smells good

Today we are starting to cook all our Christmas treats, the kitchen is warm and busy with bodies fighting over who gets to stir, pour & lick the spoons. Recipes are being debuted as to which should be made and are the tastiest/favoerite. Which ones did we make last year or miss and that need to be made this year. Yummy fun! Opps we forgot the vinilla in the fudge, quick pour it back in the pot...oh yes that tastes much better now.
School is out, everyone is excited about the holiday and the trip to the snow we have planned. No one has said they're bored, yet...Life is Wonderful.

Don't forget your vinilla.

Christmas is almost here

I can't believe it but it is almost here. For months I've been seeing Christmas decorations in the stores and grumbling about how it's to early...lets have Halloween 1st...now it's in 10 days.
We're planning all the traditional activities...making fudge...dinging and dashing good friends... wrapping presents...hanging lights...decorating...racing to the mail box to see every ones fun Christmas cards...a Christmas eve party. I have to say the kids are at a wonderful age when they want to do it all and are having so much fun. Telling stories of Christmas's past, the things we did and have to do now because we always do, traditions. Throughout the years I've been wondering/worrying about those things we call traditions...am I/do we have any?...I have to say its a wonderful part about being a Mom is that you've started some of your own family traditions that are loved and cherished...Yes we have them and they know them...what a joyful feeling.

stay calm as you look for that last gift...drive safe 'cause its crazy out there...stay warm, it finally got cold...take time out to feel the joy of the season, its all around us.
xoxo

A crazy week for the kids and us too

It was a crazy week, but we made it and as far as I can tell I only missed one thing, so I'm calling that good.
Between the boys they played 7 soccer games & all the practices that go with them.
Audra had violin, SLOYS, Activity days, DARE graduation(thank you Grammie & Papa), dance & the parade. Wilson & Audra had their piano recital.
We had 5 parties 4 of those nights, Harvey was in Sacramento 1 day, we got to go pick satsumas yummy, cut our Christmas tree (its going up as I type), there was more but I can hardly type so...
Between now and Christmas its looking sparse so I think were planning a party this weekend, fun!
Merry Christmas!!!!!

updated sporty model

I got a new smaller light weight model...I can do a little bit more now...it feels good to be able to move my elbow...today i didn't need any Advil so things are looking up...Michaela did the art work for me, i love it...the white line down the middle is a cut to loosen the cast, it was to tight...did you know that when you lose circulation your hand turns purple, then white and goes cold...I learn something new every day.

Christmas parade

Audra was in the Christmas Parade last night with her Balie Folklorica dance group.
They were so beautiful!

New (temporary) member of the family

Yes that is me with a cast on my arm. I slipped and fell at the tide pools yesterday, broke my radias right in half up near my wrist.
Things I am feeling blessed about, Harvey's big down vest with large arm holes, it's my left arm that's broken, my family (i can't even cut a bagel in half), the plastic bag so i can shower... a ton more but typing is tuff so thanks to all those who are helping.
I'm making a request for a better story, so let's hear them. When Wilson broke his arm 2 summers ago he told friends that he was fighting off a bear while camping.

Thanks Giving day photos

Mary, Grace & Ava singing Tiny Shells with Isabelle

The croquet gang


Mary & Grace playing twister



Audra & Rachel
We had a yummy Thank Giving with family & friends.

Friday before Thanks Giving

It's Friday night, wow did the week go fast. It's been an emotional roller coaster of a week. Gordan, Frances Husband found out he needs heart surgery, we've been praying and will be fasting for him this Sunday. On the brighter side Isabelle and Abe got engaged on Fri night. We're VERY excited for her/them. They're planning on getting married on Grace's 8th birthday, so Grace is very excited about that.

As the holiday approaches I've been contemplating on the things I'm Thankful for and how to express them to my family(without balling my eyes out) and how to help my children feel the amazing blessings that we have as a family. We're so blessed and during this time of financial crisis, the kids are starting to ask a lot of questions about our life and how/if we will be effected by the recession/depression. All the news is starting to scare/make them nervous, so I've been trying to reassure them that we should be ok and that if something should happen that we have each other and the gospel in our lives and that the stuff isn't that important. I'm blessed though because I think the kids aren't stuff oriented(even though I think we have way to much stuff). So I think I'm going to have all of us write something we're Thankful for, everyday this week and by Thur we should have a nice group of things to remind us of how truly blessed we are.

May blessing abound in your own homes like they abound in mine... Joy & Happiness to you.

Family photos

We finally had some Family photos taken.
Here are a couple of my favorites...enjoy.

Grace-Art update

Here are the latest master pieces from Grace.

Way to go!!!!!

