Christmas 2009

Christmas celebration begins with decorating cookies! This has become an annual tradition, having Miss C and her friends come over and pile on the sugar! This year we had miniature gingerbread cookies as well as sugar cookies. Thanks Sandi, for finding cookies already baked and ready to decorate!

Shelby and Cole were welcome additions-Shelby has lots of experience creating one-of-a-kind cakes...

When Miss woke from her nap we were treated to a "piano concerto"

And before we knew it, it was Christmas! Miss C left cookies and milk for Santa and beer and carrots for Rudolph. We knew Santa came because the beer and carrots were gone as well as the milk and most of the cookies-the reindeer left a mess on the carpet-and Santa brought a beautiful big girl bike! And left it on the dining room table!

But wait! There's more! Lots and lots more! Miss C helped Miss E by opening her presents....

Big hit was the princess outfit complete with jewelry, crown, purse, hi heels and skirt.

And, the ever favorite play dough

Later we all sat down for a splendid dinner of prime rib. Three cheers for the cook (Kris) and all the sou chefs who contributed to such a grand meal.

Aloha!

Talk about modern marvels....I'm sitting in my stateroom blogging! We've been at sea for four days-my cell phone doesn't have any service but the internet is alive and kicking! The good/bad news is that my camera is on the fritz-no pictures! Jeanne Williams and I are going shopping in Hilo tomorrow-our first port-and guess what? Wal Mart sends a courtesy shuttle to the ship. What a crack up!

We've been keeping ourselves busy attending the twice daily trivia games and when you see Jeanne ask her how she fared on Princess Surviver.....

Hi Santa

After a very busy two days and one night babysitting, (see previous blog) I went to visit Santa Jack...It was absolutely delightful, watching children (and adults) give themselves over to the magic...

Santa talks to children no matter how young.

Santa says it's the best job on this planet-And I believe him!

Santa knows when a visitor is too shy to sit on his lap- he can still elicit their dreams...

A November Weekend

Well, I know why women do NOT have children at our age....what a busy weekend! Sandi arranged for the two of them to get away to celebrate Kris's 40th birthday and enlisted me and her mom Linda to take care of the girls. I began the weekend and Linda came over Saturday afternoon to finish but Kris and Sandi missed the girls too much and came home late Saturday night. Sleep deprivation, feedings, and entertaining a 4 year old was both a joy and a chore!

Lucky for me big sister loves to take care of baby-for a few minutes at a time!

We had to have a tea party

Miss E is just starting cereal.....

Oh yeah!

Kris is 40!

Where did the time go? Just "yesterday" Kris was planning a surprise 35th party for me-and now she's celebrating her 40th! Next Tuesday is the official day but with school and owrk during the week the family came to celebrate today. Kris asked for (and got) several cooking tools for camping-and some recipes from my friends and the internet. Since Sandi's birthday was last week, her gift was a gift card (I lost her present somewhere between WA and home.)

Miss C has just grown so much! Miss E is almost 5 mos. old and such a talker!

We had a great time-even though it was cold!

The campfire was perfect-thanks, Jack, for leaving such a good supply of wood!

Here she is...the birthday girl!

Ann (cookie grandma) came for a quick visit...and shared some yummy mint chocolate cookies-yum.

It must be the mountain air that got Miss E a 4hr. nap......

Miss C is 4!!!

Such an eventful day-all week actually! Miss C is in pre-school and had a celebration on her actual birthday as well as the family party this past weekend. This year the party was held at home-and the hockey room was decorated in Miss C's favorite character (Dora) and colors (purple and pink).

The grown ups had their games, too. The horseshoe pit was a favorite attraction. Jack and BJ played against Allyson and Kris-The guys won and I won't mention the score.....

Kris and John built the horseshoe pit as part of the playground side of the back yard. 

C was more aware this year of her special day, presents and cake all for her. She carefully unwrapped each and every gift and said "thank you" to the person who brought it-with  just a little prompting from Momma

The grandparents and little Miss E...we Grammys love our gran!!!dbabies

The traditional pinata-it was Dora's head! How sick is that?

