Before………..After

A picture is worth a thousand words…

Little mommy…

It was one of the most fabulous Christmas’s ever.  It is the first year of our married life that we stayed home for the morning aspect and then joined the family later.  It was really nice.  We relaxed and slept in.  I let Brian and Serra~V~ sleep a little longer while I got up and ready and started  breakfast.  Egg burritos per Brian’s request.  Brian got up and helped get Serra dressed in her new Christmas frock that I finished just the other night.  We ate a nice breakfast with fresh squeezed OJ as well.  When we tried to get the boogus to come downstairs she must have figured something was up and got nervous and wouldn’t come down.  So we got her a milk and she was all fixed.  Down she came to her newly refurbished red wagon, new wooden rocker and stool, and a mound of presents from the Anderson clan.  We spent the next hour opening gifts.  Serra secured a new dolly, dolly blanket, stroller, and dolly accessories, books and clothes and paints .(thanks alot Grandpa and Grandma Gee)  She also got a little cash to add to her college fund.  Her stocking had some new hair things and some beaded necklaces.  She immediately “dressed up” and spent the rest of the morning fussing with her babies.  We had to drag her away so we could head up to Calabasas to join the fray. 

The rest Christmas lasted until the skies began to darken.  We were treated well by our Arnell family as well.  Lots of new frocks, some books, beautiful framed art work, tools, and even some rolled grains.  The memories were great as usual with a great combination of inspiring and humourous thoughts and reminiscences. 

When the game of RISK began it became nearly impossible to think let alone hear each other talk.  But we managed conversation anyhow. 

It was a wonderful day, full of good treats, thoughtful gifts, and fantastic company.  Thankyou all for a wonderful CHristmas. 

I will post pictures in a few days or when I get an hour or so to do it. 

It was a doozy and I can’t believe Brian didn’t feel it.  I was down in the garage doing laundry and as I stood at the washer I suddenly found myself stepping backward to catch my balance.  I thought I was just dizzy or something because there was no sound.  I actually thought of the possibility of an earthquake immediately but decided I had just lost my balance.  Then when I got back up stairs I noticed the Christmas tree shaking and the blinds were all swaying.  I held onto the banister and waited the 15 or so seconds until it seemed to end.  I think in total it lasted about 30 seconds.  I tried calling Brain right away to see if he felt it but the phones were down for about 20 minutes.  When they came back up he said he hadn’t felt a thing.  I guess there are a few mountains between us to absorb some of it.  This is the first one I have felt since moving back.  It reminded me that I should fill the water storage container that I purchased.

It’s raining gently today and I really need to finish Serra~V’s rocker and stool.  I guess I will have to do it in the garage. 

The Varmint is dead!

We have been at war with a critter in our kitchen for the past few weeks.  He comes out at night and eats crumbs off the counter and then poops.  We laid out traps all over the place and he would either not show up that night or avoid them.  Well, last night before bed I saw the varmint as he ran behind the stove.  We laid out the traps with cheese and wheat on one and apricot fruit leather on another.  At about 5 AM I heard the blessed thwack! of the trap and then dreamed mice dreams the rest of the morning.  At around 8 I ventured down to see if we had him and indeed he was caught and quite dead with his nose in his would be mouse treat, cheese. 

On a lighter note:  Here are some family shots.

Party Crashers!

We put in 10 good months at the Calabasas Ward and so last evening we felt justified in attending the ward Christmas party.  It was a nice dinner and program done mostly by mom it seemed with a little help from a few others.  Santa pictures were taken as well but with Aunt Serra’s camera.  Dad and Serra both sang different songs in the program and did well.  Hope you are all enjoying the season and the seasonably cool weather. 

Today I was in charge of the conducting in Primary  and as I was up front for opening exercises, who should show up in the back and start waving and trying to get my attention but the Kudmeister.  Keith Kudor of the Calabasas ward.  He is busy making the rounds to all the wards where he knows people, seeking  mission donations and saying goodbye.  I wasn’t very impressed with his tactlessness in trying to interupt me during primary.  He even sent someone else in to try to get my phone number so he could call Brian who was at home sick.  I wouldn’t give it to him so he found someone in our ward to give it to him.  He called Brian and asked if he could come over for dinner.  Brian informed him that he was sick and not feeling up to company and as I was at church for a few more hours food was not happening.  I ran home during Sunday School to print up some pictures for Sharing time and he followed me.  He harrassed Brian for the next hour and a half trying to get a dinner invitation.  He gave up with Brian and called someone else he knows in the area and asked them if he could come over for  a meal and they told him they were fasting “all day”  he harassed them for a while and when they gave in and said he could come over he left as I was coming home.  I kind of feel bad for the guy.  He has not one social grace in his body. 

Not to much has happened in the 2 days since the last post but I have more pictures so I feel duty bound to say something too. 

I went to my first farmers market today in Ventura.  I was surprised at how reasonable most things were.  I got only fruits and veggies including (drool, drool) strawberries which I already enjoyed.  They are soooo good and I didn’t know you could get them in December. 

Some of you may know that I have been on a knowlege seeking mission.  I came to the realization that my hormonal imblances which make it diffucult to concieve may be due to diet and something either lacking or harmfully added.  I can’t even express the amount of valueble information that I have come accross in the past month or so.  There are a few things I think all the ladies especially in the family need to read.  Anyway, I  learning to rethink things, almost completely ignoring what the ”health” world touts to be good for you, and have started being very careful about what I buy and ingest.  In a lot of ways it is frustating to know that money and politics keeps many of the things that are healthy and whole out of our reach.  Anyway, I’ll jump down from my soapbox now and share pictures on Mom’s b-day. 

Jacob was a study eating the oreo pie.  He THOUGHLY enjoyed himself and I thouroughly enjoyed watching him comsume his treat.

It sure is hard to sit down and do an entry with all the other things I need to get done.  Problem is I have to peruse all the other sites and it takes hours to get caught up on everyone.  It sure is nice to be able to check in on you all though. 

Serra~V~ is maturing in many ways.  She is starting to piece words together in simple ways.  This morning it wasn’t just “ba-bye” when daddy left.  It was “ba-bye da”.  She loves to play the “where did it go” game.  “Don know” she says after.  This morning she balanced on her toes and head in the A frame and then skillfully put her hands out.  She thought she was very clever and the first kid to ever do it.  She loves to cuddle.  She will go and get a blanket and a doll and hold them out to one of us, meaning, please pick me up and hold me.  She has started showing interest in books lately as well.  She enjoys being read to, especially the interactive kinds that have a flip up or something to touch.  Saturday marked a big milestone.  We changed the crib into a toddler bed.  It has a small railing to keep rolling kids in place.  She can get in but not our on her own.  This I don’t mind. 

We had a wonderful T-day in Vegas.  We traveled late Wednesday evening and spent until Saturday afternoon.  It was fun to watch the 3 girls interact.  We were missing only Holly and Ian.  Even Grandpa and Grandma Gee made the trip. There was lots of food, as always.  I think the only thing we got Serra to eat was candy, olives and ham.  Each one of the grandgirls ate an entire can of olives before dinner even began.   Here are some shots.  Notice Serra’s arm in the first one.

 This is the transformed bed.

Here is the girl in some Christmas duds.  Actually the pants are last years outfit and still fit.  She was extra chubby last Christmas and has thinned out.

This is our decked out living room.  As you can see this room is complete of all remodel.  The shelves are great Eric!

And last but not least, a mom and her girl at the Calabasas Relief Society Dinner.  I was on the program.  I swear I didn’t just crash it like we might the ward party next weekend.