally we added tissue paper for flames.
Night One:
On the first night of Hanukkah, we went to an event with music and dancing for children. Sydney (in the rainbow dress) was brave enough to dance with the other children for about a minute or so, before she asked me to join her. (12/6/15)
After the singing and dancing, Sydney worked up an appetite for a burrito at Illegal Pete’s.
Two candles for the first night. The shamash (Sydney calls it “The Shaman”) and the first candle.
Lighting the candle with “The Shaman”
Yay! Now it’s time for a present!
Night Two:
After she helped/watched me make (healthy/unfried) Sweet Potato Latkes, Sydney (and Allan) was excited to eat them with applesauce.
Getting the candles ready
Night Three:
Sydney (wearing her pink princess costume) lit her menorah while I lit mine
A Present!
Night Four:
Sydney loved having her own menorah to light!
Night Five:
Sydney is counting to make sure we have five candles plus the shamash
Night six:
Playing dreidel with Hanukkah gelt
When Allan spun the dreidel it went so fast, Sydney kept saying “It’s going to go up in the air!”
Night Seven:
Ready!
Lighting her candles
More dreidel fun
Sydney LOVED spinning the dreidel!
LOOK AT THIS! Gimel means give me the coins!
There is chocolate inside? Really?
It really is chocolate!
Sydney LOVED her present… a cabbage patch doll who sings and dances. Sydney named her Lila!
Sydney got VERY EXCITED when Lila began to sing and dance!
Night Eight:
All the candles are lit! Allan and Sydney wanted to turn the lights off.
All of the candles are lit… and we are in the dark!
Artistic photo by Allan
Sydney loved her new dog (she named him Lucky) and the vet tools to give him a checkup.
She also liked her new game with giant colored dots
