organizing

 
One of my favorite moments... Tia and Audrey organizing our reusable bags/wrapping.  We work really hard to have a minimal amount of paper used at Christmas.  Nick's Mom made us awesome reusable Christmas gift bags and we love them!   Note our tree in the corner.

Celebrating 60 years!

Super fun and yummy dinner at Mongolian Grill!  Happy Anniversary Ted and Denise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa

 

Documentation

We might remember 2019 as the year that Judi went insane and adopted two street cats -- we'll also remember that Nick agreed to it and didn't stop the craziness. (He loves cats too.) The two young-ish street cats, who are learning to be indoor kitties, and not actually doing too bad, may be the reason we didn't have a tree.  Also, there's Loki -- he's crazy!  

 

Zio

 

Zio (front) Jiji (facing camera)

 

Loki

 

Jiji

 

Jiji

 

Loki

When we got out the tree, Jiji thought he should sit on it and attack anyone who came near his tree box.  We decided that it wasn't going to be worth fighting them and keeping them from climbing it.  

All good.  We'll try next year.  The first Christmas with 5 kitties.  More on Nono and Buddy soon.

 

  

The girls in front of our tree, 2019.

Best Present

Tia and I got Natalie this present. She was a little scared to open it because Tia and I were so excited to give it to her.  She needn't have worried.  She LOVED it.

(The present was Vegan Cheez-its.)

Tricked out

 

Prob Tia's favorite present!

Love Christmas

 

It's Jiji.  (I didn't really announce Zio and Jiji.  The arrived in September.  Life was crazy at work and now crazy with too many cats.  More soon.)

Stocking fun

Nutcracker

Kira's kneeling in front.  

VIP view from the stage.

Christmas Eve

 
They are in front of our tree.  (Long story... coming soon.)

Fireplace moments

 

Christmas 2019.  Nono and Audrey.  

Parents and sons

Grandpa, Grandma, Kristina and Peter!

 

Love!  

Grandma and Grandpa K

 

Look at them!  Coming up on 60 years!  

Sewing and pancaking pointe shoes

 

Here's part of the production for the Nutcracker.  She has to sew the elastics and ribbons on her shoes and then put skin tone make up on them.  

Ballet is kind of a traditional, elite endeavor and the goal of all this work is to create flesh-toned shoes that help show diversity and reflect identity.  It looks good on stage, but it's a LOT of work.  Hopefully shoe makers will get with the program and make more options of colors in shoes so that each dancer doesn't have to do all this work.

Beautiful flowers

 
I'm kind of starting backwards with this week.
This was last night.  Our beautiful Iris.
She's dancing a lot in the nutcracker this year.
I got to see the dress rehearsal on Thursday and it was incredible.
I have plans to see the Nutcracker 3 more times this year.
The girl 3 from the left is the girl we went to NY with for the summer.

The girl on the left end is our carpool friend and we LOVE our carpool!
They dance 5-6 days a week now so our carpool makes it possible. 

Meowy Catmouse

With my Tap teacher, another crazy cat lady!