"Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler"

Today was Sinclair's little friends Joe and William's Christmas soiree....

Mommy (BFF) Eva did not disappoint....face painting, moon walks, four wheelers and best of all create your own gingerbread houses! There were some true Wallace Neff/John Lautner/Pei masterpieces among the group!

This years party was centered around the brunch -- the perfect time of the day. Just early enough to start imbibing on mimosas. True to her husband Beau's New Orleans roots she had all the rajun Cajun favorites on hand ....especially the love of mine, griades and grits!!! From the second I smelled them all I could think about were the Jazz brunches in the Big Easy, where I would spend every Sunday eating these Louisiana delicacies!

Children, Gingerbread and the Holidays....What's NOT to Love??

This weekend Sinclair and I went to the Children's Museum's annual Gingerbread Bash

Top Chef's from all over the city created one of a kind gingerbread houses to be auctioned off. I managed to snag two ....one from Bryan Caswell of the Reef (naturally, we are particulary fond of this one) and Chef Fredric Perrier who is married to my dear friend from school, Michelle. Bryan created his Gingerbread house to look like a Surfside Beach fishing camp!! Too precious!!!

Unfortunately, like most Gulf Coast properties one has to worry about natural disasters. "Hurricane Oliver" destroyed the roof and did irreplacable damage! Our puppy chewed off 80 percent of the roof but it looks like an authentic Gulf Coast fishing camp now!

Sinclair dressed in her little red riding hood twinset and cape....greeted the Gingerbread men and the penguin like they were old long lost friends! She even taught the Penguin some new "Happy Feet" moves.

We saw our gorgeous friend, Nicole .....A.K.A. "Charlie's Mommy"

Houston Television personality, Lara Bell and her little girl Dylan made the "meet and greet" rounds with our hostess Ashely Werhley of Compass Bank who underwrote the event!

When Daddy is away the mice will play....

Tonight was "Phase Six" of the Christmas decor at Chez Chaos!

Kirskey, Richard and Alan (who came in all the way from Newport Beach) worked all their magic to make our tree glorious! The house was full of lush fresh cut greenery and pine! I love that lush aroma!


Actually, it went down something like this...

Richard (with Johnnie Walker Blue in one hand and a canape in other perched on chaise pointing from afar) in his critiquing voice says.... "Kirsksey, you missed a spot....Alan, what are you going to do with those balls?"

Kirksey: "We all have our special roles -- Richard is the visionary and we orchestrate his dream" (love that KG he calls them as he sees them)

Alan: "Can I get a refill on my scotch?" (come on, like don't we all get more creative with a slight buzz and piped in with Dean Martin crooning "Baby, It's Cold Outside"?)

I am sure after doing so many fabulous homes in the 'hood they needed a cocktail or two! Rumor has it they have been working on the Fertitta's 30,000 sq foot "shanty" for over a week! I just love the way they always make me feel like I am their ONLY client --- and at the end of the day isn't that all that matters?


Sinclair could not wait for them to finish so she could touch every dangling sparkle that Uncle Kirksey tried to get her to NOT touch! I think her first full sentence will be "Sugar, don't put that in your mouth"

Finally, Uncle Richard took pity on her and got her up very close so she could see all the detail and watch the lights twinkle. She was so excited about all the decor .....she was just giddy with spirit. Then again, a half a can of Dr. Pepper she got her hands on did not hurt her "giddy factor" either.

I am not so sure I didn't catch Uncle Richard trying to teach her the "Hook'em Horns" sign...He is sneaky that way!

'Tis the Season....

Tonight we ventured out to get our Christmas tree. Before we left Sinclair needed to get her sunglasses. Not sure what she thought was going to blind her at 7 at night but she was prepared regardless. Technically, this is Sinclair's second Christmas but the first one she can start to enjoy. When we got to the Christmas tree nursery her face lit up like it was 1000 string of lights of high wattage bulbs. We narrowed it down between two 9-10' Frasier Furs. We all decided we should go with the bigger one. Hailey carried her up close to the trees and when she touched them her eyes got so big. I told her we would cover it in lights and Santa would bring lots of presents to put underneath. As we were checking out she went straight to the lights and tried to open a box at the counter. She was quite disappointed when we had to put them back. By Friday the "Flower Fairies" will come over and wave their magic wands and all the decor will mysteriously appear!