… that there’s pretty much nothing cuter than a preschooler wearing reindeer ears and belting out “Frosty the Snowman,” despite the lack of parking and adequate seating the parents might have to endure to see it:

… that cousins and nephews have strong shoulders, too:

… that you should indulge your family and all visiting relatives in L.A.’s vast and varied iconic attractions, which could include In ‘N Out Burger, Hollywood Boulevard and, of course, the Tournament of Roses Parade:

… oh, and that marching bands are still cool:

… and last but certainly not least: That there’s nothing better than finding your family under the tree:

My mom did not want to be called “Grandma” when her first grandchild was born several years ago (she also doesn’t anyone knowing how long ago she got that first grandchild). It’s not that she really minded the fact that she had become a grandmother. It’s just that name; it can be so … oh, I don’t know … old.

So she opted for “Mom” for my niece, which was never confusing to us but was a bit odd to outsiders. So when Kate was born, it brought up the dilemma again. For reasons that remain clear only to her, she latched onto the name “Ema,” which she happily answers to today.

When that day of picking a “Grandma” name comes for me – in the VERY, VERY distant – future, I have it pretty easy. Steve’s mom was simply “Gram,” a play on the Graham name. I’m planning to go with that. If I didn’t have a good option (because I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be down with “Grandma” either), then I might consult The New Grandparents Name Book: A lighthearted guide to picking the perfect grandparent name ($9.99, ArtStone Press). The book hits shelves today, so if you’ve got a grandmother who might prefer to be a “Grangran” or a “Nonny,” you might want to consult this handy little tome.

It offers more than 700 names, and of course, includes a section for the “Granbears” and “Pepos,” too.

Yes we are this close!

As a Rose Parade newbie I couldn’t be more amazed! Wow!

Here’s Jack and his Uncle John checking out the Trader Joe’s floral l tribute!

We all can easily admit it: We spend way too much time in the car. According to survey at MotherProof.com, moms spent, on average, 405 hours in their cars in 2008. That’s more than two weeks! 

In honor of the New Year – and to make those 405 hours a little more fun and a bit safer – MotherProof.com also offered the following New Year’s resolution suggestions for those of us schlepping to soccer, school and work on a regular basis:

1. Pull over to make and take phone calls: 71 percent of moms admitted to making calls or texting in the car.  While hands-free headsets seem to  be a good option, studies have shown that even those create a distraction  that makes driving less safe. Vow to set a good example for little ones  (monkey see, monkey do) and pull over to make/take calls. 
2. Ditch the drive-through: 85 percent of moms resort to eating in  their cars, and 47 percent eat at a restaurant drive-through one to three times per week. Vow to eat healthier, save money on takeout and keep the car cleaner by packing healthy and car-friendly snacks before a day of driving. 
3. Go green: Use recyclable and reusable water/juice bottles and coffee mugs in the car to help cut down on trash. 
4. Get organized: An organized environment leads to an organized mind. Clean out your car! MotherProof.com’s survey found that 50 percent of moms clean their car only every few months, or when the car “needs” cleaning. Use tote bags to store your car’s necessities and to transport daily stuff all in one load to and from the house. Vow to take your car to the hand wash at  least every other month. Five bucks gets you an industrial-strength vacuum and a good rinse. If you’re able, invest in a thorough detailing. It’s almost like getting a brand-new car … almost. 
5. Get smart with audiobooks: Use car time for healthy brain activities. Just over a third of moms already read in the car. Download audiobooks from the internet or your local library to build up your brain cells while driving and waiting in the carpool lane. Books for the kids are great, but don’t forget about yourself. Download your latest book club selection and show up next time ready to actually participate in the discussion at hand. 

Today we zipped up to Simi Valley to check out the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. We are about to step onto Air Force One.
What an awesome place and view.

Regardless of your politics, you can’t help but get drawn into this place with its history and great exhibits.

It is crowded on this holiday weekend but worth a bit of standing in lines. Especially to see the plane!

Thanks to Steve for writing and performing this and then letting me put it on my blog. He also made a really awesome pumpkin pie. Hope all your holidays were happy and full of wild reindeer.

wildreindeer

Regular readers might notice a leaner blog season as we roll into Christmas and New Year’s. I’m just giddy from the fact that I don’t have to drive 1,200 miles with two kids to plod across three states to visit our families in New Mexico. I love the season there, but in our eight years as SoCal residents, we have yet to experience a Los Angeles Christmas. 

But this is our year! My mom and sister are here and will be ready to pop up after Santa drops down the chimney. Then Steve’s dad, three brothers, two sisters-in-law and a two nephews (one with a wife, the other with a girlfriend) will arrive to experience a Tournament of Roses New Year’s. I know there will be crowds and traffic and craziness, but I’m excited about seeing a parade that I used to watch from my couch as a kid (OK, and as an adult). 

Is it ever too early to start thinking about baseball? Not if you have little Dodger fans racing through your home field.

Kids will have a ball with the new Jr. Dodgers program, which is free and open to fans ages 14 and younger. Members receive their own newsletter and have a chance to participate in some of the team’s most over-the-top experiences, such as taking the field with their favorite Boys in Blue or serving as a guest reporter for the newsletter. They also get VIP access to select Kids Run the Bases events and have the chance to announce “It’s Time for Dodgers Baseball” to kick off a home game. They also have access to some of the cool gift packs.

You can sign up at the Dodgers Web site. Or for more information call 323-224-1507 (Monday through Friday) or e-mail jrdodgers@ladodgers.com.

I love cow calendars, and I don’t care who knows it. My new fave is one that arrived just this week: The Bovines in Blue: To Protect Cows and Serve Chicken calendar, courtesy of Chick-fil-A (they make some pretty awesome waffle fries, too). 

Through the magic of Photoshop, the black-and-whites featured in this calendar depict scenes from some of our favorite TV cop shows. Just try to not giggle at August’s “Hoofer, Texas Wrangler” (the cow is riding a horse!) or February’s Grill Street Blues, featuring an angry cow-cop who’s obviously working over a perp about to eat a burger.

The calendar is $6 and available, along with other hilarious merchandise, at the Chick-fil-A Web site.