Christmas Memories

It all started with the lights

(Jayden & his friend Shawn)
Our Christmas TreeSome things never change...brothers!
Papa, Grandma and Lilibug
Javis, Liliana and Chaylia
Lilibug helping Grandma with the dishes
Lilibug and Tracen
Jayden taking Liliana on the slide

Feeding the ducks

John with Javis, Jayden, Colby and Braden

Treasure hunting!

Colby and Mad Jack Jones

Braden and Colby

The "Sign"

Colby and Braden

Good Times!

Colson and Papa

Family Ties

(Plus one curly head kid named Shawn-Jayden's best friend)

Christmas this year will hold a tender spot in my heart. Javis & Chaylia brought our Liliana to stay for a week so we could bond with our beautiful little girl. We haven't really had quality time with them since they moved to Brigham City. They arrived Christmas Eve, so we had dinner with Karen and Travis, then gifts and games. Great times! Lots of teasing, fun and laughter!!! Christmas morning, after Sacrament we came home to cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate then enjoyed opening gifts. Lilibug and Jayden made quite a haul:) We really treasured our time together: playing games, watching movies, taking Lilibug to the park and to feed the ducks at the pond. Chaylia and I even took in some shopping and lunch. One night, Grandma & Papa watched Tracen and Lilibug as Javis, Chaylia and Jayden went with Karen and her brood to go rollerblading! The kids were perfectly content to stay behind and play together, entertaining us old folks.

Shasta and the kids rolled in Thursday evening so she could spend some time with her brother. We got into some serious Skipbo (just like old times when the kids were little) and fun conversation!! I was capturing as many memories as I could during this week. For the better part of Thursday, Papa had been plotting an incredible, albiet spooky adventure for the boys. Friday morning he took Braden and Colby out exploring for buried treasure. Complete with a treasure map, they hiked in the Delta and miraculously discovered all these hidden archives that had been buried (Grandpa had gone out earlier in the morning with junk he'd picked up at the goodwill and stuffed in one of my old pillowcases...he even spray painted some rocks gold so they looked like riches). Unbeknownst to the boys, Javis (wearing a mask), and Jayden were also lurking in the brush and as Papa read the "Tale of the Toolies and the legendary Ghost of Mad Jack Jones"...they ran by giving the boys quite a fright! Braden nearly stabbed Javis out of fear because Papa let him carry his knife...hmmm. Not sure that was too bright but, hey...they had fun! They had a real story to tell when they got home and dumped their treasure on my dining room table. Memories.....

Friday evening, we went to the church so we could spread out and have a fun game night with all the extended family: Olsen's and Purdum's were there too. We had the entire church to ourselves so we played basketball, ate turkey sandwiches, salad, chips, homemade root beer, fruit...and played some wild games. We laughed...laughed and laughed. It's so good to be with family.

New Year's Eve, Chaylia's parents came into town so we had them over for dinner and good conversation. It's amazing how much we have in common. We loved having them here. They are just an awesome family and we're so grateful they allowed us this time with Lilibug. I know it's hard to share those grandparent moments so we were very touched. Later, the kids went back to the hotel with them for some swimming and fun. I was pretty tuckered out by then so I just jelled-out. I don't even think I made it to New Year's.

I think the week caught up with me. By Sunday, I couldn't get out of bed. I'd been up ALL NIGHT, hugging the porcelain...I was sick...sick...sick and, afraid I poisoned everyone. Fortunately, I was the only one who fell ill.

The week was just magical and by Monday, I was feeling the weight of sad goodbyes. I truly just loved having our kids here and enjoying our Lilibug, as well as all the grand babies that were here!

As I look back in retrospect, Shawnte' started off this holiday season with her visit. We had two wonderful days with Vance and Demi before the holidays so it felt complete; celebrating family time. But, there's always that emotion that comes when we miss the ones who couldn't be here. We miss Breck, Sienna and Veda!!!

Last hurrah of the summer

Beaver's Lodge at Gillette Lake
Setting up camp
Colby and Grandpa fishing
Tracen having a ball getting dirty!
Grandpa's fishing buddy
Cameron, Vance, Shawnte' and Demi
Jayden, Kenzie and Shyane
Jayden, Kenzie, Shyane and Colby racing
Travis keeping up with Tracen
Grandma loving little Demi
Yeah! Braden caught one
Braden, Colby and Vance
Papa with Braden, Colby, Tracen Kaelynn and Vance
Shasta and Colson

Shasta with the kids

Brrr...

