Christmas Line-up

Christmas 2003


Christmas 2002


Christmas 2000 and Christmas 1993



Christmas 2009

Every year on Christmas morning, everyone has to line up on the stairs for a picture before we go open presents. We have had some big groups in the past but over the last few years, the line-up has been getting smaller and smaller. As you can see, this year was a small group but we are grateful to still be able to "line-up!"

Nostalgia

This year I was trying to think of something to give my kids that would bring back memories for them and their families. In the 80's I made a bear (the plaid one above) with a music box in it that played "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." It was always so fun to get it out and wind it up. This year I made eight "Jingle Bears" (for each of my kids) that play "Jingle Bells" when you wind them up. I used a more updated fabric-Moda's "Figgy Pudding". I can't decide which fabric I like the best but I did manage to cut one more out for me . I don't know when I will get around to sewing it-maybe next year. Our plaid bear needs a buddy!

A Half-Eaten Gingerbread Man Army

My daughter had this pattern on her blog this year (actually she revived it from last year) and I decided to give it a try. I ended up making 13-a true baker's dozen! They are so cute but I think I will have to give some away attached to gifts. I also made red felt button to save a little money on buttons and also because I was pressed for time and just could not find the right red buttons.

A Spanish Thanksgiving

It's possible to have an All-American Thanksgiving in Spain with a little planning and a lot of preparation! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. It was so much fun to be in Madrid with Brett and Amy and the kids. We didn't think we would have a turkey but Amy found one the day before in the grocery store. It was a little pricey-35 Euros ($1.50 for each Euro) but it was delicious and we had plenty left over for those great turkey sandwiches. Amy made sure we had our "sparkling cider". She mixed apple juice and Sprite and it tasted great. We had deep dish apple pie and pumpkin pie. Fortunately, for us, Brett and Amy's next door neighbor, Cheryl, was on vacation so we used her oven to help get everything cooked at the same time. It was such a special time to reflect on how blessed we truly are.

Visiting the Calkins in Hawaii

Jennilee and Logan at Turtle Bay


The swells were so high on the north shore and we went up to watch the "experts" surf the waves.


Cache looks so natural in the sand on the shore!

A few weeks ago, I visited Jennilee, Logan and little Cache in Hawaii. Hawaii was great but it was even more special because I was able to be with my kids. Cache has changed so much since the last time I saw him (I think it was in March). He gets around and is Mr. Busy! Jennilee and Logan have a gate up in the doorway of the bathroom because if Cache had his way, he would be playing in there all the time! So, when you want to go in the bathroom, you really think twice about it. I think I might be trying out for the high hurdles soon-ha ha.

We went to the beach a few times. Jennilee and Logan love to surf so I think they were happy to have someone to watch Cache while they were out in the waves. It was fun to see the progress both of them have made. They asked me if I wanted to learn and I said "no" right away but now I think I might have passed up a great opportunity-especially with the warm water in Hawaii. Maybe next time, if there is one!

Cache is talking so much. I had on my pj's with fish on them and he came up to me, pointed at my pants and said "sish". So smart for a 1 year old!
We visited the Aquarium, had acai bowls, shaved ice and great hamburgers-twice. We went to the ward Halloween Party, visited with friends from the past and I even had my pants mistakenly taken by some unknown person from the clothes line at TVA (married student housing). Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys. I had a great time.

When You Wish Upon a Star!

We just returned from the "happiest place on earth"-Disney World in Orlando. We hung out for a week with the Underwood's and had a grueling (I say that because it was physically taxing) BLAST. We spent 5 days and one evening visiting the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. We rode rides (I loved Soarin' in Epcot), went to great shows, ate churros and other treats, and I even starred in a Monster's Inc. Show-that was a little embarrassing! The crowds were smaller, the weather was pretty nice, and we had a great experience-it might be fun to do it again in a few years. There's still so much to see that we didn't even get to. It was wonderful to be with our children and grandchildren-that's really what it's all about. I do have to take issue with the slogan within the parks that says it is a place "where all your dreams come true." My dreams are still hanging out there, but that's okay.

Our Cruise on the Pearl

Last week Brent and I went on a Pacific Coastal cruise on NCL's Pearl. We left from Vancouver and sailed to LA with stops in Astoria, Oregon and San Francisco. The ship is a beauty with a lot of fun for everyone-waterslides, tennis/basketball/soccer court, rock wall for climbing and plenty of places to find food. We mostly relaxed, read and ate! The ship even had a bowling alley in one of the lounges-4 lanes. We bowled and realized it's been a long time since we've been bowling. Boy were we rusty! Maybe we'll have to hit Parkway Bowl and tune up our games!

Matilda-the movie

Did you ever see the 1996 movie "Matilda"? It was on T.V. last week and Brent started watching it but had to leave for a meeting so we dug out our VHS copy and watched the rest of it Sunday evening. After he watched it, he said, "that was so cute, why haven't I seen it before?" Well, Monday I went to Target and it was on the $5.oo rack so I bought the DVD. Well, we had families and kids over for Labor Day and some of them ended up watching it and Brent watched it again. It is pretty clever and there are some great lines in the movie. Get it or rent it-very fun.
Chau! (That's from the movie, ha ha!)