Fire today

We had a fire today on the hill above our home. It was kind of nerve racking for a bit considering the hoard fire that has devastated SB last night. They were able to knock it down pretty quickly though...there was a big contingent of fire vehicles heading to SB and they detoured them to here...so in a matter of 1-2 hrs we had 200 firefighters here ready to go. The bomber plane was amazing, I'm convinced those pilots are adrenalin junkies...I watched for a couple of hours and wow they're crazy/amazing/talented...whatever you want to call it, I think I'll go with crazy.
The photo is taken from our house. Notice the firefighters on the hill and the orange fire retardant.

Grace the Responsible

Grace was recognized today at school for being outstanding in the Responsibility department. WAY TO GO Gracie!!!!

New family pet

We adopted a new dog yesterday. Here's Ella.
She's a super sweet and is adjusting well to the crowod. She been pretty scared of Chloe though, but seems to be warming up.

Honor student

Audra got her 1st trimester grades today and had a 4.0. She was so very excited.
Congratulations Audra!!!! Keep up the good work.
Love mom

Got his drivers licence today

Wilson on his maiden voyage, driving Grandpa Marshall's jeep.

Wilson got his drivers licence today. He missed 3, for stopping to far behind the line, no biggy. He was pretty nervous and was shaking pretty hard when he got out of the car, he even left the keys in the car. I drove home, but I got him to take himself back to school, his maiden voyage.
He's going to be a good driver, he's a smart kid and watches his surroundings well.

Congratulations Wilson!!!!!!!!!!

Half dome in June

Harvey at the top of Half Dome

Michela at the top of Half Dome looking out the valley

CC at the base of Bridle Vail Falls

This past June Harvey and I got to hike Half Dome with the young women in our ward.
We hiked from the valley floor to the summit and back in one day...about 21 miles round trip. We went middle of the week hoping to avoid the crowds but that thought process didn't pan out...the trail was packed...ascending the cables took us 50 minutes...it was body to body and pretty nerve racking hanging on the side of a granite cliff...but we made it to the top. It was a wonderful trip...there was still plenty of water... the falls were spectacular.

Summer Pismo JG

Briant waiting for his event to start

Wilson coming in from paddle relay

Wilson's team for paddle relay, they took 1st.


This past summer the boys begged me to stay home so they could do JG at Pismo again. They love the program and so do I...its a great group of kids and families...the boys love to spend their entire summer at the beach.
They practice 4 days a week and then on Fridays go to meets..the events are swim, paddle, run, various relays of those and beach flags.
The photos are from the Santa Barbara meet.

Wilson's 16th

Wilson with Uncle Jeff tuneing his guitar

Wilson turned 16 today!
He's such a great young man and has been an amazing blessing in our lives.
Happy Birthday Wilson!
Keep up the good work
I Love you
Mom

Summer card board boat race

Briant and Kade

Mark Spencer, Wilson, Stephen and Josh

The boys had a youth activity this summer that included a card board boat race out at Port San Luis. They had a ton of fun making the boats and racing them. Braint and Kade got best theme award. It was extremely well built and Kevin and Kelen even took it out for a second spin around. Wilson and Stephen made it out and around the buoy which is far better then I thought they would do, I was sure it was going to sink quickly. (Oh thee of little faith, I know, but I saw them build it)
It was a really fun activity and should become an annual event.

Halloween 2008

Crissie, Briant, Audra and Grace

Juleen Grace and Jenea

Grace with one of her pumpkins

Braint, Wilson, Audra and Grace

Carving pumpkins with Grammie

Everyone dressed up this year and had a great time. They brought home obscene amounts of candy.

Briant playing soccer

Here's some photos of Briant at a scrimage he had last night.

$2.71

I paid $2.71 for gas yesterday!!!!!!!
I can't remember when it has been so low. That's a $2 difference from this summer. WOW! $2.71 and it will likely go lower. What's the world coming too?

The Pug came home

He's here, Grace's pug.

kids week of oct 13th

Wilson's team won there 6th game, way to go!!!
Briant got his short story back (remember the 7pg one) with a 97 at the top, it even got read(partially) in class. GREAT JOB BRIANT oh hater of English class. :)
Audra worked on her Halloween costume this week, she's going to be a package of post a notes(really). I'll post a photo later.
Grace is still working on that pug, I hope we'll see it this week.

Flu shots

Today is flu shot day(and Hep A too). Audra already got hers so it shouldn't be so bad. Pray for me though just in case someone in the group decides that they aren't as brave as they think they are.

