Let the Countdown Begin!

This advent calendar holds so many memories for me. I made it about 30 years ago when the kids were little, and every December nostalgia hits me as I remember them speaking (fighting?) for their turns to put the ornament-of-the-day on the tree. Where did all those years go??? Now I have to put them up every day (Grant doesn't speak for a turn -- can't figure that out!!) unless a grandkid stops by. So, grandkids, come on over and help me out!

It's a Stella-bration!

Love Love Love her!

What a beautiful family!

F F L !!

That stands for the 4th annual

Madame Alexander Doll Collectors Club

Fall Friendship Luncheon!!

We look forward to this day all year long!Everybody attending the luncheon got the doll in the middle.

She's adorable!

The one on the left is the one Janice won in the raffle. She's Mexico.

The one on the right is Fern from Charlotte's Web --

I won her in the raffle!!

The 3 doll-collecting sisters and Ruth's friend Roxie

We picked a lucky table this year --

We were all raffle winners!

YEA!!!!

Sea and Land Adventure

Ok, I know it's time to change my blog.

Emily wrote an awesome

day-by-day recap of our trip on her blog

so I'm just going to add some pictures. The girls by the fountain in front of our hotel in Long Beach.

Where did that truck come from? Loved the birds of paradise that were everywhere.

Watching the girls get their pictures taken in one of those photo booths.

Is she wondering about what's ahead

or starting to feel a little seasick?

the birds' favorite island near Catalina Island
Catalina Island
the gated community where the really rich people live
Catalina from the window of our little tour bus
Flowers all over the place in October! Our ship out in the harbor

The beach in Ensenada, Mexico. We had to drive around

the point of land in the distance

to get to LaBufadora

Things we saw along the way . . . a truckload of onions,
the army in trucks with their machine guns,
and Costco!
Things we saw when we got there . . . a Mexican buy playing a flute,kayakers in the ocean,
the spray of the blowhole,

and a fun real authentic Mexican restaurant.

Back on land, California Adventure had the

cutest Halloween decorations!

So did Disneyland!
Even Minnie had a costume

High School Musical 3and the cast of "UP"

Who is that crazy driver in front of me?

Loved, loved, loved it all!!!

the end