Off to a GREAT Start... Well, some of us, anyway!

So far, 2013 has been the Best of Times and the Not So Great of Times (won't say "The Worst"-- things could certainly be worse!) But I, Julie, had The BEST of times visiting family in Chicago last weekend. The rest of the fam has been good... except for a nasty little critter called the flu bug that got all three of them in turn. I think the whiskey I consumed in Chicago inoculated me. (That one's for you, Dad. :)

The Reason For the Party: Uncle Dick turns 85!!

The Other Reason For the Party: It had been far too long since we had all gathered...

My Cousin and My Sister: 7 and 8 years older than me, respectively-- always the Big Girls when we were growing up. Still my heroes. 

Dad, Mom, Aunt Nana, Uncle Dick-- they laugh a lot when they're together!

Often, the laughter is a result of things wholly inappropriate for retelling here. 

And as this is the Internet, that is saying a lot. 

Suffice to say that much of the humor stems from a Miss Oaxaca Pageant many moons ago, deep in the heart of beloved (right, Krissy?) Mexico.

We do a lot of this when we're together: 

And, because happy hour isn't until 5, we had some time to kill during the day, so we were total Culture. Vultures. 

For real. I mean look at this: HEADSETS! (And I'm really and truly listening. It's a lily pond...)

 ommmmmmmmm.....

Fast forward a whole bunch of years: The Museum of Contemporary Art was spectacular...

...as can be said of the whole city of Chicago. What a great city, fabulous company and fun times!! 

And so good to come home to these sweet little wonders (and their unpictured papa!)

 But, alas, the flu bug bit all three of them this past week. First Mike, then Winnie...

 

 ..then JezMonkey. (It's a thermometer, not a cigar. For those of you who know her, I know you may have been wondering...)

 However, I'm happy to report that all are healed and tomorrow everyone will be back at work/school! This past weekend, we even started some Valentine Day crafting; but no spoilers here: you'll have to check your mail in a couple of weeks to see what this little Tiara-ed princess is working on...

Merry Merry and So Much More

We took a holiday adventure to SoCal to see uncles, cousins and grammies/pas, oh my! It was fabulous... and we were little trooper travelers.  

 Winnie was lucky enough to get in on an art class with her older and very talented cousin. She drew a submarine and learned how to hold a pencil like an artist, stand back to get perspective on her progress, and focus on the shapes that make up the bigger picture. Great stuff!

 But the TRUE art came in the form of graham cracker engineering and licorice interior design. Displayed here with the cousins! 

One of the best things about Christmas in LA? It's citrus season!! 

 Here we are lighting the menorahs. All 8 of them or so. I believe we redefined the miracle of Hannakuh as "A blessed miracle we didn't burn down the neighborhood." 

 

I got a "Play School" set up... and it's kept us both highly entertained for many hours on end. LOVe it when gifts actually DO that. :)

I got bandaids. Which pretty much makes me the happiest little girl on the planet. I can put on as many as I want, wherever I want, as often as I want. And don't worry, I won't be running out any time soon because this is just one of the boxes. The Hannukah Fairies totally get me. Although the orange thing? I think they might have been thinking of my sister on that one.

And, at the end of the day, an old friend is the very best. 

Home again for the New Year... A LATE night  out, complete with music, friends of all ages, food and a countdown to the fabulous new year. 

And a fondue tradition pretty much makes it imperative that all resolutions to eat healthy and get lots of exercise begin on January 2nd. 

 Yum.

HAPPY, HEALTHY, JOYOUS and WONDROUS 2013 TO ALL!!!