Christmas 2008

Christmas around our house was very quiet. I baked an apple pie first thing and then we opened our presents which took about 3 minutes. We tried to draw it out but it was still over pretty quick. Cody called the first time at about 11am to tell us when he would be calling "for reals".

Kevin's new sweater from his father.

Nori

I had to give Nori equal time. She has been a part of our family for 16 years!! We love her so much and she is being a very good hostess to Pipi.

Sunday

First thing Saturday morning, we dismantled our waterbed (Kevin drained the water out on Friday) and put up our new bed where it belongs, in our bedroom. While I was at work, Kyra, Brad and Kevin spent the day together and then went on the Vine Street Walk Saturday night. Sorry, I don't have any pictures of that.

After church today, we were trying to decide what to do when Kevin suggested a board game. I know its hard to believe but its true and I even have a picture to prove it.

Brown Bear

Sorry, I just couldn't resist posting this picture of Cody. Isn't he so cute? My brother John took this picture of Cody with Brown Bear. I guess they are superheros, hence the blankets. I think he was about 4.

New bed

When I walked into church for Relief Society on Tuesday night, Carol Oxborrow told me they had a beautiful queen-sized mattress with box spring if I knew anyone who might want it. Well, the funny thing is I've been seriously thinking about replacing our waterbed with a conventional mattress. We've slept on waterbeds for the past 30 years and I've noticed that Kevin snores up a storm on waterbeds but not so much on a conventional mattress. So I told Kevin about it and on his way home from work last night, he stopped at the Oxborrow's to look at it. Its brand new! He came home and told me about it so we went over there to pick it up. We brought it home and set it up --yep that's right, in our front room! Kevin's snoring was much better last night. I thought it was very comfortable. Now I just need to get used to it.

A New Boarder

Kyra called me last week and begged me to catsit one of their cats to see if the other one's behavior would improve. So they drove up on Friday and brought Pipi with them. She slept in the garage last night but I think she will be alright in the house. She's a very nice cat but she growls at our cat, Nori. Nori doesn't quite know what to think about the whole thing but she's pretty cool with it.

Phone Call

Cody called us today and left a message on our machine--he's going to Denver tomorrow at 4am! Further information to follow.

Sean

Scott, Debbie and Nikki Stevenson

A couple of weeks ago, Sean Stevenson's parents added Sean's missionary plaque to our case. He originally left for his mission from New Zealand where he was living with his parents but they moved back here a couple of months ago so we had to put up his plaque. He's Cody's best friend.

Thanksgiving Day

We went to see Quantum of Solace while our turkey was baking. It was an exciting movie! I think I finally understand it now. My apple pie turned out delicious!

blog

You may be wondering why I haven't blogged for so long. Well, our DSL line is down! so now you don't have to put up with my blog every day! I hope to get caught up when our internet service is back up.

airport

Have you ever been to the airport after midnight? Well, I was and this is what it looks like. I was the only person there in the United section!

I know you've all been waiting on baited breath for this picture--here it is!

Nina

So I fell down on the job of blogging every day this week! Kyra and Brad were gracious enough to pick up Cody from LAX on Saturday (the 8th) and bring him to our house. After church on Sunday, Kyra, Brad, Kevin and I went to Morro Bay to eat at Giovanni's and tour the Nina.

Open House

Last night we had an open house for Cody and lots of friends came over. First in the door was Joe and Val Reti with a plate full of Snickerdoodles. They were yummy! We visited with them for awhile and then Tani and Michael Blackwell with their three kids, Corine, Colby and Chloe and a plate of chocolate eclairs with cream puffs! I made BBQ sauce and put it in the crockpot with lil smokies. My BBQ sauce is so yummy! More people who came: Doug and George Major, Brett King, Floyd and Karla Butterfield, Helen and John Gallenstein, Adam and Jessica Gorbahn and Scott, Debbie and Nikki Stevenson. Sorry I forgot to take pictures! I do have some pictures of our earlier ride out to Morro Bay. I'll blog that later. Oops! I forgot to mention that Kyra and Brad were here, too!

