A Visit with the Galindo Family 12/17/11

Trisha, my BFF from High School, and her family (husband Michael and 2 kids Isabella and Gabriel) flew into LAX from Everett, Washington. They were leaving on a cruise the next morning, but were staying overnight in the Hilton at LAX.

The last time I saw Trish was when Sydney was 18 days old (early Aug2009). So, I loaded up Sydney in the car and we drove on out to spend a couple hours with the Galindo family. We arrived at the hotel around 3:15 and met up in the lobby. Trisha's parents also stopped by for a few moments to say hello.

We made our way to the Starbucks/lounge area and found a comfortable place to sit and chat.
When we had initially met up in the lobby, Bug got really shy and clingy to me with all the new faces around looking at her. But once we sat down, it took her no time at all to warm up to Trish and Isabella. She eagerly climbed up into their laps.

Since we were indoors, I decided to try out the speedlight. I like the results:

This was the first pic I took and the ISO was a bit high so it's a bit washed out, but I like that both are looking/smiling.
reset the ISO, and no cooperation from Bug. Notice she has already stolen Trisha's necklace to wear.

Trish, by the way, looks FABulous.

Here is where Sydney somehow got the multi-strand necklace all tangled up in her hair and around her head. Go Bug! Isabella to the rescue:

a sweet cuddly moment between Trish and Buggy... and someone has their finger up their nose. Nice

Trisha's firstborn + my firstborn = lifelong BFF's. LOL.

Later after we arrived home, Sydney tells me "Bella cute."

Awwwwww. I love this pic, except for the crazy TV screen in the background.

right next to us, there was a case decorated in holiday fashion with many goodies and big Gingerbread men. Bug was enthralled. She kept going over and pointing and counting the gingerbread men.

(and I seriously have the cutest kid ever!)

lots of pics looking at the case

you can't really see in any of the pics, but there is a black/white dog wearing sparkly silver anters on her shirt:

and then I put the camera away.

Bug then starting doing a lot of jumping in place in front of that case which had the 2 old ladies at the next table over very entertained. They seemed to enjoy watching her.

Then we meandered back out to the lobby and found some comfy seats next to the big staircase. Bella and Gabriel kept Sydney occupied for probably an hour going up and down the stairs. Over and over. Jumping around at the top. Doing a loop around the top level (that overlooked the lobby). Riding the escalator (a first for Miss Sydney), and just generally wearing her out.

Trisha's family took more pics and as soon as I get copies I'll put them here. In general, Bug charmed the heck out of everyone and had so much fun. So much so that we were treated to a screaming melt down in the lobby when it was time to go. :::sigh:::

We left at 5:30. Got home around 6:30 (thank you traffic on the 105). I had called ahead to Dana to have some dinner ready for her as soon as we got home. Bug slept the whole way home and I knew it was a crapshoot whether she would wake up super cranky (and need to go right to bed), or wake up fine. She woke up fine and HUNGRY. She'd had lunch at around 1:30, and then only a couple crackers while we were out. She chowed her whole dinner in no time (a miracle lately).