Dh left for NY this morning and I decided to make use of my "free" night by having some gal pals over for dinner. The usual suspects and the usual fun! We really need to start scheduling something more often!

I am nearly ready for my trip, just need to pack, which I will do tomorrow. I am not even gone or back and am already trying to coordinate with Dh something for our Easter break. Hopefully the snow will stick around and we can get up skiing for a few more days before...

Dh and I leave for London at the end of this month and will be gone for 6 full nights. It is the longest we will (the two of us) be away from the kids ever. They are going to be here at home with my parents and our ever-capable nanny, yet I am feeling so anxious to leave them.

Given that we're contemplating a job transfer across the pond, I need to go. While Dh is working I am going to be checking our real estate/rentals and private schools for the kids and trying to get a feel...

Well, after spending the last five years at official Oscar parties, we had a first this year and not only were not at an Oscar party, but didn't even tune them in. In fact, we were happily eating dinner at some friends (what an amazing dinner it was!) and I have no idea who one what!

While it can be fun to get glammed up, walk the carpet, etc., I can happily say I didn't miss it in the least this year!

Last night the kids had their Christmas concert at school. All of the kids were so sweet and so precious that it brought tears to our eyes. Dh was able to fly home from his trip early (due to a problem with his boss' MIL) and I know he was so thankful to be able to make it to the concert and I know the kids were excited to have him there!

They sang "Rudolph" and DS was very excited to be picked as the line leader (an honor given to the model citizen) and lead his class...

Took DD with two other moms and their girls to see The Nutcracker over the weekend. DD's ballet instructor belongs to a ballet company and was performing in it. I'm not sure which one of us loved it more--her for seeing it the first time and seeing her teacher dance "like a real ballerina" or me for the memories of seeing it in my own childhood and now being able to share this with DD?

Seeing it also made me think of Doris, my grandmother's friend. Doris had 2 grandsons...

Ugh, tomorrow is December 5th and I am just not in the holiday spirit. I don't feel grumpy but I am just not feeling motivated to get stuff done in preparation for Christmas this year...this is not like me! In fact, I don't even have my Christmas tree on hold yet, let alone set up! Very unlike me!

On a positive note, my cards (almost all of them) went out yesterday and I've now heard from two people that they've rec'd them. Note to self--get those decorations done!

Just back from our Thanksgiving travels and went out to Palm Springs with another family for 4 nights. Saturday we took all the kids up to 11,000 ft elevation via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and let the kids frolic in the snow dumped by the recent rain storm. After we'd all had our fill of cold and snow, we headed down the mountain, hopped in the car and went back to the pool at our townhome for some swimming in 83 degree weather.

Not often one can say they've built a snowman and...

Blue skies today. Woke up to blue skies today which hopefully means the winds are changing going from off-shore to on-shore. While it's still hot and not windy, this is promising news for those dealing with the fires. Bring on the ocean breeze and higher humidity!

I just finished hosing down our driveway to get rid of some of the ashes, the run-off was black, I can only imagine what I was breathing in. Thank goodness all schools have cancelled outdoor activities for today.

If you read this, please say a prayer for a friend's 5 year old son. Without revealing too much identifying information, this boy needs life-sustaining prayers and the family needs prayers of peace and strength.

Ugh, woke up this morning (as expected) to smoke filled skies and ash everywhere.

Turned on the local news and are being told to stay inside due to unhealthful air quality. So hard to do when you have active young kids and it's a hot day and you have no a/c in your house and must keep the windows closed due to the ash everywhere.

Been watching the news and feeling so badly for those with homes/loved ones in harms way. How incredibly scary it must be for those people....