Say you have started working at McDonald's and you have the job down. Now a big group of family members shows up to check you out at your new job. Is that embarrassing? Here are the results of our informal survey:
Robin - Yes, I will not even go into the restaurant and embarrass my nephew.
Wendy - It is fine. We are just showing up like any other customer.
Steph - Donny can get up in front of a crowd at a talent show, I think he can handle some family members coming in to see him!
The Crew at Baskin Robbins (where we went after harrassing poor Donny) - 50/50 embarassing/not embarrassing
Now, when Donny (a.k.a. "John") was asked how he felt about the incident his response was, "I dont care". He even came over to Baskin-Robbins on his break (he brought his own McFlurry though). You were a true professional Donny and we are all super proud of you! All the cousins have a new name for McDonald's -- McDonny's! Bryce was even trying on the hat for size.
Lexi didnt get left Home Alone but she did have trouble getting to sleep on Christmas Eve. We were monitoring Santa's journey and the stress of having to fall asleep before Santa actually got to California was a little too much for some to handle.
Here are the cousins unwrapping some of their gifts.
Here is the red section. Kurt and mom are the only ones who were festive enough to dress in red. I think Kurt wears a different jersey each year to our Christmas morning gathering.
Brotherly love. What would a brother be if he didnt pester the other one?! Donny is wearing the traditional hat worn by the person who hands out the gifts.
Have you seen this man?? Since Tom had to work, I was able to slip into his spot and enjoy a day of great wine and fun times with the O'Briens. Thanks for letting me join in. It was a "terrific" day!
We visited Chase, St. Clement and Sullivan and got a terrific private tour from the assistant winemaker of Spotswood, Aaron, who knows Chris and Donna.
Four winerys down...387 to go!
Another Halloween and not one Trick-or-Treater! Good thing though since I didn't have any candy in the house!
I finally got to spend some quality time with little Ava Rose (you cant leave off the "Rose"). She is adorable like she was plucked out of a Shirley Temple movie. She is obviously European because she loves spicey olives, unique foods, and has the olive skin of an Italian--and those curls!
Brenda and Ed also had their friends Tim, Julie, Klaus and Deb over for dinner on Saturday. That was a fun time. They are a very warm and fun group. 
We started at Palomino for drinks and ended up at a super fun little French restaurant that Greg picked out on Lombard in SF. 
It was a great time with Beth and Greg, Beth's brother Tobin and Stacey, Ann and Chris and Claire, and me. Chris got the Escargo.
We went to the Reynolds Portrait Gallery where they have all of the presidential portraits, even the famous unfinished President Washington portrait. It is a must see. You can see Mary Todd and Abe Lincoln below (aka Clare and Laura).
Here is the fam at the Art Faire we went to in Alexandria. Very cool old town with so much charm. Thanks for the fun times gang--miss you already! 
