The Week In-between Christmas & New Years!

The week after Christmas has become of my most favorite weeks of the year and now that I've surrendered to the idea of 'staycation,' I'm enjoying it even more. By looking at these picture you never would have guessed that it was middle of Winter!

We celebrated Boxing Day at our English friends house in Venice beach and the boys couldn't resist going for a dip

We decided the boys needed to experience ice skating, so we caught the bus to Santa Monica and taught Levi and Felix how to skate. It was a bit of a back breaker, but they springily loved it.

We took in the National Geographic Photography exhibit at the Annenbergy Photography center, and Levi (wearing my cardi) drew pictures when he felt inspired. I should have taken a picture of them b/c they were quite fun to see what caught his eye. One was of a photograph that showed a shark caught in a net.

We also showed Messie and Pop Pop Johns office and had lunch outside in Culver City

We logged in a lot of time at the park with the brothers

My gorgeous friend Amy (who was my 1st friend in London and who we later visited in Dubai) was in town with her husband and two girls, so we spent lots of time visiting, swimming, and eating out!

Baby Gus pool side at the Lowes

We also caught up with the gorgeous Jamaica and her boyfriend Duvet who is darling! We approve!

My birthday was lovely. I had lunch with my parents and John, and we caught an afternoon movie 'The Wolf of Wall Street," which we all loved (until you realize it's a true story!). Above is the sign I came home to in the afternoon. Clever boys!

The boys made me a birthday cake that was delicious!

Levi made me my very 1st pinata! It was full of candy, oranges, misc toys, and even a new toothbrush head!

Birthday snuggle!

We closed the year out with dinner with Amy and Hussain, which was just brilliant to be reunited with old, dear friends who make us laugh AND who knew us pre-kid AND abroad. It was such a treat to ring in the new year with them.

All in all, it was so relaxing, fun and nice to sleep in our own bed (well most of the time...see next post for 1night get away with boys and Messie and Pop Pop)