Christmas and the holidays in general can be a bit tiring.
But, they are also exciting. I love watching the kids open their gifts.
All the classic stuff like race tracks and tents and even light sabers (the new classic).


Some gifts can be practical, like shelving, for example.
Not very fun to unwrap but pretty great when the closet is redone and I can find things. I suppose its like getting a scarf gift as a kid.Or a new book...until its read.

I love the holidays. Even with all the craziness. Its great having all the family time, seeing friends, eating lots of desserts. Now that the gift giving is over and we've all slowed down, its nice just to hang. And reflect. And rest.

Christmas Eve

Last night, Max and I went to get my parents at the airport. He brought his wand along just in case.


Tonight, we hung our socks up on the fireplace waiting for Santa's magic. We can't wait until morning. Based on the giggles and screams from the other room, the morning may be a long way off.

Ho ho ho and a Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah. Night 2. Time to decorate the tree. What fun, I love the holidays.

Wait, its time now to light the menorah...and then of course there's the Chanukah gelt and latkes and jelly donuts....mmmm.


OK. Completely out of order but I thought I should add a picture from this past weekend, truly the first day of the holidays...a night out with BZ. We were at a wedding party in downtown SF and there was a photo booth and alcohol and well, the rest is history. Or, at least a few silly pictures.

Babysitting

Yes. It's the 1st night of Chanukah but not for these other kids.
Their moms are out at a spa night. This is my holiday spirit. The only
one missing is the baby. She's in my lap. Getting my fill of baby
smells. It should hold me for a while.

Fresno

I am being relocated to Fresno. To keep my job, I need to be willing to be based in Fresno, CA. Translation: Find a small share for weekdays to commute back and forth from.

Yesterday, our family took a road trip to Fresno to see the different neighborhoods, meet a few prospective home shares and to play miniature golf.



All in all, a successful but very long trip.

It was good just to see the reality of this Fresno chapter of my work life. I resent being pulled away from the family but am grateful for a paycheck (and so is BZ).


We got home just in time for a friend to drop off his kids to watch for the evening. Actually, he dropped them off for a sleepover, which I admit, was a HUGE surprise. No problem, it was my kid who vomited the next morning, not his.

A long day.

Our gingerbread house

Max and Aiden make the house with a bit of parental
supervision..."stop licking your fingers Aiden!"

Montclair stroll

Hangin with the Bank bear...not a great photo but a great time.

Our little Oakland district had an evening of holiday cheer (and shopping).

The kids saw Santa but chose not to do the lap dance, we got cookies in every store, hot cider....it was fun seeing friends and classmates in the streets and, I have to admit...it was great seeing stores getting customers...

Serving my country

Monday, back to school. Tuesday, Jury Duty.


There is an art to avoiding service. I have not yet mastered that art. I now know what I should have done, but it won't help me this time. I report to the courthouse downtown at 8:30 am. Not an easy place to find parking.

I am serving my community. This is a good thing. Within a week, I find out if I am still employed for next year. This is a bad thing. The timing is a bit stressful but perhaps its an opportunity in disguise. You know, giving to others, community, service with a smile...

Rounding out the holidays

I forgot to mention that I had a great time with my nephew Sam and niece Tess (Emma was in Chicago playing Hockey). We hiked down to the little village by way of a great wooded path with fantastic climbing trees.
Even Aiden got into the act. Max observed, and then fought off a few pesky dragons.

They left Sunday at 5 am and by 10am, the boys and I were playing miniature golf.

This was the first time that Aiden got into the act. He loved it. And the coolest thing of all was at the end of the course, the "19th hole." This is the final one that takes your ball (ending the game). If you get your ball into the impossible small pipe at the end of the path, you win a free game. By the luck of Zeus, Max nailed it, setting off a string of crazy sirens that nearly gave me a heart attack. We screamed and yelled and picked up our free pass. A great way to end a holiday weekend.