Farewell 2009

It is the end of the year, another holiday season at a close, a few days off work to enjoy. I have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with my daughter and her family during 2009, as well as the rest of my family - lots of big events were celebrated! Mom and Dad both turned 80 and they also celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, Sawyer (Tom & Laura) and James (Spencer & Sara) were born, Aaron & Kiyoko and Eric & Amy were married - needless to say we spent a lot of family time which is precious and which can also be hazardous sometimes (sorry about B's ribs). I saw my daughter and her family 9 months out of 12 and spent a wonderful week in California as their guest during their family vacation ~great fun always! My little g.kids are like a magic tonic for me. I feel very happy when I am with them. I'm grateful for my family and that I am healthy (relatively) and have a home I enjoy (and very beloved neighbors) and a job I like...always a plus. Hoping 2010 is productive, creative and that we all are able to push a little closer to our goals and dreams. Happy New Year!

Christmas 2009

Cute hat from my BFF!

Notice the "hitchhiker" on Preston's dessert...he's just weird..

Needing some attitude adjustment...

Telling Yaya all about it.

Christmas dinner

Preston and Mama

Papa putting together all the Legos! Way to go, Papa.

Amy with her stash!

Preston with his.

HO HO HO Con't

Decorations ...done

Girl Party with Lana's sisters, friends at Little America

Lana at Lisa's party Saturday... I can't get over the brown hair...

Isabelle and Santa

Merry Christmas to me! From me.. it ain't sexy but I love it. Last but not least, another performance from the Christmas School Program.. again - turn up the volume!

Concerts and Carols!

This past week has been full of concerts, music, and Christmas spirit!! We went to the Nutcracker and it was so lovely. I love the music and we had wonderful seats so you could see the dancer's faces and it added so much to the show. It's been a while since I've gone, so it was wonderful to see it again and it was fun to go with Jayme and Amy.
Jayme and Amy at the Capitol Theatre for a performance of The Nutcracker

The orchestra pit at the Capitol Theatre - we were 4 rows back from the stage - great seats.

The view from the LDS Conference Center after the Christmas Concert with the Morman Tab'napple Choir (Family Joke) with Natalie Cole and David McCullough as special guests.

I was so impressed with the Conference Center (GE did the electrical and I have been up in the rafters on the catwalks before it opened but being in the center and seeing a concert - the accoustics are flawless - was the coolest ever) - Very Very Enjoyable. It will be on KUTV next holiday season- stay tuned.

Preston's School Program - this is just one of the many highlights. He did a great job. This is a real treat so turn up the volume! Merry Merry!

Yars/Lars is Found!

Lars has been missing for almost a week! Jayme,Carey & Preston drove to the Lost and Found at the airport last night in a last ditch effort to find him.... Carey shoveled up all the snow to see if Lars had fallen out of the car and been shoveled ....room search done, I searched next door and in the car again. We have been searching for days and were at the point where we figured Lars was gone, and we just hoped she was not dirty and wet and alone somewhere - Jayme told Preston she was on vacation....we were all very sad. This morning I heard the garage door go up, and the kitchen door burst open...Preston tore into my room holding his Yars (Lars) high up and prancing to show me his Lars had been found!! Jayme was misty eyed and I got a little choked up too. Where had that beloved comfort friend been found??? Inside his Lego SpongeBob Pineapple box......We are all so glad that Yars is home!

Last weeks events

J & C had to go out of town to a funeral for Cary's sister's husband. So the morning after the office party, we took them to the airport and P-reston and I had a few days together (thank you Amy for staying overnight on Saturday) and picked them up Sunday PM. I got to go to his new school - very nice and they had a Christmas boutique and Thurs and Frid - picked up a melded glass necklace that looks like a tooth - ended up giving it to P and he loves it. Z was a sweet girl and did our traveling with us too. She was missing the walks! Too bad for her, but the two were good company. We had a quiet long weekend. Here are some highlights:


The gi-normous box of legos was in constant use. The laundry basket became the "killer whirlpool" for errant pieces. They would be twirled and suck down into the hole with Jack
Sparrow's ship...??? He's pretty imaginative.

At the Chapman Library, childrens room. This is a little jewel of a library. Great music selections and crafting books. This is the one for a quiet afternoon with kids.

Cookie cutters for a haircut. We also visited Grandma and Grandpa. Exciting as usual.

Grandma tried to ply us with food, Grandpa talked.

Watching toons before we left for the haircut.

Christmas party at Biaggi's - lots of fun. Food was delicious - Good company !

Back Story - Thanksgiving!

Had a great time - Dinner was great, Mike and his boys, Sue and her family sans Wendy, Becky, George, Jayme and her family plus Gust -David, Sandra, Evan and later in the weekend, Nina, Song, Dennis and the kids arrived evening of Thanksgiving (see her blog - she spent the day with Larry and Diane) and went shopping for their annual Black Friday excursion - wiped them out the following day. Had a little pre-Christmas with the grands - they got to open their presents from me and I got to open theirs...sad but we won't see each other on the holiday but it was very fun. Loved the handprints, the canvas family portrait and my earrings and mouse! My cup overflows.... Posted a gazillion pics - enjoy !

Viv, Will & Preston. "Pals"

Preston Performing

"E" in his stormtrooper costume/preston. He looks really cute!

My SIL - knitting a hat. He is pretty talented. I love that his mother taught him to sew, knit and crochet.

E, Will, Preston, and Evan out in the yard - not sure where E is going. He marches to the different drummer for sure!

Cady - she is a cute cute girl. She loves her Gma. I really love that about her.

Viv's pretzel position for watching TV.....

More boy shenanigans!

A Thanksgiving Picture

George - what more can you say?

Amy and Gust Preston's Turkey Lurky

Aaron, Alex,Adam

Evan, Sue, Preston

David and Sandra

Jayme and Friend

The Parental Units

Kiyoko, Sue, Sandra

Family Thanks

A sculpture by Preston - so fun.

Crazy Tub Boy

Catch Up (Again)

Here is the newest Jim Hildebrand...Isn't he cute? Spencer and Sara were really cute with him too. It was fun to see them fussing.

K'yush - a sweet little visitor.

Short but sweet visit with my wombie.

Grandma and Heather at Jayme's - she's back from Alaska headed to Hawaii .

Someone being dramatic .... big surprise there. Crazy Boy.

At Girls night out. Enjoying the evening. Sue, Amy, B, Mom, Wendy, Jayme, Me... Food - not so good but great company. The most interesting thing at the Jasmine, is this booth (below) in the women's restroom. Mother says it's for taking your kids in with you...I think it's weird..in a funny way. Like I say - weird. Funny.

Dad with Sawyer at Jenny/Kennedy birthday party. He's so dang cute and getting so big already! (Not Dad, he's getting smaller) One high point for him - Lisa's mother thought he was Robert Goulet... trust me. That really pumped him up.

Birthday Girls having fun........