New Years With Allen

We got a nice visit from Allen just in time for the new year.

 The kids celebrate the end of 2016.

They are enjoying their sparkling cider a little too much.

This crew...

...wishes you a Happy New Year! 

Into the Woods

We went for a fun post-holiday hike at nearby Lake Lagunitas.

 Photo op!

Kids on stump.

Redwoods.

Tree cave.

Inside the tree!

Moody wintertime woods.

Enjoying the outdoors...

...with two very fun people!

Christmas Day!

The big day is here.  

I guess Santa came!

Happiness.

Stockings equal new toothbrushes.

Dexter give Grammy and Papa a gift.

Hugs for Papa.

Christmas grownups.

Christmas dinner insanity.

Hoping our spatchcocked turkey is properly cooked!  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve With Spatchcock and Stump

Preparations and excitement on Christmas Eve!

 Maya gives Dexter a pretend haircut.

Daddy and Papa!

This year we attempt a spatchcocked turkey, which involves cutting out the backbone and flattening out turkey for cooking.

Grammy and her sous chef.

Delicious decorations for Grammy's play on the French Bûche de Noël, that she calls a stump cake.

Cakes baked.

Decorating time.

Looking good!

So exciting!

Papa and Grammy Arrive

It's that time of year and the kids were so excited that Grammy and Papa were arriving to celebrate Christmas with us.

 Maya and Dex waiting by the window for their arrival.

Dexter and Papa get into some serious conversation.

We decided to head to San Francisco for a holiday symphony with Charlie Brown.

A quick walk through city hall on the way to the symphony hall.

Enjoying the beautiful building.

Maya and Dexter with two of their favorite people.

Now at the symphony hall with city hall behind.

One last pre-symphony shot.

Post symphony, Maya and Dexter got some pre-Christmas gifts.  It hard to be a kid.

Screening Time

Another year, another Star Wars movie complete.  This year, Daddy did a lot of amazing work on Rogue One.  We got to see it a few days early in the Metreon theater in San Francisco with a few hundred of our closest friends.  Dexter isn't quite old enough yet.

 Storm trooper shot is required.

Movietime.

It was great!

That Time of Year

Christmas season is here, so...

Daddy sits on Santa's lap.

We find the perfect tree.

Daddy and his monkey!

Beard No More

So, after the Cubs won the world series and Rogue One was complete and Momma couldn't take it anymore, the beard was finally removed in several stages...

 Stage one.

Stage two.

Stage 3.

Stage four.  Hello stranger, it's been a while.

Holiday Party

Another year, another Lucasfilm holiday party.  This year at City Hall!

Todd and his beard are ready for the evening.

 Impressive.

Party time.

On the staircase.

A toast from some fancy people from Rogue One: Alan Tudyk (actor), Michael Giacchino (composer), Kathy Kennedy (head of Lucasfilm), Diego Luna and Mads Mikkelsen (actors)