Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas, Emilee and Gary came down Christmas eve and I always enjoy when they stay the night. We all got up around 8 and opened presents, then Devonn Carla and the boys got here around noon and we opened more presents then while Devonn cooked his ham they all hung out, Blaine and I tried to catch a little nap, lol, he succeed I did not. We had dinner and just enjoyed each other's company. Later in the evening Micah, Catie and Dylan swung by for a quick visit. Sunday evening we had a little b-day party for muah. Jazmine went to Valencia with Emilee and Gary for the week. She gets to go to Hollywood to the wax museum and Ripley's lucky girl. I had a quiet relaxing birthday on Monday with all the kids gone, Garrett went off with friends, Quinn went to Orange County for the week and Jazmine to Valencia. It actually was nice, I just kicked back. When Blaine got off work we went out to eat at El Toritos. I've enjoyed having these weeks off. I'll post a few pictures, between my mom and me we took 150. LOL

Getting our Tree

We went to Home Depot to get our tree, we used to always go cut one down when the kids were young but the trees in Bakersfield are just too dry so our new custom is to meet Devonn, Carla and the boys at Home Depot and then we carry their tree in the trailer and follow them home. Decorating the tree was a little different this year. I had the music playing and all the decorations out, then Jazmine went to go feed the neighbors dog and cat, Grannie went over to take the dogs a blanket and let their indoor cat out so we all went looking for the cat, when I came back Blaine had decorated the tree himself, he said he felt like he was at CVS waiting for a prescription with my Christmas music playing, lol Anyway cat was found and tree was trimmed.

Always a Busy Month

I love December but boy is it a busy time of year. We went and got our Christmas Tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, a little early for us but we had Devonn's surprise Graduation party the Sat. we usually get our tree. Carla and I went shopping for all the food and party decorations and cake on Friday evening, Devonn thought she was helping me pick out a dress, lol, can't believe he bought it. Emilee and Gary came down for the party and stayed the night so they could go to church and Gary stand in when Devonn blessed Lexi. The party was lots of fun, It was all of us, Emilee and Gary, Micah, Dylan and Aunt Cheryl, Candi, Mike, Staci and Amanda came too. Lexi was so beautiful in her blessing dress made by Carla's talented mother out of her wedding dress. James has been coming over to practice the piano, he is taking lesson from Sis. Valez. He called us down to hear him play his first song all the way through, reading the music. He did perfect. Andrew is sweet as can be, always gives me hugs, the boys love to make cookie with Grannie on Sunday evenings and draw pictures. Looking forward to Christmas vacation. I will post pictures of our tree when I download them off my camera.

Lexi and the boys

James and Andrew came over to our house Monday evening. I was able to get the week off for my vacation days. They boys stayed home from school on Tuesday while we anxiously awaited the phone call about Lexi's birth. Around 10:30 Devonn said we could come to the hospital to see Lexi. She is so adorable, pink and fair with light wispy hair. The boys were soooo excited. They each got to hold her, James could hardly contain his excitement. Andrew was excited too and he was concerned about his mom too. On the way home James kept saying, I just love my baby sister so much! It was so sweet. They were really good, we got up at 6:30 got all ready and they stayed with papa while I ran to pick up Jazmine and Jessie from seminary, then I came home and fixed breakfast for everyone. We left the house at 7:30 to go drop Jazmine off first, then we dropped of James then Andrew. They have enjoyed video games, watching sponge bob and toy story, playing Quinn's Harry Potter Chess and James of course got all of his homework done after dinner. I was so impressed how he could do it with very little help from me. He is so smart. He was writing one of his vocabulary sentences and said something about new shoes at Target, he told me that Target had to be capitalized because it is a proper noun. He blows me away. We told ghost stories at bedtime after baths and read Book of Mormon stories. They will go home today, Friday, after we pick up James from Thorner. They have been so good, I love them all so much, it is wonderful being a grandmother. Andrew reminded me that someday Lexi can curl up in the big bed with us and tell ghost stories too. :)

Port Hueneme, Sept 2010

We went to the beach for Labor day. I had a great time, the weather was warm and no wind, just a light breeze. Emilee and Gary met us there. Jamzine brought Tiffny and then it was me, Blaine, Grannie, Quinn, Garrett, Jessie and Devonn, Carla, James and Andrew. Boy those boys sure love the beach. Andrew said he wanted to live there. I said we don't have a house here and he said we could live in a hotel. LOL. Blaine, Garrett, Devonn and Emilee fished off the pier. Didn't catch anything but had fun anyway. After a nice relaxing day at the beach we went to Emilee's for pizza. It was a nice day with family.

Latest Temple Trip

I so enjoyed going to the Temple with my husband this last Friday. It was Stake Temple night. The still soft sweet spirit I feel always makes me go away feeling peace. It was especially sweet that Garrett and Jessie got to go with us and visit the Visitors Center. Garrett's testimony is growing and so is Jessie's. Garrett was able to baptize Jessie last Sat. and Blaine confirmed her a member and she received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was her first time to be on the Temple grounds. The newly opened remodeled visitor's center was awesome! The open windows looking in at Christ are magnificent. Garrett and Jessie were able to tour it and watch a new in depth movie of the life of Joseph Smith. He said it was powerful and Jessie said she really could feel the spirit. I am so happy that Garrett has caught the vision, it has really changed his life. On our way home we still had money on our Chili's gift certificate so we went to eat right by Emilee and Gary's so they came and joined us for a very late dinner. It was fun to be together.

Catalina 2010

It was so nice to go to Catalina and have almost all my kids there!! Grannie, Sally, me and Blaine, Devonn, Carla, James and Andrew, Quinn, Emilee and Gary, Garrett and his girlfriend Jessie, Jazmine and her friend Naomi. We had fun eating at Antonio's Pizza, and then watching Toy Story 3 in the Casino movie theater. James and Andrew got to have the real Jessie sit in between them lol. Our hotel was great! We were in the La Paloma with 7 of us. Grannie and Sally were in the Atwater, Devonn, Carla and the boys were in the Pavillon Lodge, Emilee and Gary were in the Seacrest Inn. The second day we have fun in the ocean. We all met up to go snorkeling at Lover's Cove. I had a great time. We showered and everyone came to our hotel to eat, we BBq'd hotdogs and Sally brought some coleslaw, and we had chips and dip. It's nice to have a kitchen and gas BBQ grill just outside our door. Our balcony had an ocean view too. Later some of us met to go on the Flying Fish boat. I love that historical boat ride. The weather was cool and breezy at night. I loved the 70 degree days. The third day we shopped and Sally and Grannie rented a golf cart so we could take the scenic drive along the hills. I already miss it. I love how relaxing it is there and the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves lapping against the boats.