December 25th

Chris and I both worked Christmas eve, but I felt already like Christmas was over...Until the morning! We drove up to Grammy and Gramp's house for our traditional breakfast of waffles and grapefruit halves. The morning was foggy and over cast, but led into a snowy afternoon.

Which ended with a gorgeous sunset. I love the variablilty in the seasons, temperatures, and even days here!

It is so great to see them enjoy all of the kids and grandkids.

Elly was a dear, having lots of fun with the paper!!

More fall-like leaves with hail stones.

We met up with Chris's grandma Jewel for lunch and a visit.

My screen saver at the moment. We all made it!

So thankful for another wonderful holiday season. Just one more celebration to go. We wouldn't change a thing about it! Hope your holidays were blessed and that 2009 brings health, joy, and peace!

A Christmas Eve night out

Chris and I both worked on Christmas Eve, so I had the night free. My holiday chum Carolyn always knows the scoop of where the happening things are, and what the seasonal treats are. We went to Dovewood Court in Orangevale. I have heard about this place, but have always thought it was Dougwood! I was expecting a few homes sporadically lit up, but there was around 15 homes on a court, and they were all lit up. It is a pre-requisite to live there, or something! This one was actually downtown later in the evening!

This was off of a person's rooftop, and must have been at least 15 feet diameter!

This was inside a person's garage, and the carousel went around and around.

Dovewood actually has operating hours, something to the effect of 5-10pm, and early december until December 28th. Over for the year!

Christmas at Mom's

After 5 days of 12 hour shifts, Chris was sure ready for some celebrating! We drove up the hill after his day (left the house after midnight!) and made it to Mom's. The Prius did suprisingly well in the sleet and snow. We nestled into a wonderful slumber in the wee hours of the morning. Christmas morning always has a special feel, it doesn't matter what day you are celebrating it on, you are remembering the traditions, the feelings, the family, and the memories. Ava and Lily enjoying the "reindeer" on the front lawn.

Leave it to Uncle Chris to bring in nature for the girls! Making a snowman in their Christmas dresses, very creative Uncle Chris! They were using craisins and popcorn seeds and kitchen gadgets to carve into the snowy figure.

There definatley were more "reindeer" than usual--mom says usually about 6. I couldn't fit the whole family in the picture. See the snow? It added to the festivities!

Not too shabby of a picture, sure helps to have a cutie pie for a subject.

A peaceful view of the valley.

Dave and Chris playing Chris's present from the Aubins. We had one growing up and played it in the game room! Who would think 15 years later it would still be an appropriate gift?

We had two wonderful meals cooked mostly by Court and Robert. We all had a hand in the meals one way or another, but they were the top Chefs of the day. We relaxed and played and ate and enjoyed. Who could ask for anything more??

Our First Christmas

We have always had a seperate Christmas with Lori, Brian, Michael, and Erik. It was at the Aubins again this year, with the theme soups and salads. We all really liked the lighter fare--or did we just eat more??? Dad made a chioppino complete with clams, here is showing everyone how they open and close!

Aunt Lori and Uncle Brian made a matzo ball soup! It was nice to see Brian, he is pretty busy with duties for the American Leigon.

Lily and Ava were really being serious kids while consuming their dinner. They are so boring, really!

The crew, with Wynt taking the photo... Aunt Lori wrote and read a really cute poem about everyone to the lyrical rhyme of Twas the night before Christmas. Very special and creative, Aunt Lori.

Cuzzzzzzzzzz Erik and I. Erik brought down from Tahoe a huge tupperware of photos from his mom's house. We all looked through them for hours. Pictures that some of us had never seen before, and pictures that some of us hadn't seen for a long time. Memories were made looking at memories from the past. That was a very special treat to look back 50+ years in time.

Dad now plans on leaving for Iraq February first. We were sure glad that his trip got delayed (selfishly!) for the holidays, but he is super excited to beat feet as he would say!

The Work Party

It has been a few years since we attended one of Chris's work par-tays but we had a great time. It was at the Hilton, and it was definatley more lively than last time since we knew more people! Jane, Jenn, Jen, Jeremy, me, and Chris

We were at the kid's table so-called by the Hasseys. Food was decent, all Chris and I could talk about was our previous jumping experiences at Sky High!

Tea and Birthday Celebration

We went out to tea with the ladies to celebrate all of our birthdays for the year. Mom is very particular about what pics I put on her of her, so I left off the ones of her trying on her goggles that we got her for swimming at the gym! After tea we went to see Four Christmases. Very funny and kinda raunchy as per Vince Vaughn's usual. I think that this is a first for me, taking pictures inside the movie theater. Dont worry, the previews hadn't started yet!

Grammy had room for a kiddy drink, popcorn, and candy. She kept trying to get Court and I to try some, "Come on, it's real tender!" She was hilarious!

We all do love tea and each other muchly!

Sky High Sports

To celebrate the inner child in us, Chris and I hung out with Bryce and Austin. We went to Sky High sports, and indoor, huge trampoline arena, and jumped our hearts out. We were all sweaty and tired by the end of the, er, 45 minutes! We have a whole hour, but I bailed at the 50 minute mark!! Motion pictures were kinda neato lookin'.

We are going tomorrow night, Sunday December 28th at 8:30 if anyone wants to go, gimme a call!