What goes up, must come down. Above – on the roof last week taking down Mrs. Claus’s Christmas lights.

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Below – A view of two remodeling projects I could see from the roof, both on opposite corners of Orchard and Santa Barbara.

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Cousins. The rope wall is always good fun.

Alo shows a little dexterity in his toes here …

At the docks along Harbor Drive before a ferry ride to Coronado.

Group photo from Coronado with the city on the other side of the bay as a backdrop. It was a beautiful day!

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Selfie.

Future’s so bright …

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Looks like Santa paid a visit to Amma & Pappa’s House. No, that’s not snow you see outside the window …

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Maya explains about Santa’s visit last year:

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Our Christmas with the kids began Christmas afternoon with a really good dinner (a huge prime rib roast & salmon for me and all the fixin’s) before hearing Santa’s “HO HO HO” upstairs. It was kinda scary, but we ran upstairs to find the sliding glass door slightly open and some packages trailing behind on the deck. Santa must’ve heard us coming and dropped a couple packages on the deck on the way out. Alo and Kando spent a while looking out the window to see if they could spot Santa and his reindeer somewhere along the horizon. Maybe they saw him … ???

The holidays have changed a bit around here and this was the first year the grandkids missed spending Christmas Eve at Great Grandma’s. It was also the quietest Christmas Eve I can ever remember at Great Grandma’s house! Having our Christmas celebration on Christmas evening was very special and it made me reflect on how it doesn’t matter when you celebrate, it’s that you do celebrate. Every day is the season for holding your family close to your heart no matter how close or far away they are.

When the night has come and the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won’t be afraid
No I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone and iMac with LOVE and gratitude (& a sore throat) …