All the grandkids

Getting ready to go home

Kaelynn, Vance and Makenna (tired little girl)

We had a fun weekend with our daughters and their family's. The last hurrah of the summer!

Shawnte' had reserved us all camping spots at Gillette Lake near Colville. Karen pulled in second and we arrived late afternoon. Although we left early morning, we had too many sights to see on the way up! Shasta and her crew didn't make it until almost eleven p.m. The boys helped Owen set up the tent in the dark, while we got the kids all situated and then sat around the fire talking and eating smores.

Saturday was spent at the lake swimming, boating, fishing, and just having a wonderful time. It was awesome weather and was so much fun to watch Jayden, Cameron and Owen throw each other in the lake...as well as the other kids. The grandkids had a wonderful time.

Sunday, it was hard to say good bye, as usual. Little Kaelynn cried her heart out - not wanting to leave us. We took our time getting home as Dad wanted to drive by Eastern Washington University to show Jayden the campus. It would be wonderful if he went there. He'd be close to home, yet still independent. Ideal for ME...

Oregon Coast Vacation

Mom and Jayden in front of our yurt! John and KatrinaJayden Jayden loving the ocean breeze Mom, NOT loving the ocean breeze:) One of the characters we met while walking in Newport.He ran the espresso shop...and was he enthusiastic!

The sea lions - letting us know they were here first!

A "philosophical" couple we met on the pier

Jayden's encounter with the raccoons

Jayden with Mom and Dad

Jayden and Mom at Oswald State Park

Dad, writing in the sand like he did seventeen years ago.This time it reads, "The Three Nephites"

Jayden with a couple of Coast Guards in Astoria

Dad and Mom with Jayden in Astoria

Jayden and Mom at Ft. Stevens

Dad and Jayden in one of the forts

One of the more lush historical homes in Astoria

Jayden lovin' the speed

John and Katrina

Had a fun and fast trip to the Oregon coast. We started off in Reedsport in a state park where we rented a yurt for our first night. Super fun and so much better than a tent. I was exhausted and fell asleep while Dad and Jayden stayed up and watched Funny Farm with Chevy Chase on our little DVD player. Would've liked a shower but a ball cap will do! The weather was beautiful although the wind blew incessantly. We drove into Coos Bay to snap a picture of Jehkiah's old house and have breakfast.

As we drove on, the wind tapered off and we were able to enjoy being outdoors. There just wasn't enough time to do everything so we ended up in the car alot driving from one town to the next as we moved north toward Astoria--our final destination. But, the sight's were amazing. We stayed in a hotel in Newport our second night. Jayden called it the Midget Inn as the shower head was located under his armpit and his twin bed was only 5 foot long! We ate at our favorite Chalet Restaurant--clam chowder to die for. Later that evening we walked the pier and met some pretty unique people. One chatty lady was an archeology major and philosopher. What a combination! She was fun to talk to but boy did she wear me out...ha! While we were talking, we could hear the sea lions crying in the background so we snapped some pictures and the more we showed them attention, the louder they barked. I think they were showing off. Jayden also discovered a pack of raccoons hidden under the bridge. They weren't intimidated and he literally stared them down.

Saturday, we took off early and ended up doing a rough u-turn to grab some home-made goodies. The lady standing on the side of the road dressed like a sprinkled donut had a little something to do with it. On the road again, we stopped and shopped and kept on moving. We did a little beach time at Oswald State Park as Dad wanted to show Jayden where he proposed to Mom seventeen years ago. By the time we got to Astoria we were tired and hungry and had to find a hotel quickly. We ended up having to reserve one 30 miles up the road in Clakskanie, which is a beautiful town in its own right. Before heading out, we drove over to the Job Corps where I did a 3 month stint as a teenager so I could show Jayden. Then we went into town to look at all the awesome houses and historical buildings and down on the pier to admire the ships.

Sunday, we spent at Ft. Stevens, Astoria Column then onto Portland where we had dinner and treated Jayden to the Malibu Grand Prix cars. He loved it, of course. I went around three times and was done. Dad tried to go more but it wore him out too!

Good times.