So I totally skipped Crafty Tuesday this week. Sorry ’bout that. Apparently, I am pretty far into vacation mode and the fact that it was Tuesday, that just missed me completely. I did take photos of all of the Christmas presents I have been delivering and they were all hits, so I’ll share them next week!

The SuperCapes were hits as well, and Em and Ad brought their capes to their cousins’ and they all played SuperHeros. I have some cute video. Also will have to share it next week.

Besides the SuperCapes, the cousins found many things to keep them busy. At the top of the list was capturing and carrying my sister’s poor kitties around the house. Meet one of the most tolerant cats in the whole world. This is Griffin…

He looks like he is being held on Em’s lap against his will here, but neither of the cats seemed to protest too loudly. And they both sought out attention if they were left alone for too long. I know my girls are already missing them, and I think the kitties might just be missing them, too.

We spent most of our time just relaxing, which is what I love about going to my sister’s. It is a step back to nature, the middle of the woods, a place to unplug and detach and just be with the girls…and now “the boy” too! (Ella calls her new baby brother – “my boy” as in, “hey where is my boy?” She cracks me up.)

And try getting six, SIX, kiddies all looking halfway decent and somewhat sort of looking at the camera. It is not an easy feat, let me tell you. (Even Mav has a little smile on his face!)

We also celebrated Ella’s actual birthday. She wanted to go see the “Chickmunk” movie, so we all piled in and over to the theater and watched a movie…

Addie is mad because she couldn’t sit next to Ella, but Ella didn’t even want to sit. It didn’t take Addie long to snap out of her crabbiness…

And then ruin the ONLY photo of my sister and I from the weekend…

Then we had a little dinner at Ella’s fave dining establishment (MickeyDee’s)…

Had some more cake (with blue frosting!) and  went for a “swim” in the hot tub…

It was a pretty full and fun birthday, I think…

Then it was time for us to say goodbye and time for the dynamic duo to disband. My favorite photo of the week. I found the “sweet spot of light” at Michelle’s house. Finally. On the very last day.

That shot is SOOC, straight-out-of-my-NEW-camera. I struggled with it most of the weekend and found I am so thankful for warm, sunny, lots-of-natural-light, California. I can’t wait to get back and be able to really play, turn off the flash and shoot. But, right in front of Meesh’s sliding glass door with the reflecting snow – that gave me this pretty shot of our beauties.

So we traveled downstate yesterday for a few more Christmas celebrations and visiting with more family.

I’m already taking bets on whether I will make it to midnight tonight, in order to usher in the New Year. Usually J. and I watch the NY celebration in the LA timezone (which is 9pm, our time) and then we call it a night. I’m thinking being in the Eastern time zone is going to seriously but a tax on the total vacation and relaxation mode I have going this week.

(Yawn.) We’ll see.

Wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and beautiful New Year!