Holiday Time is Here

It's New Year's Eve and I'm writing one last entry to my blog for 2014 before I set it up to be published in a book.  I've been using Blog2Print for several years now.  I like having a physical book of memories for the year. 

Our family celebrated Christmas Week with a photography session at Crab Cove in Alameda.  A local photographer kept us laughing and moving as he clicked away.  We are still in the process of sorting out the best of the best.  It's very difficult when the darling grand-daughters are so cute and photogenic. 

Just a couple more for the record of this year.......

On Wednesday of Christmas week, the family traveled by ferry to San Francisco to see Beach Blanket Babylon. It is a funny satire musical about San Francisco and current events.  It was a gloriously clear day and we had great family fun.

Next it was home to Alameda for dinner at our house and the reading of the Christmas Story and The Night Before Christmas......a family tradition.  This year the stories were read by Makayla and Violet.  My heart swells to see this family tradition carried on to another generation. 

Christmas morning brought Santa surprises, food, family frivolity, swimming in the afternoon (Hey, it's CA!) and Thai food for dinner. 

Now its time for New Year's Eve.  The girls will be coming over to spend the night.  The champagne flutes are washed and ready for some bubbly (Martinellis for girls, Champagne for us).  We go forward into 2015 praying for joy, happiness, peace and goodness to prevail.  Praise God for our many blessings.

 

Thanksgiving and Birthday Fun

Everyone loves a birthday but it is hard when your birthday falls very near a holiday like Thanksgiving.  This turned out pretty cool for Violet this year.  We celebrated with the family on her actual birthday and then she got to have a second celebration with her friends a week later.  Can't get much better than two birthday parties in your honor. 

First let's not forget Thanksgiving.  This year Jon and Lissa hosted the family plus a neighbor family.

 The birthday girl wanted Butterflies as her theme.  There are lots of activities and ideas for a Butterfly Party and thanks to Auntie Cheryl, we had them all.

 Auntie Cheryl loves flying in to celebrate the birthdays of her two favorite cousins.  We love having her here.

 After the party, there were lots and lots of presents to open from friends and family.

 And speaking of family, here I am with my oldest Jon, father to the darling birthday girl.  Always good to actually get a great picture.