Saturday Night my sister Ann and her husband Pat were in town so we had dinner at our house with my parents. It was a RAINY weekend with a huge storm that brought the creek level up the highest we have ever seen it! We stayed inside all day listening to the rain and Heff would go down to check the waters. It actually came above the "island" on the other side and was running back into the yard from the Redwood Grove - crazy!

Usually the creek looks more like this - crazy how much comes in when it is raining, it goes back down pretty quickly after a few days too. I love listening to the rushing creek (can you see the rope swing in the picture above?)

Heff checking out the rainy wet backyard -

Jannie making dinner with her sidekick - she squeezed some lemons and Francie comes in and goes "Yum smells like cocktails."

and we had another reservation for the horse and carriage rides downtown to let Jannie take the girls! I almost forgot about it and we finsihed dinner right around 8:30pm, I asked if anyone wanted to rally and bundle up and Jannie jumed up for the carriage ride!

Ann and Emmy went too with the three big girls - I dropped them off and sweet talked the driver into dropping them off back in front of the house - it was so fun for them!

Jannie brought the girls an early gift - 30 GIRL playmobile pieces :) Francie was miffed the train came with only boy characters

and the next morning Francie brought this up next to my bed. I was feeling like I was getting sick so she thought I needed some extra water, a rose and chocolate - never hurts to kiss up the day before Christmas!!

and Jerry texted me this - doing 11th hour christmas shopping and asked what Maisie wanted. She meant a real live polar bear but I love his response "If this exists I WILL FIND IT." anything for his goddaughter!!! what a good brother :)