Merry Christmas!

As you can imagine, there was much Christmas excitement when the Fourticq and Laffitte cousins got together this afternoon! Here are a few scenes, including one of Coco modeling the remains of her (and everyone else's?) surprise ball!...

Christmas Cookies

Jack wanted to make Christmas cookies - and since the Laffitte kitchen is still in remodel-mode, he needed to do it at my house. He had quite an agenda: making cookies, buying Christmas presents for his mommy and daddy (and, as it turns out, sister and cousins as well), having his special hot cocoa ritual; going to Chuckee Cheese, visiting the aquarium... We managed it all but Chuckee Cheese - we were just too busy!

Family Christmas Party at the Fourticq's

Today was the Family Christmas Party at the Fourticq's. The kids were adorable, all dressed up in their holiday finery! (That is - I'm assuming Trey was adorable - I never did find him! When I asked I was told "he's running around somewhere with his friends" and "Oh, he's upstairs wreaking havoc - last I knew he and six other boys were jumping on all the beds!" and "I think he's out in the room where the dogs are locked up!") Such excitement! Alex was NOT happy with Santa this time around, so Santa compromised (I think he has had experience with such things!) and let the family sit in his chair, and he stood behind. Great way for a No-Tears visit - and picture!

Santa comes to Wilshire!

Santa made a visit to Wilshire, so Erin invited me along... It was a great Family Christmas Party, with puppet shows and magic, carolers, face-painting, balloons, tree lighting - and of course (Alex's favorite): food! She still has the attention span of a gnat, but the child is intrepid - no temerity there! She participates in everything (even if for only ten seconds at a time) while Jack is much more "the observer." Great good fun was had by all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After church this morning I quickly changed clothes, loaded my pies into the car, and headed for Teresa's where we spent a delightful afternoon playing games (Skip-Bo and Apples to Apples) before eating our Annual Turkey Feast! Trey and Coco made the centerpieces pictured here (a bit over-exposed) - Trey the black cat, Coco the pink. Such talent!

A Visit to the Aquarium with Alex

I took Alex to the Aquarium... The fish got little attention, the birds a bit more, the play equipment a bit more than that - but the hit of the day was lunch, where she consumed huge quantities of pizza and orange slices! We had great good fun, with or without the fish!

Hawaii II

Can't resist a few more photos!

Hawaii!

We've just returned from a week in Hawaii - combining a visit with Andy and Aubrey and the girls with a relaxing vacation in "paradise"...

More Halloween

Aubrey just sent me this picture of Emma and Riley, with their Hawaii cousin Maya, all dressed up for Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

The excitement kept building! Both kids had learned the ditty "Trick or Treat/Smell my feet/Give me something/Good to eat!" and couldn't wait to go door to door with their treat bags! (Alex, however, was less excited about WEARING a costume: she'd rather HOLD Elmo than BE Elmo!) I think, however, that Jack ultimately had as much fun (or more!) passing out the treats at his own door than he did getting them! And Alex (obviously!) REALLY enjoyed eating them! (She kept handing us candy and saying, "Open it, please!" long after we had said, "Enough!")

Messiah Event-Filled Weekend Part I

A lucky twenty of us began our "Messiah Event-Filled Weekend" with a boat cruise of Newport Harbor - an auction purchase. It was a perfect day for the cruise, the food and drink were wonderful, and the company delightful!

Messiah Event-Filled Weekend Part II

Following the boat trip, many of us "gilded the lily" by heading to a Supper Club Halloween Party. Ah, the witches! And Joyce makes a great "couch potato" (although in spite of appearances, she really cooked up a great meal and an elaborately decorated and atmospheric Halloween House for our event! Need I say - great good fun was had by all!

Messiah Event-Filled Weekend Part III

The "Messiah-Event-Filled Weekend" ended with Oktoberfest - a smashing success, replete with 14 piece band, Bob Streutker's home-brew,German sausages, red cabbage, and potato salad. Wonderful event! The beer-and-band even fueled some dancing! Great good fun was had by all!

Riley

Just received this darling picture of "Swimmer Riley" and couldn't resist sharing!