Dec 24 - Christmas Eve

Well, we didn't ask the animals what they thought for fear they really COULD talk on this particular eve. I'm sure I'd know what they'd say - lousy service, not enough walks, not nearly enough lap time. And the treats? Why so stingy with the treats? They don't seem to take, "for your own good" as an answer. So instead of chatting it up with our furry friends we dined with our good friends Mike and Hilary and their family. It was lovely. The kids had a bang up time and the grown ups got some real grown up time in. The meal was YUMMY! Thank you Mike, Hil and Luca!

Dec 22 - Nutcracker ballet

The season would not be complete without a viewing of the Nutcracker ballet. This year, a friend of ours from childhood, Katito Waldo, danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was funny to see her as a principle dancer of the SF Ballet now when we think back to Ithaca ballet days and small town dancing. She was wonderful. We had 4 adults and 4 kids (kudos Sharon for braving it with a 3 month old) and we ALL enjoyed it. Funny trying to get a photo of all of them but here is the attempt....

Dec 20 - High tea - raise that pinky!

Well, la-tea-daaaahhhhhhh. Literally I've spelled it out. High tea at the Fairmont hotel. Best dress. Best manners. Best time! Kiira decorated a gingerbread man - well, kind of decorated, she got distracted by the frosting. AND, we got a real Nutcracker to boot. Love the little sandwiches and treats!
The Fairmont space is beautiful with frescos around, Christmas lights, and a harpist to get you in the mood. Kiira loved it. So did Nanny and mama!

Dec 19 - Turning the big 5

Well, at the Mountain School, birthdays are a big deal. Kiira looks forward to it all year long. You don a cape, walk the rainbow bridge and get to light the candle doing "Fire Fairies". All the while, the teacher tells a mystical story about how you came to be. AND, all your friends are lined up sitting in their little chairs along both sides of the room. So, if you like to be the center of attention, you will love this! That said, it's really well done, and while the story is being told, I always get a tear in my eye. Here is the princess....

Here come the holidays, whoooo!! whoooooo!!

All righty! Well, I think I have us signed up for almost every holiday event out there. Here are a few photos of the Christmas tree lighting in Tiburon and the Santa Claus Express Train (aka the Napa Valley Wine Train). Both were with our friends Mike and Hilary and their little guy, Luca.

Hot mamas

Well, normally we have no holiday parties to go to. However, this year, we have TWO! Yippee! The party shown here was hosted by one of the many kick butt mamas in my mommy group. Time has flown but I have been a part of the group since Kiira was a mere babe which puts us at almost 5 years now. I have to say that I am always amazed at the group of women we have. We have those who have worked in the Fortune 500 crowd, those who are entrepreneurs and those that are everyday creative overachievers! There is always something going on and someone to learn from. Here's a large part of the group. Several are missing but you get the idea! Go girls!
I have to include a photo from our other party since Kiira and Alan both look so dashing!

Anticipation

Okay - not only do we have anticipation of the holidays on the gift side of things, but also we here in Tiburon, eagerly await the lighting of "the lights". Hmm...what do you mean by that you ask? Well, funny you should ask. As you come down Tiburon Boulevard towards our home, you decend a bit with a hill ahead. Perched part of the way up this hill is an apartment building that, every year, puts up a "photo" of lights. It seems to have a theme each year. The first year I remember was a shark. Clever, as Tiburon, means Shark in Spanish. Last year I also distinctly remember, an angel holding a rifel. Not my favorite. This year, they got it just right. A 40'-0" Peace sign. That sums it up.