Jenny and Tristan

I promised Jenny I would post this picture for her. This is Tristan Heckman, one of Danny's high school friends, holding her train.

singing

About 2 years ago I invited one of my instructors from the gym to come to hear me sing in choir at church. She's never made it. I invited her for tomorrow morning. I'm hoping she'll make it.

blogging daily

Ok, blogging every day is not feasible unless you want something like this "Today I went to my step and sculpt class followed by yoga. then Kevin called and asked me out to lunch. I met him at Sushi Kokku for a Mexican roll and teriyaki shrimp. Then I got my nails done. When I went home, i took a nap. Later I went to Ani Kirk's for Kraft night. I knit a whole bunch on the pink blanket I started last month. When I went home, Kevin was in bed "surfing" on his computer. I went to bed at 9pm but didn't fall asleep for about an hour."
Actually, something funny did happen yesterday--I was at step and sculpt talking to the instructor, Joyce, and said "i get to stay for yogurt today". Then I laughed and she did too when we realized i said yogurt instead of yoga.

Eric

Today is Eric's birthday. If he were alive, he'd be 60! Wow! This picture was taken in Mar 1972 at Provo.

favorite

And this is my favorite picture of all! Look at that sweet smile and those cute freckles! Taken in November 1993.

more cute pix

I'm sorry I just can't resist showing everyone what a cute baby Cody was. Here he is in his Daddy's arms.

I just can't resist! Everyone has to see what a cute baby Cody was!

another cute picture

Guess what! I read ramblingsofsusie.blogspot.com and she reminded me that its nablopomo. for those of you who don't remember, that means you blog every day this month! anyway, here is another picture of cody!

Guess what? its Cody's 20th birthday and I have a picture you need to see. Mandi and Danny are bathing Cody right after he was born! That's Kevin giving a helping hand and if you look carefully, you'll see Grandma Helen watching through the window. Happy Birthday, Cody!

Halloween

Jailer Kathy and her husband, the convict, David.

Michael Blackwell

Sir Mark with M'Lady Sherri

Bishop Kevin Richards

Heidi Monson, Tani's mother as Bride of Frankenstein

I'm really scary as a Walmart cashier sitting with Bride of Frankenstein and one of three witches, Robin.

Last Friday, one of my customers was Corinne, the daughter of Tani and Michael Blackwell and she was buying lots of Halloween stuff. When she said they were having a party and I should go, well, I called Kevin at my lunch break and asked him to go with me even though I got off work at 9pm. We didn't dress up but we went anyway and ate and listened to music. We didn't stay very long cause we started to get cold.

Dancing

I'm sorry I didn't add this picture 2 months ago. This was taken at Heidi's wedding. I'm dancing with the father of the bride, my brother, Ed.

Cody's plaque

The changing of the guard

Dan Prior gave his mission report at church on Sunday and Cody gave his farewell talk on the same day! After church, Dan took down his plaque after we sang "I Hope They Call me on a Mission" and "Called to Serve".

Cody installing his plaque

Here's the three of us with Cody's plaque installed.

cody's farewell

This is Cody's plaque after I added the picture.

I will add a picture later--Sunday, the 19th, is Cody's mission farewell! I told the bishop that after Cody told me that this Sunday would be the last Sunday he'd be home before his mission. Now, we just received his itinerary for his Maryland trip and he'll actually be home the Sunday before he leaves for the MTC. Oh well.

Disneyland

Darth Vader

this was next to the Finding Nemo ride--Jedi Training--Darth Maul and Darth Vader

Mike and Mitchell

Rachel and Austin

Austin with Buzz Lightyear

going on the Star Tour we saw C3PO

Rachel is riding piggyback with Makaela on the way to California Adventure

Spencer and Mitchell are giving Austin a "chair" ride

Here we are outside California Adventure. It was all decorated for Halloween. The "A"'s in California were covered with candy corn.

Walking--Michael, Kyra, Makaela, Austin holding Mandi's hand

We were standing in line for Buzz Lightyear. You can see how hot it was there--Rachel's face is very flushed.

Rachel is showing us how Cruella DeVill stood.

We all got our 3-D glasses on for the Toy Story ride

Here's the kids

Mike and Mandi and that looks like Mitchell in the background

on the ride

on the carousel--Rachel

Mandi and Mike

Mandi and Rachel

Kyra

Space Mountain--This was my second time on this ride. We only had to wait in line about 15 minutes.

Kyra took this picture of me

At the end I took this picture of our Space Mountain picture.

on the tram to parking. Bye Disneyland.