The Season Heats Up

as the Page Bethels arrive from Panama on Wednesday. 

We all head down to Disneyland on Friday afternoon--

Simon who doesn't love but ADORES small Legos stands in front of a very big small Lego Hulk at Disneyland.

 

A bit of nighttime ice skating for the tropical Pages.

Girls posing in front of "Frozen"

 before we head into the park on Saturday

Excited kids between rides. 

 Disneyland was exceptionally crowded but super exceptionally fun.

Back in Burbank, cousins playing

together

and I-Padding--a favorite activity. 

Lunch at Sushi A-Float in Pasadena.  

Little boats filled with different sushis float past you and you grab what you like.

 

 

More ice skating in Burbank,

 

Cousins together spending the night at our house while the parents take the evening off--evening pizza and watching "The Good Dinosaur."

 

The early morning IPad Buddha.

 Lots of activities -- lots of fun.

Christmas Parties and Preparations

 

 

 

 

The Page/Kender outside lights going up--Sam on the roof, Maddie too!

 

 

 

 

Decorating the little tree

 

and the big one.

 

Rudolph Christmas cookies!

 

 

At Toby's Memory Mornings program at the Alzheimer Assoc. in LA--singing along with members of the LA Opera--pretty wonderful!!

 

 

That Elf--sneaky guy and constantly on the move.

 

 

Waiting...

 

 

Thanksgiving

 

 

 

Getting ready -- Maddie with her new shiny black heels!

 Max in his spiffy Irish sweater--

 to go to San Clemente for a Thanksgiving feast with Jess' brother Wills, his wife Ali, and her parents.

 

 

 

 

And to the beach afterwards--

 

 

 

the M's collecting kelp along the shoreline.

 

 

 

 

 

In faraway Gamboa, Gwen holds Nibbles, the rabbit, in the early morning sunlight.

 November Visitors

 

Lea and Carl, down from Palo Alto, staying in the studio, early morning coffee with Lea.

 

Linda and Jess, out from New York, here to dinner with Spencer and Faber and the Page/Kenders. 

 

Max and Maddie, art in the studio after an overnight.

Rest of Gwendie's Visit

 

 

Rachel came back from her conference early Sunday morning, in time to see mounds of Halloween candy and give Gwen tons of hugs. 

 

 

 

We had a Thai lunch out with Sam and family--they bring Uno or Old Maid to restaurants to fill in the wait time for meals to arrive--very smart move.

 

 

 

A great hike 

 

 

in nearby Stough Canyon

 

 

 

and I get some sweet time with my Gwen.

Burbank Halloween

 

 

 

Starts with intense pumpkin carving by Sam, with Max's help--this one kind of like a fringed-lipped bat.

 

 

The costumes:  Max as Darth Vader!

 

 

and Maddie as a Jedi warrior with light saber.

(Their costumes made by Mimi, the other grandma). 

 

Gwen, a spooky lady in white.

 

 

 

 

Sam and Jess' scary clown friend John!!!!

 

 

 

 

The gang, ready to go. 

 

 

The pumpkins lined up on the stoop, hoping for trick or treaters.

Gwendo's Visit

 

Whilte Rachel was at a conference in Monterey we got to watch and play with Gwendolyn all week:

 

 

 

At Kidspace--a selfie on the spider web,

 

 

 

at a neat playground in Pasadena,

 

 

 

at a gymnastics lesson.

And she entertained us:

 

 

 

reading to Toby,

 

 

 

taking a few photos

 

 

 

from our new car.

COZY!

Burbank and Kiddos!

 

Here we are in Burbank, nice and warm and lovely to be surrounded by family--

kiddos!

 

 

Doing Legos,

 

 

 

 

and more Legos,

 

 

 

 

and kiddo in from Panama, eating strawberries,

 

 

 

trying on wigs,

 

 

 

and more wigs,

 

 

 

 

and proudly getting a blue belt.

Good to be back!!!