We had quite the eventful week over here.  Not that things have slowed down since they left, but my cousin and his fiancee from Finland spent about 9 days with us.  They visited last winter, about 3 days before I had the baby.  I was huge and boring, but they still had so much fun, they made a return trip!  Since they saw all the big tourist-y things last year, this year was a little more low key (but a lot more fun for me since I got to participate.  And a big thank you to Tati for all her help baby-sitting!!)

We ate out, shopped, visited Old Town Pasadena, put together Blessing Bags (more on that later), played miniature golf, hung out in Downtown L.A., went to a Cirque Du Soleil show, and ate & shopped some more They also got to attend a Conan taping and a Ducks game while I sneaked over to Disneyland to feel some holiday cheer.

Then we polished off the week with a fabulous trip to San Francisco – where we shopped, ate, went to Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghiradelli Square, and just drove around the city.  Posted a bunch of pics on Facebook if you wanna see.  Only to return home and throw Stevie’s 1st birthday party the next day. (More on that later, as well.)

Did I say it was more low-key than last year?  OK maybe not.

But such a great, fun time.

And as much as playing hostess/tour guide wears me out, I just love it.  I think I’m kind of awesome at it.  You should never leave Southern California feeling disappointed.  Especially when I’m the one showing you around.