Christmas 2008

What a wonderful Holiday I had. Just a perfect Christmas. I am so greatful for my family. How blessed we all are. I have so much appriciation in my heart for the family I have and how each one of you make a difference in my life. Working on the book for Grandma and Grandpa just really made the holiday. I was in touch with so many of you, working on the book, telling stories bonding. The book was a great success but it gave me more then the perfect gift for my Grandparents it gave me an excuse to slow down and spend some quality time with many of you. Thank you all for your contribution in the book.

As I came home and thought back on my holiday I have so many people I want to thank...Mom thank you for all the little touches that you go out of your way to accomplish to make a perfect christmas. I truley appriciate all the effort you put into making it a perfect holiday. Eddie Thank you for all your time and effort on getting those bikes and getting them ready...I really appriciate it and they are loving the bikes. (We leave in the morning for the mountains where they can ride ride ride) Thank you Sue for sacraficing Eds time to help me. Grandma and Grandpa thank you so so so much for driving out to Eds and picking up the bikes and delivering them to my moms to ensure a perfect christmas morning. You guys went above and beyond and I really appriciate you both. John, thank you for being stubborn and stuck on tradition! Thank you for heading over to Grandma and Grandpas early to make breakfast for those of us who made it in time to enjoy it. I love that tradition and am glad that we have kept it up. (next year ahead of time lets take orders so gma doesn't have a ton of left overs). Thank you to everyone who slowed down there busy lives to acknowledge my birthday....some of you a day early...but I was in your thoughts and I appriciate that.

We have alot to be greatful for and a wonderful family as much as I know this now...I am sure I will have an entire new appriciation for you all Monday (I am spending the next several days in a two bedroom modual up in the mountains with Warrens entire family...and it was my idea (i hope i don't kill myself before the weekend is up...lol))


I love you all...here is to an amazing 2009!!!!!

Christmas 2008

This Christmas has been, as usual, a success. I am glad it's over though. Thank you Aunt Lisa for hosting the annual cookie party. I think next year EVERYONE should wear an apron. I think that would be so cute!

I am trying to wind down and put my house back in order. The kids are happily playing with their new toys while I take a few minutes to write on the blog.

Andrew was such a character on Christmas. He is at the age that he is understanding that Christmas = presents. He was soooo excited as he opened each present including the baseball pillow case he got from Grandma Debby. He was so giddy! And I was equally excited to receive a red and black quilt from Grandma Barb. Love IT!!!

With John being gone in Santa Barbara for work I found time to make him a quilt. By the look of the picture he wasn't quite sure if I had done it considering I've been unable to do much with a hurt back. Thank you Naomi for helping, and thank you to all that help me tie it. Your help was very appreciated. John got me a new sewing machine so I will have to go fabric shopping soon so I can start another one. Quilting is something I would like to continue learning. I really enjoy it.

This past Holiday Season I have realized how blessed I am to have a family that loves me.

"The Book"

It looks like "The Book" was a great success judging from Grandma and Grandpa's comments. I caught Grandpa reading the book and I don't think he even noticed that I took several pictures of him obviously enjoying every word. What a great Christmas....I enjoyed spending the day with my whole family.....I love you guys! (yes, you too Dave). Thank you Jenny for the great idea.

Christmas Day--2008

Grandpa and I want to thank all of you for such a wonderful surprise. I read it after you left and it really brought tears to my eyes. I re-read it this morning and the same thing happened and then I saw grandpa tearing up when he was reading it. What a great family we have. Grandpa says that God gave us memories so that we could have summer roses in the winters of our lives. Wow! We will read that little book many times and remember all the wonderful times that we have spent together and just think there will probably be plenty more years at Black Meadow. I'm going to try to find "Ride Like an Indian" so the little kids can hear it too. Thanks for all the help yesterday. Brad and Dave peeled all the potatoes. Thank you! Thanks to everyone who helped make Christmas dinner perfect...We felt so much love in our home yesterday. You are all the greatest.....We Love you so much....Grandma and Grandpa

HO HO HO Christmas Assignments

OK, Chrsitmas is a week from tomorrow.....are you ready? Here are your assignments for dinner, just a few changes from Thanksgiving.

Grandma Barb - turkey, potatoes, yams, cranberries
Debby - Pretzel jello (2 bowls), butter, peas
Lisa - pumpkin pies, cool whip
Sue - apple pie
Kris - jello (1 recipe put in 2 bowls)
Jennifer - dessert for Warren, 3 dozen brown and serve rolls
Katie - vegetable plate
Naomi - green bean casserole
Sherri - 5 cans pitted black olives, 3 dozen brown and serve rolls

Come for breakfast whenever you're ready. I's sure you big boys are ready to help grandpa again. Egg McMuffins are the popular choice and we DON'T MESS WITH TRADITION!
See you there. If you have anything to munch on during the day bring that too....

Good News/Bad News

First the good news...Danny is moving back home on the 19th.  He has decided to come home to save money and concentrate on getting on the Fire Dept.  He'll be taking Fire Science classes at the local college here.  We're excited to have him back home.  

Now for the bad news...well it's really not that bad but Ed got hurt again at our race on Tuesday.  Nothing serious, just tweaked his knee.  The opposite knee that he had surgery on a few years ago.  But he's off work for at least a week.  We'll see how it feels after a week.   I already asked him the question you're all thinking and he said "Never". haha  

More Turkey Day Family Fun

Here is another video from Thanksgiving. Sorry the quality is so bad, I took it with my blackberry.  Next year I'll bring a real video camera! 

Turkey Trot 5k Run

On Thanksgiving morning while all of you were sleeping in your warm beds and listening to the rain outside, Jessie and I drove down to Dana Point to run in the 31st annual 5k run also known as the Turkey Trot. We ran with some friends of mine from work. It was pouring rain while we stretched in a covered parking garage and lucky for us, stopped raining by the time the race started. Jessie took off and I never saw her again except for when the route doubled backed. She did well and averaged an 8 minute mile. She placed 23rd out of 112 women in her age group(16-19) and 78th overall out of 1251 women. WOW!!!. I did ok averaging about a 8:45 mile. I placed 39th out of 147 men in my age group (35-39) and 436th out of 1152 total men. We had a lot of fun and are looking forward to the next race. Any of you want to join us??? A 5k is only 3.2 miles. Piece of cake, right? See you all later.

I love the discount store!

John and I are not TOTAL loosers! We won $250.00 store credit from the raffel at the discount store! Wohooo!

CHRISTMAS NAMES AND LISTS

Well Thanksgiving is over. What a wonderful day we had with everyone there but Nicki. We sure missed you Nicki and can't wait to see you for Christmas! Names have been drawn and a few have opted out. There is a $20.00 limit. Maybe you could post our lists ias a comment and then everyone can have access to them. Let me know what you think.

Ed will give to Mike
Sue - Jackie
Danny - John
Nate - Ed
Lara - Naomi
Lisa - Mason
Rick - Debby
Katie - Jenny
Dave - Don
Jackie - Tommie
DJ - Andrew
Hailey - Harlie
Don - Katie
Debby - Lara
Jenny - Jessie
Warren - Dave
Billy - Nate
Mason - Tyler
John - Warren
Sherri - Lisa
Tyler - Danny
Sierra - Hailey
Andrew - Cole
Mike - Rick
Naomi - Sherri
Jessie - Sue
Tommie - Billy
Harlie - Sierra
Cole - DJ