MY NEPHEW AIDAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Could he be any cutier???

Aidan likes being naked.
Aidan with his Mom
Aidan with his cousin Ben

Aidan loved his cousin Charley
Aidan with us uncle Michael and cousins Sean and Charley.
Aidan with his Dad

NEW YEARS DAY

Happy New Year!!! May this year be filled with Joy, love , laughter and many many blessing. And may you spend your days be surrounded with family and friends. Suzanne and I spent New Years Eve at our friends cabin in Big Bear. When we arrived there was so much snow we had to leave our car at the bottom of the road and hike in. Stella loved the snow. I did not even make it up until midnight as I had gotten up at 4:30 am to fly to LA and then drive up to Big bear. I was a sleep by 11:30am.  I did however wake to the sound of my tippsy friends singing Old Lang Sine. All I could do was smile and fall back to sleep, looking forward to a wonderful new year. The next day we hung out at the cabin and read and later in the day when snow shoeing.  Other than the cold I woke up with that morning is was a lovely way to start the new year. Thank Giorgio and Galadriel. We LOVE spending New years with you both. 

WELCOME TO THE WORLD COOPER

On Dec. 28th Cooper was born weighing 6lbs. 2 oz. and he is perfect. It was an unexpected surprise. Cooper was 5 weeks early. Lucky for me I was in town and was able to meet my new God Child. Maria is doing well. Both She an Lori are adjusting to their new life with Cooper. Maria's 3 1/2 year old twin nephews have taken to calling him super Duper Cooper. Looking forward to watching Cooper grow up and being a part of his wonderful life. 

ANGELA'S BIRTHDAY

Angela making a wish.

We all celebrated Angela's birthday on Dec. 26th. The kids helped her blow out the candles. 

A FEW MAKING GIFTS FROM THIS YEARS CHRISTMAS

My dad made this for me.  A painted slate from my grandmother house in Ireland, and cut out photo of Suzanne and I. 

My mother made this for Suzanne. A dragon fly on a paddle board

THE DUGGAN CLAN SHARES CHIRSTMAS

Maddie & Aidan
My brother Billy and his daughter Alex ( my God Child)

Maddie and her cousin Alex

My brother Sean and Nephew Ryan
Michael and Alex with Maddie and charley playing in background.

My brothers sean and Kevin with Kevin's son Aidan.
Kvein, charley Mom and Aidan.
Sean with his gift from Michael. a ceramic chalk board. 
Dad reading his poem from Billy
Aidan enjoying his first Christmas.

It has been tradition for as long as I can remember to make a gift one person in the family. We picks names out of a hat on Thanksgiving day and have a month to make the gift. The tradition has extended to all the siblings partners as well. This can be a little stressful, but I so look forward to seeing what everyone has made each year. My brother Billy wrote a beautiful, heartfelt poem to my father about who is hero is....my father. There was not a dry eye in the house. My dad made me a multimedia present. He had a piece of slate from my grandmother house in Ireland and painted a scene of Highland lake with the boat in it. In the boat was a photo of suzanne and I. Very creative Dad, I love it. My mom had suzanne a ceramic paddle board with a dragon fly on it. Suzanne had bought a paddle board this summer for the lake house. Very inspired mom. As you can see from the Christmas photos we all had a great time being together. Billy and Cathy thanks for hosting this year.

THE DUGGAN'S PLAY WI

KID EXCHANGE GIFTS

Just as the adults exchange gift now the kids have taken on the tradition. I think the kids enjoy it it as much as the adults. And look forward to it each year. The fun is in the giving rather than the receiving. This year Alex made Charley a jewelry box in her wood making class. Charley was so excited to get her gift. Connor got a ceramic skateboard with his name on it form Maddie as well as a framed photo she made of the two of them together. Ben got a framed Picture of charley. Aidan made Jack a box to keep all his stuff in, which were filled with cookies. The webster kids made pillows for each of their people with their names on it. I think everyone like their gifts.  

Ben shows off Connor's gift. 
Jack's gift from Aidan
Alex made Charley a jewelry box in woodworking class
Charley mad Ben a snow globe and a photo of herself from his room
Kid gather to share their making gifts.

MERRY XMAS and a very Happy New year.

I can not believe it is Christmas already. Where has the year gone. Seems the older you get the fast it goes. What's up with that??? Just so everyone knows Suzanne and I have not have to time to send out XMAS cards this year so do not think we forgot you. Life is just very busy these days. So I will take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New year. May peace and Love be with you each day in the coming year. May you receive may blessings. Thank you all for you cards this year but more importantly thank you all for your love and friendship. 

Love Mel & Suznne 

"THE PIE SLAYER"

Sorry I have been so Lame about updating our website. It has been so busy. Let's see what has been going on..... I started a new freelance job at TBWA Chiat here in LA. I am working on a project for VISA. I started just before Thanksgiving. So my  Thanksgiving plans were very last minute. On thanks giving morning I volunteered at the Santa Monica civic center ,where they feed the homeless. My job was cutting pies. They friends crowned me the "pie slayer". I can not tell you how rewarding it was to help with this event. It was very well organized. They not only feed people. They had clothes donated, people where giving free haircuts, medical and dental treatments for anyone who wanted it.  I then drove down to Palm Springs, with Stella to spend Thanksgiving with some friends and their family. All and all it was a great day. I have so much to be Thankful for these days. I have to say IDO NOT look good in a hair net.

PROP 8 RALLY

I have never been one to be very political but in the last 6 days I have been to 4 rallies on Prop 8.

It is a cause that means a lot to me and have been trying to give it my support. 

Below are a few photos from yesterdays rally in front of the Mormon church on Santa Monica Blvd. to protest their role in helping pass prop 8. Many members of the Mormon church strongly urged by the church leaders to contribute to the prop 8 campaign had an undeniable role in the props victory. 

The Rally began and 2 pm and went to 11pm. I only stayed a few hours. The rally started in front of the church. The march continued around the church. Once we got back to to the front of the church I took off only to find out later that the march continued until 11pm. 

There is another march this Saturday in the Silver lake section on LA, which we plan on attending. They are expecting around 20,000 people to march. I will keep you posted.