Viv's birthday

John and his dad

I had 2 cakes!! a chocolate cake that Hannah and Tim made, with help from Christie, and an icecream cake that Sally and Lyn brought over.

Joshua helped me to blow out the candles!

Me, Hannah and Tim at the dinner table

My chocolate cake

My extended birthday is nearly done

It is now 11pm in Texas, and everyone has gone home, so it is just Meg, Dave, John and I chatting. John and his dad are talking work stuff and Meg and I are mostly listening...

We had 15 here for dinner, and have decided to make the table somewhat bigger for Xmas day lunch as there will be another 2 people to sit at the table! 
I opened my presents from NZ this afternoon when Hannah and Tim  came over - many thanks those people, I loved my cards and gifts!  The Texans gave me a book, a sweater, and some almond chocolate :)
Hannah gave me a lovely top and Tim found a zester and cheese grater that  I have been wanting - good job!  I have new earrings from John that I have put in tonight.
 Tomorrow I think we are going to the ice-skating rink here in the Woodlands - I will watch but I think John will don a pair of skates.
Like everyone else we are getting organized for the big day, and I think I will need some beauty sleep to get through all the socializing.

Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant and at Colwyn's

The top  and bottom pictures were taken at Beijings and the middle one is at Colwyn and Christie's. Note the Texas ribs on the Texas plate!  They were so yummy!

The Woodlands

Tis the night before Christmas - no hang on, tis the night before my birthday (close), which is actually my birthday in NZ!  We have been in The Woodlands for a week tonight - a week of shopping, dining, chatting, laughing and generally having a very fine time. John's mum and dad gave us money for Xmas this year as Megan has recently had a new knee installed and is not too mobile.  We had lots of fun shopping for gifts, and I spent a fair amount of time wrapping gifts last night and this morning.  The Christmas tree is looking very festive with all the gifts piled underneath.
Hannah and Tim are staying with Colwyn and Christie and their two chn - David 18yrs, Danielle 16 yrs. David has his license so is able to transport them here and there - today to the movies - Tron, which is a new movie out this week.
I have had fun shopping in the supermarkets here - the different foods and the variety is really fascinating.  Lots and lots more 'fast food' in that all you have to do is 'heat and eat'.
The weather has been unseasonably warm - today in the 30's, so I am not needing my coat or jumper at all.  Apparently it will get cooler in a few days. Of course the house is air conditioned/heated ; whatever is needed.

Hannah, Tim and I in front of the Screamer rollercoaster. the circle with the yellow centre is where it does a loop-the-loop!

The Screamer

Final Hurrah in LA

For our last day in LA we hit Disneyland again in the morning. Our first ride was Raider of the Lost Ark which I found less stressful than Space Mountain - thank goodness, although the big boulder coming right at you is somewhat unnerving.  The scenery is so well done, right down to the smallest details. We toured Toontown and rode the roller coaster there that is certainly scary enough for me! We did some more of the original rides for the rest of the morning, then returned to the hotel for a rest over lunchtime.  When we got back to Disneyland later in the afternoon, we decided to check out California land as Tim and John had not been there on this trip.  We found the vineyard and stopped there for some light refreshments. Then Tim decided that he was going on the Screamer roller coaster. Let me tell you, that thing is huge and so fast! None of the rest of us would go with him so he went on his own.  He loved it - something I will never understand!  By  this time it was quite dark, so after watching the parade, we wandered back to the bus and went home to the hotel.  The chn had a sleep in the next morning while John and I packed, then we walked down the road a way for brunch at a breakfast chain called ihop. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our 3 hour flight to Houston, which was calm and uninteresting - just how I like my flights!  The family were there to meet us at the airport.