Gilmore Girls marathon

For Christmas Rick got me all seven seasons of the Gilmore Girls. I was surprised because I thought it was a pie in the sky gift request. Well, over this last week I've watched all of season seven which I hadn't seen. The last season wasn't on the WB or with the creator and original writer. Instead it was on the CW (the merger of the WB and UPN). It was a little different from a cinematography standpoint but still very good.

Last night I watched the series finale. I cried and cried. In the middle of the episode Rick called to me from downstairs where he was watching the Jayhawks game. I tersely shouted back, "Don't bother me right now." I didn't want to have to pause such a seminal episode.

There is something so special about the relationship between mother and daughter. Being both a mother and a daughter I could fully appreciate it from both points of view. So sad to say good-bye to these two wonderful characters but what a ride.

Breakfast with the stars

While in L.A. we went to breakfast at the Beverly Hills Hotel (incidentally that's where they held the Golden Globes). We ate in the basement at this cool retro diner with this curvy bar. It's a bit on the pricey side but excellent food and great service. Who should be sitting not four seats from us when we sat down? Courteney Cox! We didn't recognize her at first in street clothes and without makeup. She was soon joined by Ben Harper; he's a musician and is married to Laura Dern. Coincidentally I saw him with his wife and kids two years ago at California Adventures. What a nice celebrity sighting!

Some "wicked" fun

As a Christmas gift my parents gave us and two of my brothers and their wives tickets to Wicked. We sure had a blast. Dinner beforehand was a bit of a fiasco; the food was good but the service was abysmal. The show was wonderful. I haven't laughed that much in a musical before.

Christmas Day

Here was our Christmas Day. I don't know how I ended up without any pictures of Rick opening presents. But I do have a whole lots of awful ones of me. I guess that's what I get for giving Rick the camera.

Checking to see if Santa and the reindeer got their snack

The haul

Opening stockings

We got Mark Christmas Story Monopoly.

Piper modeling the princess dress and crown that Santa brought her.

"I love this Playdough set from Uncle Mark and Aunt Kristen."

Christmas Eve

Every year our family gets together on Christmas Eve at my parent's house. We eat tacos, watch the Christmas Story for the five thousandth time, and sing carols together. Here is how the night looked.

Cooper, Piper, Caleb, Alisha, and Ken

Rick, Mark, Cooper, Brittiany, and Kathe

Kristen, Mom, Alisha, Ken, and Ryan


Sharing that Christmas spirit

Hello? Anyone under there?

Not pictured: Natalie, Sean, and Tina


Writing a note to Santa to go with the cookies. I asked Piper to write a note for Santa and as she put pen to paper she says, "Dear Santa..."

Cooper's note and Piper's note for Santa

Photos from Christmas

Beware of photo-overload on this post. But I have to give fair credit: all of these photos, except for the first, were taken by my skillful mother. And with that, on to the pictures.

Decorating her own mini-tree with Grandma Vicki and cousins

Having fun with Papa Allen


Feeding the goose (this is a bank by the way)

Cooking with Papa Allen

Picking lemons in the garden

What cute kids!

This girl loves her daddy.

Hanging out with cousins Cooper and Porter

I made tamales for the first time. Thanks for helping me Mom.

Getting ready to play in the "snow"

A neighbor who is a commercial fisherman had loads of "snow" (read: crushed ice) dumped on his lawn and let all the neighborhood kids come and play in it. Here's Piper throwing a snowball at Cooper.

Cuddling with Uncle Mark and Cooper

Mark posing in his autographed elf hat my mom got him at the Christmas Story house here in Cleveland

Nan's kids, Mark's kids, and my kid together

Playing in a huge TV box

UNO with Grandma

Peekaboo with Aunt Nan and Louisa

I taught my nieces how to make button hair clips that my friend Candace had taught me how to make.

Troublemakers

Tickling those ivories

Happy New Year!

Going for a ride in the lumber wheelbarrow

Playing with the new laptop from Grandma Ann and Grandpa Rich

Feeding the ducks at the park

On the swings

Wee!