"I Know You"

Ready to get out of the house, my mom and dad picked us up and took us to lunch at the AO Cafe, aka, the OK Cafe.

We got there just before the big lunch rush, and Bonnie couldn't believe who our waitress was.

Aurora. At least she thought the girl was Aurora.

She kept saying over and over, "she wookth wike Aworrra."  And then she finally asked her if she was going to sing "I Know You."

Precious.

The Aftermath

The girls spent the day playing with everything they got for Christmas.  Everything.  Especially the gigantic castle that Nana and Grandad sent.  They also somehow roped me into helping them color it.

Sneaky little girls.

Christmas 2011

Well, Santa came to our house.

And he was very generous.

And I cannot believe that I let the girls ride around on my new hardwoods with their new scooters.  That didn't last long, I will say.

I will also say that Bonnie had no interest in taking her helmet off.  Or any interest in wearing the Christmas jammies that Mimi got for her.

This year was definitely our best Christmas yet.  The excitement on the girls' faces when they came down the stairs and discovered that Santa had, in fact, visited our house is a vision I want to remember forever.

They spent a long time examining everything before finally asking if it was okay for them to open their presents.  And by "them" I mean Grace.  I am assuming she was a little hesitant because I'd been telling her for several days leading up to Christmas that she had to wait until Christmas day to open anything.

She is definitely my little rule follower.

Bonnie opened her gifts (and Corey's and my gifts) like she opens gifts everyday for a living.  It was hilarious.  

After having fun at our house, we all got dressed and headed over to Gramps and Mimi's to celebrate.  We even sang Happy Birthday to Jesus (Grace's idea) and to Grandad!

And I'm just going to get this out of the way right now lest I get all teary, it was a really, really, fun time but it was sure not the same without Dave, Stacy and the girls.  It is so hard to believe that it's been a year since they moved.

On the bright side, it sounds like the California Losins had a wonderful Christmas, too.  And I can promise that one year (after Corey makes partner) we will spend Christmas at Lake Tahoe!

George loved his new rawhide wreath we brought him (which, as it turns out, he got to taste twice...yuck!).  He said it was totally worth the upset stomach, though.

As usual, we all got spoiled...

...and we all had a very merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Tradition

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Corey's family.  And every year we go home with more than we brought.

This year, Grace got more arts and craft activities than I think she knows what to do with.  I can already tell that we are going to have to pace ourselves so that we don't run out before school starts again.

Bonnie was in dress-up clothes and jewelry heaven.

And Coltrane, well, he had to deal with a lot of girly activities this year being outnumbered by his cousins.

Next year will be a different story, however, when the numbers even out with the arrival of Coltrane's baby brother.  Ellie and Josh will be welcoming their new little guy this spring!

After the gift-giving festivities, we swung back home for a quick wardrobe change and then met Mimi and Gramps at Christmas Eve mass.  We ended up putting Bonnie in the nursery as she was more interested in talking to the folks sitting behind us (and around us and above us in and in front of us) than listening to church.  

After communion I sneaked out a side door to go get her and she wasn't all that interested in coming with me (until I reminded her about Santa's impending visit).

Then she was all, "Bye!  Thee yoo laterrr Miss Anna Marrrie!"

As we approached the pew where my family was sitting, Bonnie announced as loudly as she possibly could (During the final prayer when all was completely silent), "Mimi!!  I have a GWEAT day!  I played toyth!!!!

All those people behind, in front, above and around us cracked up.

After we got home, it was time to feed the reindeer, leave cookies and milk out for Santa, take baths, and read "The Night Before Christmas" and the "Cajun Night Before Christmas."

We like to keep New Orleans alive over here.