31 December 2013

We don't usually do much for New Years. For years it, and Valentine's Day mocked me as a single person. And, frankly, I'm a little tuckered from all the activity that routinely takes place from October up until now. I look forward to the doldrums of January each year.

Usually we ave a nice dinner of crab and champagne and call it an evening sometime after New York hits the New Year. The last two years our neighbors joined us. Alas, they are on a trip to Disneyland this year. So, we let each of the kids have a friend spend the night.

Amira chose to have Annelise over.











Valerie had Briar over. And Rex had Bailey (even though we didn't have any crazy chores for him).








I took all the girls up to Paradise on Ice for the later part of the afternoon.

Amira and Annelise quit first. Fortunately there was a park right next door and 4th grade does not make you too old for swings.









There were also some craft booths set up nearby.








When we were all done, the girls got some hot chocolate to go.








Once home, it was time for crab and bubbles.








Bailey got to pop the cork on the sparkling Chardonnay grape juice.








Rex was a gent and served the girls.



































After dinner s'mores made with peppermint bark over the fire in the back yard.

















Oh, and a few fireworks from our recent trip to Chinatown.

So long, 2013! You were a good year. I hope 2014 is just as wonderful!

Christmas Recap

Christmas Eve came round this year with a visit from the Portland cousins. Miraculously we captured some photos of all five. Below are Rex, Valerie & Amira with Anya & Maya.




Amira poses below with Adeline, Napoleon & Aunt Lydia.


Mocktails for the girls.


This year we had Christmas goose!


Here is the goose ready to go to the table.


Busy putting the finishing touches on dinner.


Maya selects her place at the table set for 14 of us.


Merry Christmas!


Rex and Michael discuss strategies for keeping the flame alive for the annual Christmas Eve snowball competition.


Alligator and Dave dine and maintain their flames.


Mmmm! Snowballs!


And we have a winner!


The kids could hardly wait for dinner to be finished.



Mr. Whiskers & Napoleon checked out the tree situation in case there was anything for them.





The adults gathered round to watch the kids unwrap gifts.


Here comes Santa Claus!


Anya, Adeline, Lydia & Paul.


Maya & Valerie.


Anya & Adeline.


Maya in her new beret.


Anya has one too!


Hats for everyone!





Uncle Dave is wondering if there will ever be a Christmas that Rex doesn't ask for a gun?


Christmas morning Valerie found Pumpkin (the neighborhood cat that loves everyone) at the door.


Michael & Tiff have eggnog in our Marty Moose cups and classy new apron in homage to Cousin Eddy.


And the rest of that goose made a nice Christmas Day cassoulet.


Merry Christmas it was!!!

Girls Day Out

It's traditional for Susan to take the girls to see either the Nutcracker or Cinderella in December (they alternate years here). Today she came by to pick them up for Cinderella.

Michael is the best dad ever and lovingly brushed Amira's hair.




We just had to take photos of them all dressed up.





Valerie tolerated the dress up and photo session. She had to dispense with the Rat Girl persona for an afternoon.



Amira can be such a giggler. Always on motion.


We should have a "your caption here" contest for this photo. What kind of news could she have received?

Wrapping up 2013

Immediately upon my return from Paris, I noticed the warm and beautiful weather here in California. It was a warm and dry November. I got to accompany Valerie and her class on a field trip at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The weather was remarkably beautiful and I got a great photo of Valerie with her friends and teacher with the Bay Bridge in the background.

Here are Elizabeth, Maya, Valerie & Ms. Welch.




Here's Valerie monkeying around in front of the Exploratorium.




December came on with quite a cold snap. It's been mighty cold here the last week or two. Although we put warm lights and flannel sheets on the citrus, we still lost some branches. Michael has had to bring hot tea out to the chickens in the mornings as their water has been iced over. A very hungry hawk has been dive bombing the girls as well. It's a cold, dry December.



We got together for our traditional Thanksgiving at Susan and John's house with Grampa Alligator and Dave. I think Michael spends all year dreaming of turkey.







On the first Friday in December the 7th grade at Blue Oak put on a middle school dance. They had an amazing DJ and a photographer. It was a masquerade themed dance. A lot of the 8th graders and some 7th graders dressed up for it. They looked older than their years. Valerie wore her "rat girl" sweatshirt.

Below (left to right, back to front ) are Elizabeth, Ms. Welch, Ruth, Abbey & Rat Girl.



Below (left to right): Rat Girl, Bella, Abbey, Isa, Quinn and Cana.



Our next big event was the Blue Oak winter concert. Here are Kai and Valerie (an important part of the cello section).




Below on the right is Amira during the 4th grade chorus and recorder ensemble.




This morning a few of the select strings met down at the farmers market and played for a bit. Below are Noel and Valerie on cello.

Here's a video of their opening piece at the market.

And to close, Feliz Navidad:

Today Rex is off seeing the new Hobbit film with a gaggle of teenage boys. He's pretty illusive, but I hope to get a photo of him soon.