Madd Max Celebrates Sam's Birthday

Birthday cuddles with Dad.

Birthday breakfast with the Liebleins.

Playing in the heated pool with Uncle Wills.

While Sam reads the Twitter.

Back at home, presents and Page birthday cake with Taisie.

Dinner out with Jess, followed by a drink tasting at the Walker Inn.

Where fancy drinks came in little teacups like this, and you had to smack yourself on the hand with rosemary sticks - for the aromatics or hipster-vibe, whichever.

Madd Max Head To San Clemente

For some cookie-making with the Leibleins.

Using the cookie press from Aunt Ally's childhood.

More cookies.

Along with some Uno playing with Uncle Wills, and where Jess met the only two people in the US who have never played Uno, Tom and Grace.

That's a quality sunset.

Sibs at dinner.

The Scrapper Has A Holiday Concert

The last one of the kids Thomas Edison Elementary career.

Sunrise, Sunset.

Santa Is The Man.

 Post-concert while Jess sobbed quietly off to the side.

Madd Max Has An Art Departy

Where all the people Jess loves from work stopped by for a cocktail.

 AJ, Andrew, Sasha, Brian and Sam (who flew in for the day from Chicago for the party).

Tak and Emma.

 Jamie and Jamie.

Isadora and Anne.

 Steven and Bea.

 Kathleen, whose birthday it also was.

 Mina and her roller skates.

 Bea and Baby Bea.

 Maloof and Kathleen.

 John, Lisa, Sam and Robin.

 Morgan and Liza Mae.

David and Adam.

Sam, Liza and Adam. 

Elizabeth, Pete and Adam.

Lisa and Rhea.

 The kids hid out in the back.  Maddie did give Diane a little recital.

Max and Henry played on Henry's game console, custom made by Arthur.

Madd Max Follows Tradition

With the making of Grandma's Christmas wreath and meringue cookies.  The kids and Jess made 5 different cookies this season - one a day for an entire school week. 

Madd Max Has An Urban Family Christmas

 The calm at the kiddie table before the storm.

 Pre-gift exchange, the kids all got into matching pajamas gifted by Aarin.

The parent paparazzi.

 Santa Audrey.

 Santa Lilly and Caroline.

 Santa Isse.

 Santa Fiona.

 Santa Ellie.

Santa Elizabeth.

 Tony.

 Gift exchange.

The adult table.

 Sam's birthday cake and Marissa's first try at the food spray gun.

Happy early Birthday, Sam. (Please note, the gloves on Marissa for some serious blue food dye cake cutting).

The Scrapper Gets A Decorated Door

 Jess got called in to assist another mom in decorating his teacher's  door.  Here's her BHA at work.

And the final door.  It took 3. Hours.  It was a surprisingly meticulous process.