Miss C couldn't wait to show us her Halloween costume-she makes a perfect Cinderella....

We all had a great time-now we can get ready for Kris's 40th and Sandi's 41st...Whew!!!!!

Part Two-The Coast

We left Half Moon Bay and spent the rest of the day driving down the coast-never a bad idea there! 

There are so many beaches!

Half Moon Bay and the Coast

It was a beautiful day- perfect for a glimpse of the festive pumpkins in Half Moon Bay. 

Here's Jack's boat-tee hee

The Great Pumpkin awaits you!

Lots of pumpkin  patches along 92

A quick stop on the way Home....

A big part of wanting to get home is to see the kids-both the big kids nd the smaller ones....Miss C kept asking me when I was coming back (on the phone) and that made me really homesick. So, a quick stop was in order...

They make such a beautiful family!

Miss C is a very caring, patient big sister-even tho Miss E has a startled look...

Grammy got lots of hugs in....

A quick lunch at Denny's (Miss C's favorite ) then I'm off to Park Sierra!

Don't know how these folks stood the hot weather all summer!

Goodbye Stanwood,WA

Here's Roy and Teresa's house-and I'm parked in their driveway! it's pretty big-T to;d me they had three rigs at one time when they were preparing to go to Alaska.

Teresa and I outside of St. Anne's Church on the tribal reservation. It's one of my favorite Churches-we stayed for the pot luck they have after mass....

This is the view from the church...It's Tulalip Bay, part of Puget Sound-beautiful!

We (Pat, Teresa and Debby) celebrated Teresa's birthday a few days early since I have to go home for a baby fix....Lunch was yum! and, we always have a great time when we get together.....What plays in Stanwood stays in Stanwood.........

I found the perfect basket for T in Ft. Bragg, and made a wreath for her made of mule ear abolone shells-it's something I do for the ford House in Mendo and I thought T would like one of my creations.....Halloween is one of her favorite holidays and I found the perfect spider in Canby, OR. I thought two weeks would be plenty of time to catch up and play but it went by so fast! I'll miss my northern friends and look forward to a visit from them soon.

Grammy is traveling!

Well, I'm back on the road and forgot how to set up my pictures so they're in the wrong order- again! I'm also at a place wher my internet connection is soooo slooow I could scream but finally decided to at least try to update my blogsite....

I'm in Washington, playing with my good friend Teresa, doing all kinds of girly stuff. That's a blog in itself and I will try to do that one next. I left Mendocino, stayed in corning then moved up to 7 Feathers then on to Promontory Park where the Thompson's were hosting. We had time to take in some of the sights before I took off for WA:

This is Canby, OR, where Jack showed his crystals and other goodies over Labor Day weekend. It was fun schmoozing with the customers.
My first fishing lesson-the Thompsons are holding me back!
Gary and Cecile at the shores of Timothy Lake
One of many waterfalls gushing roadside on the way to Mt. Hood.
Mt. Hood-majestic, yes?

Mendo Memories-Goodbye!

Is the summer really almost gone? I can't believe this, my third year here, is over. The season has been beautiful (weather-wise), frustrating (State policy-wise), and rich with memories...I'll miss my Mendo family. Here's a few pix of the Memories....

Jack was my first visitor-we toured a number of nearby areas and this was our favorite. Elk.

JD and Heather's children and grandchildren came to visit.

4th of July is always a treat in Mendo. Rowan and I were ready to sell sodas to the crowds.

Some of the campers from Van Damn came to protest the State's proposals to close parks.

JD and Heather McCleary

The 23rd Annual Music Festival was held as usual next to the Ford House in a huge circus tent. We had beautiful music wafting in our FH for two weeks.

Jack led us in a new moon ceremony-he's lighting a torch to cleanse the air in preparation.

A  real highlight for me was my family visit!

Miss C like to cook marshmellows but not eat them!

Now, on to new adventures and reunions with old friends!