having myself a merry lil christmas still.

One day of work, and then I was off to Denver.

We went to the King Tut exhibit (http://www.kingtut.org/) at the Denver Art Museum wih this little cowboy below.

Or at least we tried to...  It was sold out for the day, so instead we bought our tickets in advance for another day and went home for a one-man metal show.  

Paper Jams.  I am assuming all of my friends with kids are fully aware of this new toy.  It's a guitar and amp/speaker that plays the rock songs while they strum along. Minor has really got the whole rockstar persona going. He licks it - throws it behind his head -  

and really just puts on a rockin concert. 

FYI. I didn't take very many pictures during the adult activies.  Just know that there were plenty :)

 

Next day. We went to the mall where Minor found this tie for a killer deal at Jcrew. 

Then we came home and put together this ginormous puzzle - actually he put it together and every once in awhile I would just strategically place pieces in his line of sight. 

And then it was time for another rock show

 with a bit of christmas flare.

 Then off to the bowling alley.

  

Really fun place - they actually let you bring your drinks down to the bowling part instead of keeping them back behind the line.  We drank wine while dining on some tasty treats and chillin on leather sofas - really bowling with a whole new level of class.

~

 Minor had been asking for hot chocolate for days and Valecia finally caved. So she brewed up some cocoa and added some whipped cream and marshmellows. 

All the while, she decided it would be fun for Minor to try the whipped cream straight out the can.

He was a bit nervous...

 A bit excited.....

 and then a bit disappointed.

It was not a hit.

He sure was a hit with me though.

l.o.v.e. this kid

and his mom is pretty okay too.

having myself a merry lil christmas

Remember when you were a little kid and you just couldn't wait to open presents..  Well, that was Whitney.  Kortney and I were more than happy to get some extra moments of shut eye, but Whit wasn't having it.  While Kort and I might look peaceful, just imagine the Whit-ster yelling, GOOD MORNING, IT'S CHRISTMAS.  We didn't make the poor girl wait too long, but we knew it was going to be long day.

First things first, unload all the gifts. Kortney and I opening the box from Mom and Dad, and also Santa and Frosty :)

The stockings were hung by the doorway with care....

a lil back story.... the night before, Kortney is telling us how Kai has soooo many pairs of socks and soooo many pairs of underwears... so many they don't have room for them all. As a group, we decide whoever can guess how many pairs he actually has gets to decide how and when we open up gifts. 

So out come the socks, out come the underwear and we all guessed... no offense Kortney, but there really weren't that many.... Next year, maybe we will throw your personables out for all of us to count.

And imagine who won..... Kortney.

We did a quick JCPenney photo shoot for all..

My Christmas card to all of you.....

Kortney and I.

Kort and Kai, and Ula with her bell.

Our family of four...

where o where is Ula...? darnit.

And then the fun began - We had a ton of presents to open.

Ula enjoying her Christmas treat...

Kai, with an everly-cleverly wrapped gift... I don't think you get the full effect of what I accomplished here. Next year, I should work at one of those mall booths. I AM GOOD.

Whitney gave Kai this AC/DC shirt but also included Kortney's glasses from elementary school.

(fyi.. she totally lied on her eye test because she wanted to get glasses)

Another back story.... Kortney and Kai started dating right around Valentine's Day and they both gave each other the movie, Casablanca. So there they are opening up their gifts on Christmas and imagine their surprise when they figure out they both got each other the same thing again...  a Blue-Ray DVD, netflix, pandora player... Great minds sure think alike.

After gift opening, one of Whitney's friends joined us for some inconspicuous holiday beverages out on the harbor dock.

Oh Ula, our fearless reindeer mascot - what a good lil dog.

We finished the night at our favorite local pub, with our favorite bartender.

I took the girls to the airport much too early on Christmas Day and then I was off to enjoy the remainder of the holiday by my lonesome :(

It's okay, at least baby jesus is here :)

get me to the getty

Ever since I moved here I have wanted to go to the Getty Museum. I didn't really know what it was about or even where it was (thank you, navigation) for that matter - - I just knew it was something I wanted to do.

It was 80 degrees at least, sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky.  The day before I was out on my front patio in my swimsuit, reading and chatting on the phone, so I wanted this day to be more productive.  I have decided to immerse myself in the culture of LA.

So I get there (first try!) and parking is $15.  I think to myself, this is going to be an expensive immersion, but the museum itself is free and so is the train that takes you to the top. I get off the train and had no idea where to go... so I just start walking and I end up in the Gardens of the Getty.

 Then it was off to the sculpture gardens.

 and after I had some lunch I found this... talk about pear shaped :)

And then I went inside, where.... I am not going to lie... I think I needed a guide (which they offer but of course, I just couldn't get there). There was so much too look at - drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, books..... I hadn't heard of most of the artists but they were a big deal. 

 This one I know. You could always tell the really expensive ones because they were behind glass.

But I didn't need the glass hint on the Irises.

To be honest, I appreciated the art, but I loved the architecture. Every corner seemed to hold something.  

 

And then of course, the view.... I didn't even know how lucky I was that I choose to go on a clear day. I had never seen Los Angeles in this light. You could see everything.

 The beach cities to the Big City...

don't worry, I was wearing my glasses... I could see everything just fine - plus they make me look artsy.

 

Good night dear Getty.

LA is alive with the sound of music

Live music continues to pass through Lala land.

Mike Gordon, the bassist from Phish played at the Troubadour at the beginning of October.  Truly one of the smallest venues (besides coffee shops) where I have ever seen a show.  No lines, no hustle bustle and most amazingly..... I could see the entire time.  What a treat!

 

  and another cool thing... he came out after the show and signed autographs! what?!?! I didn't get one, but I did get a super cute sweatshirt, that I wear almost daily.

 And then in the beginning of December, the John Butler Trio came to town and played at the Wiltern.

I had never seen this group before, and was pleasantly surprised.  Ahhhhhmazing guitar.

and I love me some guitar... 

actually everything was pretty good. including my time - I had a pretty darn good time.