Don’t cheat and look at Flickr. Now what do you think we chose as our theme this week?

And who shot which photo? Remember, I’m teamed up with Kimberly.

Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

If you need a friend, reach out your hand and I’ll be there.

The rainy days were a nice change from the endless, sunny LA days.
They also provided a good excuse for some cozy, movie-filled afternoons.
But, I think we all (kitty included) were a little relieved to have a few days reprieve from the rain.
And a chance to open up the doors and feel the crisp, fresh air on our faces, er…whiskers.

If you are in the LA-area, (have come down from your Christmas high and need a quick sugar fix) will you pop over to my friend’s place tomorrow and buy some treats? ALL the proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders to help the Haiti earthquake victims.

And our Daisy troop is collecting gently worn shoes for the Soles 4 Souls program as well. We need to drop them off next weekend (1/30-31) so they can be sent to Haiti. If you have some shoes clogging up your closets (and live reasonably close!) give me a call and I’ll come take them off your hands.

As promised, (or predicted?) we have had a really fun first half of the weekend at the “happiest place on earth,”
and managed to get a lot of good togetherness time in.

Makes you want to just grab a hold of this rainy Monday and give it a squeeze.

You really didn’t believe me when I told you that January was birthday month around here, did you? This one wasn’t included in the seven celebrations we had last week, either.

But today we celebrate my mom (Nana – to the girls) and her birthday!

Right after the shot of our headless Nana on my camera was this shot – so I’m pretty sure it was also taken by Addikins. I think it is a great shot and there just might be hope for our little photog yet!

We are wishing you a very happy day today, Mom. I wish we could be there to spend it with you. Hopefully your package of love from California will reach you today. And, well, if not – then I guess we just have to celebrate your birthday all week long, as it should be anyhow!

Sending you hugs, kisses, love and wishes for a very Happy Birthday and outstanding year!

We love you –
J, C, E, & A

So how much do all of my midwest family and friends hate me tonight after that post earlier today?

Probably really going to hate it when I tell you that I had all my windows wide open this afternoon. I was sewing, listening to the shrieks from the kids playing across the street and breathing in that fresh, warm air.

(Yes. I really did have to do that.)

But I’m pulling for snow days for you all tomorrow! Be safe.

To the cutest, sassiest, and funniest three-year old around – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SasserElla!

I have loved spending the past few days with you and am so excited for your big year of being THREE!

Have a great one, stinker!

Love, Aunt Bean

Well, we have made it safely to Michigan after two days of traveling. But before we left we had a very lovely Christmas starting with our (very successful!) Christmas Eve pageant.

It looked a little sketchy at dress rehearsal, but the kids pulled it together and pulled it off. Miss Addie (assisted by Daddy) was the Star bearer.

And Emmy was an angel again, but she had lines this year!

After mass I was hoping and trying for a sweet Christmas Eve photo but could only contain long enough for this…

There were many things to do like write letters and put out cookies and milk for Santa.

Then it was off to bed, and Santa stopped by.

And all chaos ensued.

Santa was very good to Mommy. (And Uncle Jeff helped, too. Thank you!!)

Now you may be wondering why I needed a new camera. I’ve been giving J. a bunch of reasons for many months now (since my birthday) why I didn’t need a new one like, “Um, my old one if just fine.” “I’m only taking photos of the girls mostly.” “It isn’t like I’m being paid to take photos.”

But he didn’t really listen to any of that – or the fact that my tickets to Michigan was supposed to be my Christmas present. I must say when I opened the box, and got a whiff of that new camera smell, it was hard to protest.  My old camera we bought before Addie, so it is five years old. That is not ancient by any means, but it has only 6.1 megapixels image quality – and my new one is 12.3! Dude. That is serious. And it does video. And a million other things that I’m furiously reading the owner’s manual to figure out. It made the allure of the new camera so hard to resist, so I gave in. And then (ever so patiently!) waited for the battery to charge so I could use it.

We got some a few other favorite things as well.

And went out to pick a few lemons for our Christmas drink of lemonade!

And Emma read us the book she got for Addie.

We had a little Chinese food for dinner and then packed the evening away so we could leave bright and early the next morning.

Now Christmas continues…

Cookies?

Mmm…yes.

Snow?

I guess that is what this white stuff is?

Family togetherness?

Yep – we’ve got that, too.

Really. What more do you need?