Guess who got to ride in the limo.

Today was a good day. Adria and Amara got to be on the channel 10 news along with their whole school in a morning show production. Adria finished her 4th grade mission project and then after school her best friend picked her up for a birthday party.They have been friends since kindergarten.

The driver needed a little help with a dozen little girls in the back seat.

Adria couldn't be happier!

Sparkling cider to celebrate. What a treat for the kids! They went to Amazing Jakes for the party. Hope Payton had a great birthday.

Christmas is almost here!!!

While the Christmas tree is getting ready Dad and Aidan have a chance to catch up on some reading.Time to get down to business. Grandpa works, Aidan helps, and Daddy takes pictures.

Meanwhile there is work to be done with the left over branches.

Art is created! Adria put it together and Amara did some art ornaments. What a team!

This wreath bowl sits on my table with so many memories. And we have only just started!

Merry Christmas!!!

Catch up!

I know I'm way behind on my blog but things have gotten so busy! I just wanted to show a few pictures of our start of fall. I got to spend my birthday protesting in Washington D.C. It was so cool to find 1 1/2 million people who have like mind and hearts to keep America Free. I have never done any protesting so this is new to me. Most the people there were rookies at it. I took my son Josiah and my 2 grandaughters, and Jim ofcourse. It was incredible!!!

We stayed over a few days and took the girls to see some sights.

New York, New York, it's a heck of a town.

It's not often I get the five together so this was a real treat! Aren't they the cutest?

Life is good.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jonah!

Guess who's birthday it is.Saturday we had Jonah's 2nd Birthday!!!

He was very happy about it.

He liked the cake but his favorite was when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him.

This was one of his favorite presents.

He wanted to play with what he got. He didn't want to waste time opening others.

Mom made the birthday cake so it was extra yummy!

I caught Jonah pulling a Josh. All the kids were playing and running around and there was Jonah , under the tree house, playing all by himself with the tonka trucks.

Guess who couldn't resist. Another great day thanks to my favorite daughter in law. Thanks Steph!

The best Sunday ever!!!

Adria's BaptismAfter 2 years of asking me and learning everything I could tell her about baptism she finally made it to the water! Our other church doesn't baptize children until they are 12 so I have had 2 years of her asking me to be baptized. I finally told her I would baptize her next time we went to the beach. Well......

We started going to a Baptist church around the corner from us (because they have an awesome Sunday School for our grandkids) about a year ago. They Baptize kids if they understand what it is and what they are doing.

After 2 years of lessons from Grandma and Grandpa she thought she was ready. We were in California the week the Sunday School had their class for it so we didn't even sign her up. We went to church Sunday and she remembered before we even got in the car they were going to have a baptism. I explained to her we did not get her to the class the previous Sunday so she wasn't going to be able to get baptized. Well .....

She was so bummed I asked the Sunday School teacher after class if Adria could have a private class before the baptism that evening. She was glad to accomidate and so Adria was on! We took her home and told mom who had other plans that couldn't be canceled. Well.....

Adria would not take no for an answer and mom decided she was not going to stand in her way so off to class she went and there was never a child that was so happy. After she told the pastor (whom she hadn't met before) why she wanted to be baptised she finished with a , " and I just want to tell Him how much I love Him". I was a basket case. Mom and I snapped pictures and after it was over Adria said to me, "In that split second I was baptized, right Grandma?" And I said , Yes honey. A few minutes later she said, "So now I'm baptized, right Grandma?" and I said, "Yes, Adria, you were baptized into the family of God." I must have answered right because she got a cotent look on her face and finally after 2 years, didn't ask me any more questions.

Jim and I went out to dinner afterward and he called his family to tell them about it. His dad got on the phone and told him he had rededicated his life to Christ 2 weeks ago. Jim finished the phone call, looked at me, started to cry and said, "This is the best Sunday ever!" Then he excused himself to the restroom to get a grip. Life just doesn't get any better than this.

Disneyland with Jonah!

We made it! With lots of planning and patience we actually made it. Jonah's first trip to Disneyland and I was blessed enough to be there. Thanks Joe and Steph. We had a great time and Jonah was a trooper. He kept going for 2 days and didn't miss a beat. The kid has stamina. Everything there was new and wonderful looking at it through his eyes. We started out pretty fresh on the first day.

The grass is always greener...... Mind you, this is the splash zone but you never know what else is out there...

Jonah and his very cool grandma ride the train. He says 'hoo hoo' when the train whistle blows and WOW when he sees the T-Rex. (just like dad)

I just liked this picture because it makes him look so grown up. This is also the wet zone.

Somethings are just beyond belief. Look at those eyes!

Jonah would not ride alone. Loved it with a riding partner though.

This was his favorite ride. The kid is not afraid of anything!

Grandpa , Mom, and Jonah riding the Disney Tram.

Guess who got to meet Jonah?

Jonah's favorite show is Disney Clubhouse.

Just sitting by the fire at Micky's house.

He loves the train!!

So glad Walt Disney had a great imagination and lived in a free capitalistic country that gave him the opportunity to make kids dreams come true. I pray everyday that my grandkids have the same freedoms to pursue their dreams. Please join me.

Beginning of summer in northern California. 2009

Summer is here and off we go! We started our Summer in northern California on a great vacation with 4 of our grandkids and Angela. Adrian backed out at the last moment, something about having to work. Same excuse Leanna, Joe, and Stephanie used. I think they were just in fear of another one of Jim's "How much can you fit in 1 day?" vacations. We all flew into Medford, Oregon and worked our way through the Redwood Forest, down the coast to San Francisco, inland to Yosemite, and back up to Oregon with a few stops on the way. We had so much fun!

Aidan did so much climbing and running even though he was sick. We tried to keep him in the stroller but.......

Courtney worked in some rock climbing. Look Dad, no safety equiptment!

The Exploratorium was Adria's favorite. We didn't get too many pictures. We spent most of our time chasing, finding, and explaining things to the kids. I love that place!

This is Aidan and Mingo the pink flamingo. He loves this thing and brought it on vacation. Mingo had to go everywhere with him. Poor Mingo.

Adria and Amara at the petting zoo. This was at the train station place we went for Aidan.

Amara at a break stop.

Aidan's favorite place.

We are all in a cave seeing how the underworld lives.

Still his favorite.

Grandpa did alot of carrying this vacation. Adria had lots of questions.

Resting on a hike to Yosemite falls.

All of us climbing up a lighthouse.

Adria found a crab.

We made it to the top of the lighthouse.

Courtney enjoying my favorite place.

Grandpa found a gift for Aidan. Aidan is curious but really doesn't like to touch.

Paul Bunyon talked to the kids.

He let them sit on his shoe.

Boat trip to the cave.

Doesn't get any prettier than this.

Amara's favorite place was the old west town. We got to pan for gold. Aidan dumped two of their vials but they managed to refill them before we left.

So pretty. The falls were nice also.

Another grandkid shot with a waterfall for background.

Mother and daughter.

My favorite view. This was our campground.

Big trees.

Oddest feeling to look through pine trees and see the beach.

Sleeping arrangements. This is camping?

We expected a cabin. Notice the space under the door flap. A squirrel came in and ate Angela's shoe in the middle of the night. All day she kept saying, "Shoo! Shoo!" to the squirrels. They obviously don't know how to spell. Well this was a great way to start summer! Hopefully we'll have time to do another trip to end our summer.