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!

View from our window

This past weekend we were inundated with epic snow. Unfortunately we can't figure out how to get the snow blower to work, despite our best efforts. So Rick ended up shoveling our long driveway on his own but our friend Musso did show up to help things along a bit. Piper loved the snow except for the cold hands part; her gloves aren't waterproof. No real snowmen though because the snow didn't pack very well. We had to settle for a small pile of snow with stick arms, a carrot nose, and cookie eyes. (I had burned some cookies earlier so we broke those in pieces to use for the eyes). Things have died down since but we're expecting frigid temperatures this week.

Getty museum

Rick's parents and brother came down to L.A. for five days after Christmas. We all went together to the Getty museum. I had been before years ago but it was fun to see everything again. Piper was a little hyper so I took her to the Family Room. They have cute exhibits for the kids to touch and do. Piper made a mask too and would roar at you when she was wearing it.

Doing some tracing

In the "tube" room

Santa Monica

We went to the Santa Monica pier at Christmas, somewhere I've never been surprisingly. If we'd let her Piper would have thrown herself in the water.

Disneyland

Before Christmas we took Piper to Disneyland with my brother's family. We had a fabulous time. We ended up leaving relatively early due to a tired Piper.

Our first ride together

Waiting to go on the teacups

Wee!

What a cute couple!


Meeting the big guy





That's one pooped out Piper.

Winter crafts

This is way overdue but I have to preserve Piper's crafts from last year. I love all the glitter projects, the sitting turkey, and all of the ornaments.

Coming up for air

We returned home last night after almost three glorious weeks in the California sunshine. I'm almost at the point where I can put together a decent holiday-themed post. Stay tuned for more.