Finding Santa's gift!
Opening gifts with Daddy
Christmas Eve playtime
I like presents!!!
I love my new rocking horse Star (Star was the name of Mommy's rocking horse that rode for hours and hours when she was little...until the springs broke one day and threw Mommy off)
Family time
As a result of the incredible storm we just had in So. Cal, there is a heavy layer of snow on the Saddleback mountains right behind our house. This is the view from our balcony upstairs. It's the first time I've ever seen this since we've lived here so it's very exciting! On the other side of our house (from our bedroom), there is a clear ocean view today, which we normally only get when it rains. Hey, even though it's many miles away, it's still an ocean view to me :)
Was it the fluffy white beard? Or perhaps the strange hat? Either way, Grace wasn't having it. She didn't like Santa with mommy on his lap so we thought we'd throw daddy into the mix, which clearly didn't help - as illustrated below. Oh well, she'll like him when she realizes he brings her toys. 
Grace was a little mouse for Halloween. We spent the day carving pumpkins and hanging out with the neighbors, and Grace was having so much fun that she didn't take her 2nd nap which meant the evening was short lived. Mike and I took her to 3 houses and then we called it a night. Nana & Papa came over for Chinese take out :) Here's the semi-happy and sad version of being in her costume....
We went to the Aquarium of the Pacific today and Mike and I constantly smiled at Grace's reactions to the fish, otters, puffins, sea lions, etc. It was a fun day and stealing daddy away from work was awesome!
We went to El Ranchito last night with Grandma, Grandpa, Ashley and Ryan to celebrate Grandma's birthday. Grace was so good! She loved her quesadilla and she also loved playing with Grandpa's moustache. Happy Birthday Grandma!!!
Grace visited her first pumpkin patch this weekend and she was so happy. She loved the pumpkins, haystacks and animals. She even enjoyed the scary decorations and haunted house. We picked out a giant pumpkin that is enjoying his new home in our courtyard. We'll be hitting up more pumpkin patches over the next few weeks since there are so many around town! It's amazing to think I went into Labor w/ Grace last Halloween night...she was only 3 hours away from being a little Halloween baby :)
Grace likes to help me unload the dishwasher but usually she's standing on the ground and playing with the bottom rack. This morning she decided to get on the dishwasher to reach the top rack when I turned away for a few seconds.
Let's go!
Look at the horsies Grace (says Noah). I see them too (says Eli).
Mama, Grace, Noah, Robin & Eli...don't you just want to squeeze that cute belly?!
Sunday was a very important and happy day at the Porco home. After all, it was the kick-off of Football season so Grace had to cheer for Daddy's team in her cute little Jets outfit (thanks Aunt Jen and Uncle Kylen!). We topped-off the evening with a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house where Grace got a lot of love and we got Grandpa's world famous pizza. Mommy's FAVORITE meal!
Grace is 10 months old today, on this Labor Day.
Yeah, we found a water fountain!
Grace loved Chi Chi, but Chi Chi wasn't so sure about Grace...a little too loud and unpredictable :) Littles (the cat) wouldn't even come out from under the bed. 
Admiring Jeff's fish tank.
This weekend we celebrated our anniversary with an overnight getaway to Newport Beach where we got married (yes, we traveled quite a distance).
Over a fantastic dinner last night we talked about the last 4 years - about our wedding, having Grace, the changes with our jobs, and I thought about a moment on our honeymoon when we were sitting in a little cabana on the beach in Maui talking and dreaming about "the future". Where were we going to buy a house? When were we going to finally get the puppy I've wanted for so long? What about our career goals? When should we think about having a baby? If, at that moment, someone would have shown me a glimpse of this 4-yr anniversary I would have had to pinch myself because the first four years have blown away any dreams I had that day on the beach in Maui. And, if four years can be so great then I can't wait to see what the next 40 years bring.
