Birthday spoiled

 At least if I have to be another year older Vince makes it so fun that I don't notice the sands of time....

Just waiting for the big reveal...

The red bag had a gorgeous set of pale blue Natori PJ's inside.  I was so excited I forgot to take a photo!

Carrot cake.  Izzy is wondering what the hell is happening so early in the morning.

Finally got to open the packages and see what was inside;

Did I really just get two new Staud purses?   Told you I was being spoiled.

OK, birthdays aren't so bad...

Christmas Eve at the Pantages Theatre to see Stereophonic - A New Tradition Arises

We braved the rain (got soaking wet) and made our way to the Pantages to see "Stereophonic" on Christmas Eve Day.  Vince and I agreed that we have a new tradition - the theatre for a matinee and dinner at Farfalla.  

I can't walk in to this gorgeous palace without thinking about my Nana.  She brought me here when I was just a little kid to see a movie (yes, this used to be a movie house but has been turned in to a stage theater).  I always see myself walking down the aisle with her, hand in hand, when I was around 6 years old.  One of my oldest memories and so sweet...

After the play we went to dinner at Farfalla for a feast.  So far this holiday is pretty tasty :)

Christmas 2025

The holidays are upon us.  It's been very whirlwind since Halloween.  Vince had a surgery and my mom had an accident so the past few months have been caring for my loves.  But today is Christmas day and Vince is feeling himself again and mom is home from rehab so I have to say I'm feeling lighter inside and enjoying life more.

Here some random shots from the past month or so:

Vince calls this the Hee Haw Couch:

Nap time:

Izzy's Beauty shot:

Taking a walk in the hood.  The lights make everything so magical:

The cats get very involved when we're changing the sheets.  Playtime!

My friend Jessica sent this cute cat.  Vince made it a microphone :)

The cool weather is very inspiring to cook:  FOOD PORN SECTION :)

These were my favorites.  Pumpkin muffins with pecans on top.

Crustless Quiche:

Oatmeal cookies with cranberries and Lindt orange chocolate and walnuts.  Super good!

And when one has left-over milk....pudding!

Second batch - made with tart cherries instead of cranberries.  BUT our favs were the ones with dried cranberries.

Cranberry muffins.  Very low sugar - only 1/3 cup for 14 muffins.  These were good toasted with butter.

Two days before Christmas.  Made the sauce so it had time to get even better:

And voila!  Christmas dinner:  Chicken and roasted veggies from dinner at Farfalla on Christmas Eve.  Stuffed shells from scratch.  Delish!

I thought I'd try my hand at making blueberry cobbler.  I usually make a crisp that everyone raves about but I wanted to try a different topping.  Fail :(  The fruit was too sweet (added too much sugar - I knew it was too much when I was making this) And the topping....not so good.

Then I tried to make home made ice cream in this little ice cream maker.  Fail!  It didn't firm up.  So we put it in the freezer and that made ice milk.   Packed up the i.c. maker and am returning it.  It didn't work.  Good thing we were so full that desert wasn't a big deal.  I threw some Haagen Daz on top of the cobbler and some whip cream and we got by.  My teeth were blue after eating it.  Threw the rest away.  I'll try again another time.

More baking - Mario and Mig are coming over for a visit.  We made Hot Toddies and I baked some molasses cookies and cinnamon sugar muffins.  

Vince's Brother came over today so I got up early and made cranberry orange bread and chocolate chip cookies with pecans and cranberries.  I love baking season!  It was fun to give bro a small bread and different cookies.  I love to share my baked goods.

Friends for life!  I can say this now - since I've been friends with Mig and Mario since Jr. High.  A couple of true and truer people.  I'm really blessed to have good friends (not to mention the guy on the left who is my everything).

A few days before Christmas:  Since Vince is feeling better we put on some "real" clothes and celebrated Dustin's 40th birthday with him at the Magic Castle.  We had a super fun night and it felt so good to go out:

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

IZZY was just a baby last year.  Now he's all grown and enjoying his second Christmas:

Vince has a way with wrapping:

Not his present but he helped open it.

It rained all night but just as the sun came up it cleared:

I wanted to open up my own present but Izzy helped:

We started out with rain but now the sun is shining;

The sun peaking through the clouds looks like fire.  Happily it isn't.

SMOKIE had to get in to the act:

What did you get?

As we opened presents nature was doing it's thing outside:

This isn't on Christmas day but I loved how Smokie is holding Vince's hand and foot as they napped.

And Izzy is always amusing:

Smokie reading his Christmas card that Kat sent:

After all the sweets and big meals are over we'll have to celebrate even more at Don Cuco's for tacos!

This present from Jessica had me cracking up:

We watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and Christmas specials this year.  Such heartfelt, wonderful shows - both filled with hope and love and giving.  We have a cel on our wall from the original Thanksgiving special.  

From the Christmas show:

And I had to have a photo of Charlie Brown with Linus.  Linus is extra special to me this year because one of my dear clients does the voice for him.  This makes me so happy!

The day after Christmas we went to my Uncle Bob's house for a family party.  There were about 30 people there, lots and LOTS of food, everything was great - except that I forgot to take any photos except this one with my cousin Bobby...