Being Mrs. Santa Claus

I've been asked, once again, to be Mrs. Claus at the Montage Family Breakfast with Santa!
I have to admit, being asked is a pretty big honor for me...and, this will be my FIFTH straight year.
I can't wait.
I love the excitement. I love the music. I love the decorations...
I love the bacon. I love the chocolate fountain!
I love Santa (he must always be bilingual, and this will be Santa #3 for me!)
And, OH, I love the kids...more than anything!
Today, one of the banquet servers said, "Are you going to be Mrs. Santa this year? Cause my kids remember you! They hope you're going to be there!"
Seriously, that is the reason I LOVE to do it. That's what makes it all worthwhile!

Well, that...and the bacon.
And the chocolate fountain.

Christmas 1968

Have I ever mentioned how much I love looking through my old photo albums? Tonight, I found an absolute classic--Christmas at DiLalloland circa 1968. I am in the pink...second row, second from the right...yeah, the one with with the bangs. That's our Grandma Mel and HER mother, our Great-grandma, Mamma. Two of these children are my sisters and the rest are my cousins.
We are the children of my mother, her two sisters and their brother.
All eleven of us pictured were born within FIVE years of each other!
Yeah, and, there were SIX more born before they were finished.
Good Catholics. Good Times!
We had so much fun.
Actually, we still do.

Get up, take a shower and go to work.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

O Tannenbaum...

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas...

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Here comes Santa Claus...

(what's left from what was at one time over 500 Santas...)

I'll have a blue Christmas

Lucky Aunt Juju (or "what a difference six years makes!")

With Sunny, Thea, Thatcher and Logan on Thanksgiving 2005

With Sunny, Thea, Thatcher, Logan, Sidney and Elijah today!

HAPPY Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

So grateful to be heading to a beautiful seaside resort to spend Thanksgiving Day with the people that I truly love--the Banquets team, the Stewarding team, the Catering team and, of course, about 600 people who will be treated to a Thanksgiving experience that is sure to delight them in every single way!

And just so you know, the Artists' Cafe (the Montage Cafeteria) serves Turkey and Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie on Thanksgiving Day for all our associates. I am already planning to create the 'perfect bite' of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce--it will-no doubt-bring tears to my eyes! Yeah, probably four or five of those bites--at least!

(This one is for Gina--the non-pumpkin lover--Hostess Cupcakes for YOU!)

(Gotta LOVE this one!)

Thanksgiving with my family--all 16 of them--will be 'progressive style' tomorrow, beginning with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house. Dinner will be followed by a short drive to my (beautiful) new home for home-made apple pie and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (thank you Allison!), pumpkin pie, Hostess cupcakes (who doesn't love those?!) and coffee and after dinner drinks...I am so grateful to have a home where I am able to have EVERYONE over!

Happy Thanksgiving
I'm so grateful to have YOU in my life.

Oh what a beautiful morning...

My dad and I spent a little time at Santa Anita this morning with the girls...

This blood's for you...

Pops and me B (ing) positive at the blood drive today...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

While Christmas music played and pumpkin bread baked,
I wrapped my Christmas gifts and hung my Christmas lights.

It is, indeed, a wonderful life...

May the horse be with you...

Another fabulous day with friends and fillies...

Me and my Sweet JuJu!

Lorraine, (Sweet) Golden Mary, and Dave