Do they know how to have fun or what?!

When Ben comes home...

Ben and Janae finally came to Bakersfield to unwrap their Christmas presents.
Ben was so excited.

While we were all together... the girls got pedi's,

Sara showed us how cool she was,

we decorated Valentines cupcakes,

some of us jumped on Ben...

again,

and again.

We played Charades,

and tried some new make up tips.

We love it when Ben (and Janae) comes home.
Well most of us do...

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

The boys and I took a little trip to Baskin Robbins...
The rainbow sherbet was yummy as well as colorful.
Two thumbs up!

We (they) tried the tire swing, and...

checked out the progress on the Super Wal-Mart.
"Man! We should have brought our hard hats! They're doing it all wrong!"

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT DECEMBER.

You know what they say about weddings and funerals. It's true, sadly that those are usually the only times families get together. I am grateful for that blessing that goes with both those events. When my mom went into the hospital two days before Christmas our family started coming together and throughout the next two weeks we laughed and cried and remembered. Mom would have loved it all.

DECEMBER 2010 - CHRISTMAS AND STUFF

These two people along with their parents were in Texas for Christmas ... not fun for Grandma.

Thankfully I still had these two...

Stephanie and Sara came with me to Ben and Janae's Christmas concert. It was fabulous.

Jerry and I built a house in St. George.. actually we had a builder do it - much easier.
Maybe we'll retire there someday.

I took Sara home to SLC and got to be there for the Orton Christmas Party. My mom died two and a half weeks later. I'm so glad I got to be there with them.

My brother made my mom 'bells' years ago and even though everyone over the age of 20 says they hate them - they really don't. Everyone gets one, with a nail and we play Christmas carols. We laugh a lot. Maybe if we did it more often we'd be good but mostly it is a comedy.

Sara, cousins and aunts.

Hannah decorating Grandpa.

Sara was in California more than she was in Utah for a couple of months - Hurray!!

She even got to go with Jerry and I for our annual San Fransisco trip. We've done it for several years during Christmas to shop and eat while Jerry goes to a CPA conference. Not so fun for him but great for us. We'd invite Alison but she got married and had children... And she was in Texas.
Sara wanted to try Oysters on the Half Shell... so we did. Yum :(

Here goes! Down the hatch. ( Blehhh. In my opinion.)

Isn't hotel life divine!

Christmas Day - Grandpa's biscuits and gravy. The best ever!

Presents!

Look! I just spelled my name in French! Dang I'm smart!

Merry Christmas 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ben and Janae were back to visit.

90% of the pictures we take of Ben don't look like this:

they look like this:

Silly Ben.

Halloween 2010 - carving time.
And costume time.

The boys.

The girls.

The others...

Don't leave Uncle Ben...

AND: Jerry and I went to Washington DC. I love it there. It's where our nation's history hits you like a powerful wave. I felt such emotion and great appreciation for other people who loved this country and made the greatest sacrifices - mostly for the benefit of those who would come after them.



I love this country.

We had an early Thanksgiving because we thought most of the family would be here this weekend... things turned a little sparse but it was OK. Now I can sleep in on Thursday and go to Del Taco...

Before.

During.
After.

...oh and the first thing she says - 'I got a knife...'

A pretty awesome cheesecake for someone who doesn't even like cheesecake...