On Boxing Day we left the cold and snow behind for a get-a-way to Palm Springs, California.
Emily just loved the plane with the snacks, tvs and mommy sitting right next to her for 2 1/2 uninterrupted hours.
Here are the kids in the Palm Springs airport. They love traveling.
Of course it was also my birthday so we had a bit of a celebration. It was hard to find a good cake as we had just arrived in town, but the jumbo cinnamon bun Bruce found was enjoyed by all.
Palm Springs has a really fun Children's Discovery Centre that everyone enjoyed. The Vet Centre was a highlight for Andrew. Here Emily is grooming the Iguana.
I am not sure what Andrew is cutting off this poor tropical bird!
Future Vets all hard at work.
Emily is taking Matthew for a spin.
Andrew was thrilled to find they had little carts at their pretend grocery, unlike the one at our Science Centre that only has baskets.
Motorcycling Emily with no hands!
Your mom is happier if you just stick to the bus!
We went to the Living Desert which is part Zoo, part desert gardens. It was quite lovely and you forget you are in the middle of the city. Feeding the Giraffes brought back memories of Kenya for us.
It took Andrew a few tries, but he managed to get it right on the giraffe's long tongue.
Sometimes you wonder if Cheetah's really are the fastest land animal.
Here are our butterfly/hummingbird detectives in the conservatory.
The model train display was huge and amazing.
We enjoyed a lot of time around our complex. There were about 10 beautiful tennis courts and a games room. The boys' favorite was the free lemonade after playing a round.
Even Emily got in on the fun, though she was more into chasing her shadow than the ball.
There were 26 pools to choose from, some nicer than others, and the boys always wanted to come back to the same one, so that is what we did. Emily liked the floating toys, as long as they were out of the water.
For those who remember the photos of our last trip to Palm Springs 8 years ago, we have a photo similar to this one except Matthew is only 3 months old and a wee bit smaller.
Matthew loved racing his boat around the pool.
Emily has become Miss Independent doing everything "myself". Here she is carrying all her gear, headed for the pool.
Andrew liked splashing and jumping in if we were there to catch him.
You can't see Emily's smile, but was so excited making big splashes.
There jumps Matthew.
Here is our "backyard" from the condo we rented.
We surprised the kids New Year's Day morning, piling them into the car and not telling them where we were going, until they started to see the big L E G O L A N D letters some two hours later. That has to be one of your best days as a young child!
The park was done up for Christmas with some Xmas Lego touches.
The first thing they wanted to try were the Lego cars again.
Of course Andrew picked the red car, his favorite color.
It looks like Santa has a new little helper.
Here is the Fire Crew rushing to the fire.
Matthew is putting out the flames.
A "Cool" Lego penguin on ice.
Santa even made appearances in Miniland.
We caught him on the roof top,
and at the Santa Convention.
Lego Vegas
Matthew was impressed by what he saw on our Lego boat ride.
Ah the Lego Sydney Opera House for all of our Australian friends...I was wishing we were seeing the real thing!
And here we are with a little taste of Paris.
Pizza Anyone?
We put in a full day at the park from opening at 10, until closing at 7 which is why the photos are getting darker.
It was almost bedtime, but Emily was laughing, ready for more and more rides, especially these little planes.
Riding in the desert, well sort of.
Back in Palm Springs we had to do a little golfing, though minigolf was more our speed.
Can you guess who got a hole in one?
Bruce and Matthew both enjoyed their first Go Kart race together.
The aftermath of the Trader Joes frozen chocolate covered bananas.
I was sad to come back to the snow and cold, leaving our Palm trees behind, but the boys were excited to come home to skiing, sledding, skating and sweet bagels. On the trip Andrew reasoned that you must make doughnuts by fancying up bagels. We told him that wasn't quite it, but none the less everyday of the trip he was planning how we were going to make these treats when we got home. Here they are at work.
Matthew's masterpiece.
Even one for Emily with a little help from her brothers.
Robins are usually the first sign of spring, but look who I saw outside my window in January, just before a snow storm. It was either a mixed up Robin, or perhaps I am the one mixed up and it was not a Robin at all.
If anyone doubts the existence of Santa, just look at Andrew beaming after seeing that Santa left the one thing that he was wishing for in his stocking.
Emily must really be a preschool girl, as she is obsessed with Dora like all her peers. She loves her Dora doll, on her Dora chair, as she watches the show. 
Miss independent is making her own breakfast, now if we could only get her older brothers to do the same!
Emily is growing from a toddler to a preschooler before our eyes. She is still mommy's girl, and likes to do everything with me. She will shudder when reminded of this when she is a teenager! She can still be really shy around others. She shows good understanding, and is talking up a storm at home using quite long sentences at times. It is fun to hear what she is thinking. She tells us "I'm hungry", "I did it", "I carry the big one and the little one", "I want my purple blanket", and "Matthew's on the school bus" to give a few examples. She will still go back to one word, for instance shouting "SELF" if you do something for her that she wants to do herself. She can be a monkey at night and can get out of any PJs we put on her, and will be chilly in her crib until we hear her chatting and come in to dress her again. 
