Organic

Those are called the Organ Mountains. We took a very mild hike (courtesy of our cousins) into the mountains above Las Cruces. Ellen took to hiking like a mountain goat and would have cheerfully gone over the top if we'd let her.

And another holiday...

We even have a family Hanukkah party Thanksgiving weekend, regardless of the date. More family time! Ellen's enjoying wearing a kippah and waiting for her dessert.

A family affair

Thanksgiving is a chance for us to pack in months' worth of family time. Ellen gets a little baking in with her mother and grandmother.

Quickfire challenge

My brother and I helped out with a lot of the cooking and prep for Thanksgiving this year, as my mother wasn't feeling well. We both fancy ourselves top chefs. Here's Scott putting the final touches on his pumpkin mousse dessert.

Poseurs

We realized we didn't have any recent family photos. After the proofs came back, I realized I should have had my hair cut.

Nick Live!

We surprised Ellen with a trip to downtown LA to see the Nickelodeon Live show (including her favorites, the Backyardigans). She enjoyed the show but might have liked the popcorn best of all.

Scattered

Scattergories is the "women's game" at Thanksgiving. (Not quite as venerable as the ancient family poker game.) It's somehow been transplanted to the lake house for our reunion weekend.

Blossoms

I love the accidental composition on this one. The blossoms in the trees match Olive's outfit.

Drinking Game

We had a nice visit by Rachel's brother Josh and my niece Olive, from cold Chicago. Ellen enjoyed having her cousin around to entertain.

Tickle Me Ellen

Year-round al fresco dining is one of the pleasures of SoCal. Here we enjoy a morning brunch at Mike & Anne's.

Virtual family

iChat has been invaluable for keeping us connected to our family in the Midwest. Ellen is used to having video chats with her grandparents.

The Dampest Place on Earth

It never rains in Southern California...

Except this week. When it rained and rained and stormed and stormed. For days. It all started on Sunday, when the grandparents took Ellen (and us) to Disneyland. Fortunately, Disneyland will happily sell you Disney ponchos.

Bedtime story

Ellen still likes her books at bedtime. We've passed board books and Dr. Seuss for stories about little girls with serious princess complexes. Now who does that remind me of?

Not the Brady Bunch

We've reconnected with our adult cousins (three girls with strange parallel lives to me and my two brothers), and now we get together the night before Thanksgiving. It's a great new family tradition.

Four

Ellen celebrated her fourth birthday a few weeks early, with her family at the Wisconsin lake house. We don't really know anyone in California to invite to a birthday party.

All dressed up

Our odyssey begins with a pit stop in Chicago for a cousin's bar mitzvah. Ellen is thrilled to be in her new party dress and coat. She is happy to pose for pictures with grandma & grandpa.

Spoiled

Thanks to grandparents, aunts, and uncles, Ellen is swimming in presents this year.

Girls' Night Out

Ellen and her cousin enjoy a little post-Thanksgiving Dora marathon.