Saturday, February 25, 2012

A Trip to California

This is a great Picture of the Mad Tractor Driver Will!
Jacob and I flew to Monterey, California to Visit Phillip, Paula and family!  Isabella said I had to see where she lived, and she was right.  She has loved  animals from the beginning, so their move to live on a farm/petting zoo has to be a dream come true!  They get to live near horses, llamas, chickens, donkey's, goats, rabbits....and more!  Izzy helps every chance she gets and if you visit she will tell you how to do everything.  We had a great time with the kids and the animals. 
Jacob was a big hit with the kids.  He was always there to play and help them out.  The mini tractors got everyone excited.
On Saturday, Julene and Nicole came to visit.  That was a nice surprise!  It is always a treat to visit with family members we rarely get to see.
 Lidia would not be left out of the fun!
A little asisstance was all that was needed.

Some cute tractor smiles from Lidia.

Paula convinced Jacob to go for a ride! He wasn't even scared!



                                     
A little assistance to climb up!
Phillip is becoming pretty comfortable with all the animals.  They like him too.  

I watched from the sidelines.  They tried to convince me to ride, but I still have bucking off memories from my youth in Idaho.  I know............get over it!
Lidia is getting so grown up.  I had not seen her since last May, and of course Jacob had never seen her.  She is very determined and don't get in her way.  She is adorable!
Playing hide and seek with a box on her head.
I am working on making friends with Mr. Cheeks.  He likes Phillip the most!
Jake enjoyed it all.  It was fun to meet him there.  I have missed him since he left for College!
Movie time with the kids.  Poor Will had been sick with a fever and cough.  But he started feeling better by the last day we were there.   We had a great time and I can't wait for them to move closer to us.
The week before I left for California, we had someone come and put up a back splash in the kitchen!
I went with a rustic brick look since we have a "Farmhouse".
It made such a difference!
Now I need to think about some paint to give me some accent color!
Hmmmm .... I wonder what I want to do next?

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Christmas and More!

Lidia a very happy, energetic little girl.

 She turned one in Jan!!

Very cute girl. 
 She loves her daddy.
 They moved out of town and now live on a farm.  The kids love the animals and Phil and the family have to feed them early in the morning.

 Yummy birthday treats!
 Doing chores, every day.
 That really looks good.

Cooking up some good grub.
Lost in a sea of presents.  Santa was very good to our house.


Hmmm...where should I start?
 Once Seth had a car, the other presents were less critical.  (guess we should have just bought a couple of cars)
 Ellie was in heaven and had a fun time with the entire Christmas season.
What is it Gmom?  I love it!! 
 Mandatory picture taking, of course.
 Betsy got us a cool map of the world to track family missionary travels and other adventures.
 We quickly found a place on the wall for it.
 She loves that Princess stuff, and anything horse-related.

And the boy just wants anything with wheels.  (is it genetic or just a man-thing?)
Tebow Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
 Just plain wore out.  He doesn't just chill very often.
He's always up for a Gmom hug.
Gpa trying to get in on it.
Christmas day church going.  The weather was great.
Cars and trucks make him smile.
Ellie in her pretty Christmas dress.
What do you mean I'm not in Nursery anymore?  Sunbeams?
Seth really got attached to Jake and will really miss him.  Jake's off to UVU and the Provo experience.
Yeehah!!!
They all love Jake.
Adam and Hayley went to run/race.  They each did great, I think they each won their age group.
Ellie was intrigued by the Nativity, though a little nervous until I showed her they were just plastic.
Gmom was the official race babysitter again, but this time had Gpa to take pictures and help.
Post-race family shot.
Gpa brought a Mexican General to Texas to give him a new helicopter.  Very fun to see the Bell helicopter factory and fly the simulator.
Lots of goodwill and ceremony.
A shot of the ceremony principals.