Breakcation!

So how was your break? I was so grateful to have a chance to spend some quality time with my family and with the couch! Seriously, life seems to get busier each fall and doesn’t stop until the years’ end. Around here a lot of families go away for a long holiday. I felt fortunate to get to spend most of the time in out town. I love it when everyone is away and things seem less crowded. A simple walk to the corner Peet’s coffee feels like a treat and as does an evening s spent by the fire playing games or watching favorite films, with no homework or bedtime worries.

One day we decided to road trip (above) up to visit my brother’s family in El Dorado Hills, a pretty town near Sacramento nestled in the foothills of the Sierras. I love his town and hanging out with all of them. We took a drive about an hour past my brother’s home to Adventure Mountain a great sledding spot. They also have 3 kids, so the 5 cousins have a blast playing in the snow.

At the sled hill..

My Norwegian sister-in-law and I have a tradition of having a little snow picnic. We bring lunch supplies and blankets and enjoy the sun if we can. It usually includes hot tea and chocolate and oranges, a Norwegian treat.

In my brother’s town they have a new luxury shopping place called Palladio, so we checked it and out and had dinner at a fun pizza place called Chicago Fire.

All the cousins waiting for pizza together! Jackson, Sander, Griffin, Sean and Veronica.

I love my sister–n-law’s Line’s (pronounced Lina’s) Norwegian holiday style and her whole home which is so cozy.

Lots of lovable mutts and kitties too! They have 6 altogether. This is a fun home!

Sleepy teenagers..

And they always make us a lumberjack’s breakfast here too! No one goes hungry.

I hate leaving them. My brother Peter is one of my favorite people in this world. It saddens me that they live far away from us.

Back in our our town -some walks downtown for treats!

Hikes with dear pals..

New Years with some fun friends.

This is the one picture I have of any holiday outfits, not very good. I loved my clutch and earnings, which you cannot see. I don’t usually post outfit pics. However, my friend Dawn requested, so this one is for her!

And a New Year’s Day long hike for myself and my husband on one of the trails here above town. It was a sunny and pretty, but extremely cold day here! It has been very cold for California lately, low 50s and high 40s during the day. I’m actually looking forward to some of those low 60s that are more usual for here!

This was on the Jones Trail on St Joseph’s Hill in our town of Los Gatos. We are fortunate to have so many open hiking trails so close we can walk or bike to them.

We also made a special trip to the Festival of Lights in our town’s park through the sunroof for a boy who missed it before Christmas.

I spent my Christmas money at the J Crew on suede ankle boots and a lace print T. Those after holiday sales are too good to pass up!

In other breaking news, we have a new member of our family, Mini. She’s a baby Abyssinian guinea pig. My youngest son used all his Christmas and birthday money to purchase her and her cage. She is only 2 months old and really sweet.

Lastly, we removed the tree..

The oldest packed away his nutcracker collection for another year.

That part always makes me melancholy. Another year passing of our lives.

Did you get to do all you wanted? I heard a great tip is to make wish lists instead of resolutions. I may try that. It sounds a bit less like drudgery!

I still didn’t get to read books I hoped to…

Here’s to more real quality time in 2013!

Kim