Horse trade

 The girls started off 2015 by working on their horse-grooming skills. 

To earn this opportunity, Lily first had to let Amy watch her shoot a few arrows with her bow. (I neglected to take a picture of the makeshift target we made using a hay bale in Amy's parents' back yard.)

We came for the jellybeans...

...but left with some history. Today we visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Amalia wasn't terribly interested (though she did like Air Force One and Marine One), but Lily absorbed a lot of the displays and information. Her favorite part was the Berlin Wall. 

 The fanciest helicopter I've ever been in. Though I did have to duck my head inside. 

 Ronnie greeted us as we walked in. 

 The West Berlin side. 

 Nancy was not a tall woman.

 The East Berlin side. 

 Overlooking part of the Conejo Valley.

 Waiting to go inside Air Force One. 

A bit breezy. 

Christmas Eve PJs

 The tradition continues.

 Lily got camouflage; Amalia, Elf on the Shelf, to remember Tin by.

They're both very happy.

Advent

 Christmas is coming! Time to make a gingerbread house!

 I asked them to smile. Only a privileged few get to see Lily's teeth.

The finished sugar extravaganza. They plan to leave it for Santa, instead of cookies. I may also leave a dose of insulin.

 For Andy's birthday, we went to Gilroy Gardens and enjoyed a delicious holiday feast.

 We also watched a Charlie Brown Christmas show.

 Today the girls created a Christmas chalk mural in the driveway. 

Including a nativity scene. 

Which was inspired by this image, which they found on the iPad.

Stanford v. Michigan State feat. Maggie Halloran!

We were delighted to find out that the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament were hosted by Stanford at Roscoe Maples Pavilion, since Stanford was the overall #1 seed. We were even more pleased to find out that Michigan State was to play Stanford in the 2nd round, which meant Maggie Halloran (who is a junior on the MSU team) would be in town. So away we went to support Stanford and the Pierce/Goodrich/Halloran family (Maggie is Andy's first cousin, once removed, aka Lily and Amalia's second cousin)!

The view from our courtside seats. We were warned of the threat of errant balls, but that was not a problem.

That's Maggie in the warm-up suit on the right.

And of course it wouldn't be Stanford without the Dollies and the Tree, an albeit lethargic Tree. Maybe he had a little too much fun the previous night with all the other mascots at the PAC-12 Football Championship Game!

PAC-12 Football Championship Game

In the preseason, I bought 2 tickets for the PAC-12 Football Championship Game at the new Levi Stadium, thinking tickets would be unattainable/costly if I waited. That was a gross miscalculation, the put it mildly. Aside from Oregon eating Arizona's lunch and the soaking rain, it was a good time.

My tickets were in section 410 at almost mid-field. It really is a beautiful stadium. And the ants running around on the field were very colorful.

Jordan Sparks sang the National Anthem. Very impressive.

30 minutes before game time, a Levi Stadium employee offered everyone in our section complimentary tickets to section 123. At least from here, we could see the action up close when Oregon was scoring on this end of the field and/or forcing Arizona to go 3-and-out all game long. If you didn't watch the game, it was all played on the Oregon side of the field, regardless of who had the ball.

And yes we were literally within ear shot of the Arizona Wildcats Marching Band - deafeningly so. They are no Stanford Marching Band, I assure you.

I don't know if you can see it very clearly, but all 12 mascots were at the game having a great time of it. Yes, even the Tree.

Surprise! Oregon wins!

Now we get to see if they can put together 2 more good games and bring home the NCAA Championship to the PAC-12.

Courting cousins

 This evening we were excited to take the girls to their first Stanford volleyball game--regional playoffs. It was even more special because Andy's cousin has a daughter on Michigan State, whom they were playing.

 Courtside!

 I only had to save Lily's life from an errant volleyball once. 

Maggie didn't get to suit up for the Spartans, but that's her in the warm-up clothes--not the one in the headband.

 Amalia says she wants to be a Dollie. 

 The Tree sits.

The girls with their second cousin after the game. (Stanford won, but it was a well-fought battle. Maggie was extremely gracious.)