Grandma's embrace

We remodeled the house again starting this past spring.(again, I know) I'm still living with boxes in multiple rooms mostly because I have been wrestling with what to do with all of my grandmother(s)'s stuff that I have acquired. It's a love hate relationship with the stuff, I want it/love it because of the memories that I cherish when I use it. I hate it because some of it's not something that I would have chosen/purchased and the clutter is getting to me, there is just so much of it, but the idea of someone else(not in the family) having it kills me. Several of my family and friends have heard me debating what to do with the stuff over the past few months, its been driving me crazy. Today I was reading an article in "Real Simple" about this women and her Grandmothers stuff. In it she says "My Grandmother's dishes and silver provide at the very least a hint that the past is not a cold dead hand, but an affectionate embrace. Oh how I wish for an embrace, so I'll keep the stuff and embrace it with warm memories of my loving Grandmas. Hopefully that embrace will be passed on to some of my children too.

" When someone you loves becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure"

Kids week of Oct 5th

Wilson(66)& Greg(86)



Wilson had his first home game this week against Lompoc. The coaches had informed the team before the game that this would be their toughest game of the season. They won by a long shot, walking right over Lompoc. He's pictured hear with one of his buddies, Greg. It's Homecoming weekend and tonight's the dance, he's going with a big group of friends.

Briant's team won their soccer game this morning, he scored one of the 4 goals with a great left footed kick. Still no word on the short story, hopefully we'll hear back next week. Yesterday Kevin went to the middle school and pulled Kade, Briant, Peter and Matt out, it was Kades 13th birthday and they went home to play video games, east candy and go play laser tag with unlimited pizza. Teenage boy heaven!

Audra's class at school has asked the kids to preform 10 hrs of community service before they graduate. She is working really hard on this and I think will be one of the first ones done with her hours. Way to go Audra!

Grace's soccer game went good today and she's still working on her pug in art class, hopefully we'll see it next week.

Reagan and Zoey are in town so the girls are enjoying some cousin time.

The on shore breeze arrived

It's been dreadfully hot these past 2 days. Last night I think was the hottest I can ever remember it being in SLO. The house this morning was 76', UGH.
The most amazing thing is that moment when you can feel the wind shift to on shore again, that first breath of air that's cool, moist and refreshing. Its so sudden, distinct and feels so wonderful. Tonight it's cool and we'll all sleep much better. I can't wait.

tarantula

Briant, Grace and Harvey found a tarantula out at Grandpa last night. She sure is beautiful. She went with Briant to school today and is off to Pacheco with Grace tomorrow. We've learned a bit about tarantulas so I thought I'd share... they eat crickets and they don't drink water...they have a built in straw so they suck it out of something... in this case a wet piece of cotton... kind of cool. So far so good, she did catch a cricket and is making some kind of web/nest thing to eat it later I guess.

Why I started my blog

I've started this blog for multiple reasons.
First of all I was inspired by my niece Miriam who has this great blog about her young family that I really enjoy reading, I feel like I'm in touch with her when I can check it once a week and see them growing and living there daily lives. Thanks Miriam

I feel like life is zooming by too fast and I'm not going to remember all the wonderful little moments and I know I'm going to want to remember them. I've always enjoyed reading other peoples journals, but I've never been good at keeping journal because I hated that I was a poor speller(lets face it terrible speller) and that I had messy hand writing. So this solves both those problems. Plus I can add all my photos too. I'm very hopefully this will work for me and that I'll keep it up dated frequently. Pray for me!!! I'll need it.

First week of Oct for the kids

Wilson had a football game in Santa Barbara again... why they want these kids taking a day off school every week to play football is beyond me...its crazy but he enjoys it so that's what matters. This week is his first home game, yea! Go Wilson!

Briant had short a story due last week that he'd been working on for a week. It ended up being 7 pages long... he said it couldn't be trimmed anymore after I reminded him for the hundredth time that it was suppose to be a "short story"... this from a boy who "HATES" english. LOL. I hope his teacher doesn't knock his grade because its to long.

Audra started SLOYS this week and is so excited because they're playing music from Pirates of the Caribbean. She received a student of the month award for respect on fri... like that "I can't believe you're taking my picture mom I'm in 6th grade" look...

Grace started Art classes and is having a blast drawing a Pug... I promise photos to fallow.

a surprise day off, yea

Today soccer got rained out. Wow its so wonderful to have an unexpected day off. As the decisions is being made about calling the games off for the day, its such a tuff call, on one hand the kids have so much fun on the other to suddenly have a free day, I'm secretly hoping they will cancel games as the situation is debated.
I went down to the art center for the plein air festival, today was the quick draw with an auction to fallow. It was nice to be alone enjoying the enviorment and watching the auction. I wish I had the money to purchase one of the paintings, some of them were quite good, but I'm glad i restrained myself. The kids were suppose to do some chores and they seemed to happen while i was gone, even better.
The boys are off at priesthood meeting learning to be better men and husbands.