DECEMBER: Lights! Lights! Lights!

DECEMBER:

Lights! Lights! Lights!

This year when we went to Fernley, Nevada for Sister's Weekend, my dad gave to us and also his grandchildren most of the Christmas lights that he had stored up in his attic.....and he had a lot of them. (We could've opened up a store with the 75 plus apple boxes full of brand new and used lights!....Yes, there were a lot!) He gave them to us because he isn't able to put lights up as he has in past years. So, my goal was to put up lots of lights in my house and yard in honor of my Dad, who has always been the Christmas Light master! His 1 acre yard was amazing at Christmas time with all of the lights. My little parcel was just a scratch, but it was the thought and love of doing it that counts, right?

So....enjoy the lights!

When I took them down, I decided to count the strands. There were around 25 strands in the front yard (100 light strands=2500 lights!), and about the same in the back. There were also the lights that lined the peaks on the roof, the chimney, etc., the nativity, the candy canes, and the reindeer. Plus, I also didn't count the icicle lights that were on the fence and the eves of the house. (Did I mention that I also doubled the icicle lights by having both strands of white and blue? Yes.....I'm surprised I didn't blow a breaker!) So, I can honestly say I'm going to have an incredible utility bill next month. Since there were probably more than 20,000 lights in my yard! But, it was worth it! My dad was proud to know that "his lights" were represented in at least 4 states-California, Utah, Oregon and Nevada!

David Archuletta Concert!

Christmas at home!

THEN A TRIP TO UTAH!

Hazel opening a present!

Dallin playing with his "4 wheeler" from Uncle Steven.

Sage showing off her "Princess poster" from Uncle Steven.

Kim enjoying the "bouncing slide" place with the grandbabies!

Grandma enjoys it, too! Hazel wasn't too sure about it!

(It was great fun! Plus we were the only ones there!)

Michael enjoying "Nickelcade" with the kiddos on Dallins birthday!

Hazel loves playing with tissue paper and balloons!

Dallin turns 3!

Sage builds a cake with her special play dough!

Aren't these kids just the cutest?

They put a smile on our faces!

NOVEMBER:

We got to have Thanksgiving in Utah!

During the week, I got to go to preschool with Sage!

They had a Thanksgiving feast!

After a day of playing, bathtime is always fun!

Scott's sister, Sande and his mom came and visited one night while we were there.

The grandbabies had a great time with their, Great Aunt Sande and Great Grandma!

We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner made by Kim!

We were treated with turkey, homemade stuffing, dream jello, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy, pretzel jello salad, broccoli, orange cranberry sauce, green salad, sparkling cider and pies. (I may have forgotten something. The table was full, which made our plates full, which in turn filled our tummies!

(Sorry-I forgot to take pictures of the amazing food!

But, I did get a quick picture of the pies!

Kim made the 2 raspberry creams and 2 pecans. They were amazing!)

OCTOBER:

During October I was spiritually filled by watching our churches,

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, General Conference on the internet

and by going to Vacaville to a special fireside with Julie Beck,

our churches General Relief Society President.

A wonderful spiritual feeding at both events!

My sister, Debbie met me in Vacaville, so I got to spend time with her, too!

I also was blessed to have our annual "SISTER'S WEEKEND" with my amazing sisters!

We decided to have it in Fernley, Nevada this year since my dad is having some health issues and we wanted to be able to be there to spend time with him and help him, too.

While in Fernley, we helped clean my dad's office, bedroom, files, his attic, etc.

We also had a great time going through old photos, slides, etc.

We also had our annual photo shoot! (It was a little hard without having a photographer! So...the pictures aren't great, but, they are memories made!

Yes, Ugly Christmas Sweaters, too! (Mine went to Goodwill already!)

We all have silver quarter rings we wear that our dad made us when we were young.

During the weekend we made matching "Sister's Bracelet's" to wear, too!

It was fun to be there and to be with my sister's, too!

I truly Love my sisters and my dad! I feel so blessed!

SEPTEMBER: Fishing! Surprise Birthdays!

SEPTEMBER:

During September Scott made his annual trip to Montana for fishing with his brother, Sam.

He always has a great time! This year Steven went with him and they added Utah to the trip.

They not only got to fish with Steve Williams on the Green River, but they also got to spend some time with Michael and Kim and the kids, too! What a bonus!

Steven texted these photos to share!

We also threw a "SURPRISE 8Oth BIRTHDAY PARTY" for Scott's mom!

And, She was definitely surprised! All 3 of her children were there, as well as some of the grandkids! She had no idea they were going to be there!

We started with a "Treasure Hunt" with clues that took us to different places in town.

(She got some strange looks at the park when she looked under a bench to find the next clue!)

We ended up at the church and then blindfolded her.

What a shock when she saw all the people!

AUGUST: quad trip-School Starts!

AUGUST:

During August we celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary!

We celebrated by going on our 2nd annual quad trip to Manti, Utah!

What a fun time for all of us.....Temple trips, quad riding, geocaching, picnicing, camping, etc.

Not so fun.... getting caught in a rain storm (very muddy & wet!)

& one quad getting stuck!

(No, Scott was not the driver!)

Michael & Kim & family came down for a day, too.

After Manti, we spent a few days with Michael's family, too.

It was a lot of fun!

(If the quads are around, this is where you'll see Dallin!)

A night of fishing and playing at the park!

Then...it was back to California to get back to a new school year!

JULY- A month with visitors, Boy Scout Camp & Dad's birthday

JULY:

During July we had visitors!

Our nephew Shane came-He went quad riding with Steven.

Dave & Sheri Mossi, their son and their dog, Ally, stopped by while visiting the area!

We LOVED having the visitors! Thanks!

Michael, Kim and family came, too!

We planked! We geocashed! We walked! We kayaked!

We took time to smell the flowers!

(Did I mention that the "Bed Fairy" came to our house while they were here and the "Lollipop Tree Fairy", too? I guess you have to have little visitors for them to come to your house!)

We also got ready and had another week of Boy Scout Camp that Scott was in charge of-which means lots of cooking for me for a few days! They went to Buck's Lake and had a great time! Lots of adventure, too!

We also went to my dad's 83rd birthday party!