Look at Those Clouds!

Saturday night I went to the grocery store and when I came out, I saw people looking up at the sky, taking pictures with their cell phone, etc. When I looked up, I witnessed a most unusual cloud formation in the eastern sky-like a giant fan. Since I didn't have my cell phone with me, I rushed home, hoping that the clouds would still be as prominent in their formation. They had dissipated a little but here is the photo I took of a most spectacular view from our balcony!

Yosemite

Last week we camped with Tanya and Shawn and their family in Yosemite Valley. It was so beautiful there-first time I've been there. We had a really great time and saw so many beautiful sites. It was interesting to have to be so particular about keeping all the food stored in the bear boxes. It was a little more work than our usual beach camping but it was worth it. If you've read Tanya's blog, you will already know that we did have a little encounter one morning with a bear. I woke up at 5 am on Thursday and needed to head over to the rest room. As I unzipped my tent and looked out, I saw a bear in our campsite. I quickly zipped up my tent and got back into bed. Tanya saw the shadow of the bear go past her tent and we both heard it climb into a vacant bear box in the adjoining campsite and rattle around for a while. Other, than that, we did see some bears but from a safe distance! If you would like to see my slideshow, you can find it here.

Our Crazy July!

Breakfast at Kono's


Banana Heads


Lego Land



Riding Surrey Bikes on Coronado Island


Chillin' at the Ferry Landing


Kory getting dog-piled by the kids



Trevor "wacky-diving" in the pool

July at our house was very busy! Traci came with her kids for two weeks. Zane came for the last week of their stay. Traci's friend Melissa Mortensen and her 3 kids stayed at our house for a few days and my sister, Merrilee came for one weekend. Brett and Amy came for about 10 days and they were here at the same time as Traci and Zane for about 3 days. Oh, and Devin came down from Provo for about 4 days as well. We had a full house but it was so great to have everyone come. One night Tanya and Shawn and their family came down and spent the night while the Underwood's and Brett Ross' were here. Caitlin hung out with us and Kasey met us at the beach for Zachary's birthday bash. Oh, and Kory, Erika, and Zelia came to play for two days but they stayed in a hotel! I wonder why? Jennilee, Logan and Cache-we really missed you.
On top of that, I was still taking my Spanish class and I took my final while Brett and Amy were here. I am proud to say that I got an "A". It really was a crazy July!

Estudio espanol!

If you are wondering why I have been absent from blogging for a few weeks, it's because I am taking an intensive college class in 1st year Spanish. I did have a semester of Spanish at BYU but that was over 30+ years ago! (We won't get into specific numbers) Since Brent is the Branch President for the Spanish Branch and I attend there as well, I figured that I better get with it! This class is so great. We meet cuatro dias por semana (4 day a week) y tres horas por dia. A que hora es la clase de espanol? Son las siete de la manana. A que hora termino la clase? Son las diez de la manana.
Obviously, I can't put in all the accent marks, ene's and upside-down question marks, but you get the picture if you understand Spanish. If you don't-my class is Mon. through Thursday, from 7 am until 10 am. Grossmont College is very close and I can walk to my class in about 15 minutes or less. I am learning a lot-just in 2 weeks. Each Monday we have a chapter test. Last week, I got an A+ on my test but this week is much harder and we have a test manana!
This week we have memorized about 32 "ar"verbs, 58 vocabulary words, 14 prepostitions, 10 interrogative words, the days of the week and numbers up to 100! I have been getting headaches I think from brain overload. Anyway, that is what I have been up to.
Adios!

Congrats, Mauri!

Last Friday,(June 12th) Caitlin, Brent, and I had the opportunity to attend Mauri's promotion from Temecula Middle School. Grandpa Rivera, along with Grandma and Grandpa Love were there as well. It was fun to be there with Tanya, Shawn and their family. The ceremony was short and sweet and then we went to Tanya and Shawn's for a delicious brunch.

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Here is a great recipe for Thai Lettuce Wraps . We had them for Sunday dinner today and while it did take a little bit of preparation ahead of time (chopping and cutting), they went together pretty fast. I used ground turkey for the meat in this recipe-tasted great. We loved them and will make them again.

Happy Birthday, Brent!

He's known by many names: "H", "HB", Dad, son, Hair Bear, Grandpa, Papa Ross, President Ross, hermano, and of course-Brent. Whatever you call him, he's one of a kind. I would like to say that you will find no one more stalwart and true than this man. Happy Birthday, Brent. We all love you

Birthday Season

It's birthday season in our family. Saturday we met Kory, Erika, and Zelia in Huntington beach at Duke's for dinner and Hula Pie for dessert. Happy Birthday Kory and Erika. It was also Tanya's Birthday on May 21st. Happy Birthday to you!