Home for the Holidays

It's time for my annual Christmas round-up! This year was a little less active due to my ill-timed rib injury, but there's no place like home for when you're recuperating.

Our first stop was my brother's house, where we met their two new foster kids. And boy, was that place busy! I think this picture sums things up pretty well.

This is a really cute picture. Who knew my brother was such a softie!

Next we went to my sister's to celebrate Christmas. I always love watching how the kids get so excited on Christmas morning. Tricia and I were especially impressed with Alex's organizational skills as he unloaded his stocking.

Little Elise kind of reminds me of Cindy Lou Who.



And she got a bike!

Grandpa helped Alex put together his new Lego set.

Later that day we went for a walk around Corriganville Movie Ranch, which is right behind their house. I can't believe I had lived there for so long and never visited Corriganville! It's a relic of the old Western film genre. A lot of movies and tv shows were filmed there back in the 1930s and 40s, and then it became a tourist attraction in the 1950s. I can't say I'm a connoisseur of Western films, but it was pretty neat to walk around these old movie "sets."

This is where they would film water scenes. Apparently The African Queen was filmed here. Looks real jungley, huh?

I believe this is called Gorilla Rock. In person it really does look like an ape was frozen in the rock.

We also came upon an actual movie set! Unfortunately there was a fence around it so I couldn't get any good pictures.

The next day we went to The Grove shopping center in Hollywood so Corinne could spend her American Girl gift cards. This isn't the best picture of me (I'll blame it on not feeling well), but Tricia looks so stylish! :)

On our way back to the house, we drove through Beverly Hills just to gawk a little. No, I didn't see any of the Real Housewives walking around.

As I excitedly pointed out the famous designers on Rodeo Drive (Badgley Mischka! Dolce and Gabbana!), my mom and sister wondered how I "knew so much" about fashion. Apparently they don't watch enough E!

And then the following day I flew back to DC (and subfreezing temperatures). It always seems to go by so quickly.

Happy New Year, y'all!