Christmas in California 2009

We had a wonderful ten days or so with everyone here except Jake and Kerrie and their little ones. (We missed you ) The first arrival was Jen and Thayne's family on the 23rd and Hollie and Jarin's family on the 24th early. We had eleven people staying in the house. Maran and Scott and kiddies and David and Jill and kids came for dinner on Christmas Eve where we enjoyed Dave's yummy homemade chili. They went over to their other Grandparents' house for a FHE and to open gifts.
Here is Sienna on the 24th wearing a tutu and green slippers from Grandma's stash in the closet.





All 31 "stockings were hung by the chimney with care."

I loved decorating the house this year eagerly looking forward to the children and grandchildren's arrival. The Christmas tree theme was candy canes and the little ones could hardly keep their hands off of the tree. I let them eat the canes after Christmas.

Here is my new Santa Clock that I got for my birthday from Dave. :)

We awoke early on Christmas morning. The kids opened Santa's gifts and gifts from thier parents. Around 3PM the rest of the family came over and we all opened gifts from Grandpa and Grandma and to each other. We ate a ham and funeral potato dinner but it just didn't feel right without lasagna on Christmas day. The first time in all of my 57 years of not eating it! But that is because we were celebrating Christmas with the extended family on the 26th and eating lasagna then. We did have over 40 people here and everyone actually sat at a table to eat. It was crazy! We watched videos from the family reunion and ate lots of goodies (including fudge!) afterwards. It was great to see all the neices and nephews and their children.

Kamrie and Ella enjoying their gifts.

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Sienna and her new Cabbage Patch Newborn. Dallin and his new toy.

Bailey and her Mom were dressed in the same top. Brynn also had on the same top.

Dominic opening his truck.

Hailey opening presents.














Here are the grandkids posing in their PJ's and matching blankets that I made for them. Hannah will get one next year and Dominic got a blanket last year.I could not believe my luck that all the PJ's fit!

On Dec.28th, the kids held a belated birthday party for me since we are never together for my birthday. I got to have my favorite dessert which is hot fudge sundaes and some of my favorite people surrounding me. :)

We had an absolute blast on New Year's Eve playing Hide-and-Go-Seek in the dark at our house. Then we played a snap and clap game and other games with the grandchildren and their parents. It was alot of fun and laughter. All of us managed to stay up and welcome in the new year (except the twins )

This is the last day, Jan. 2, 2010 and I am saying goodbye to the little sweeties, Bailey, Brynn and Hannah.

The Beginning of a very busy, exhausting summer!

We came home from NC and MO around the 30th of May. Then the summer really went nuts. Madison came for a visit for a couple of days around June 6th. . On June 11th I had a meniscus repair in my R knee. The next day Jen and the three munchkins came to visit for a week or so. The next day Sam had her party in the yard. The next day Virginia had a stroke (I was the only one here and had to call 911) Of course, I went to the ER to be with her. The next Saturday was the wedding, then the Church party and then July 4th (which I have no photos of) and then off to Utah (in the next post). Phew!!!

June 7th, Maddy came for a short visit. We had fun making play dough faces.:)

Samantha held her 6th birthday party in our yard on the 13th of June. There lots of kiddies there and it seemed like they had a great time.These photos are from Jill' facebook so they are sort of tiny. We didn't take any photos. :(

We had another wedding reception in our back yard on June 20th.The weather was perfect and about 200 people showed up.

The lanterns on the front lawn.

The table centerpieces were clear marbles with lemons and flowers on top. Black polka dotted ribbons were beneath.

The colors were yellow and black. Unfortunately, I totally missed taking photos o the bride and groom. Duh. I was still using a cane and tried to take it at an easier pace which was hard to do when the party is at your house.







Close up of the lantern with yellow flowers inside.

Coldstone Ice Cream Bar. All you can eat. Yum!

The gift table.

The serving table. It was a beautiful, ingenious use of lemons and flowers.

These delicious fruits and the flowers were all grown in my yard. Yum. Luckily, I got to pick and taste them in early July before leaving to go to Utah.

About 50 - 60 kids from the Young Adult Ward had a swim party in our yard on June 29th. My knee was still not healed.

SEE BELOW FOR PREVIOUS NEW POST. :

July through Sept. CrAZY-BUSY!

July 10th Dave and I drove up to Utah. He dropped me off and flew back to Ca. Then I stayed at Hollie's while Jen was visiting (hence the photo of the boys playing Wii) . Poor Maran was so ready to have those twinners!! But we still had to move her into a three bedroom apt. before the twins arrived! Here she is (I made her pose) around the 21st of July.

And here they are: Brynn and Bailey born July 28th. Brynn came first at 6lb.8oz and Bailey at 6lb 11 oz. Wow.

Hannah meeting her sisters. A family of five.

The photo on the right was the very first time Grandma Julia and I met our girls.

Bailey with the antibiotic in her eyes.

Then Dave flew up to Utah and we drove home on July 31st to get ready for the Trasmundi family reunion in San Diego on August 4th. Jake and Kerrie came to our house on August 2nd.


Trasmundi Idol on August 5th. We had an absolute blast. Many, many thanks to Jonpaul and Betty and others for the hard work it took to make this such a success. It will be remembered.

Dancing cousins.

"Norman Gentle" alias Jarin in the Trasmundi idol. He was hilarious! OK, I whited out the picture of my face. It definitley would have taken the attention away from Jarin because it was one of the worst photos I've seen of myself.




The judges: Randy (Jim); Kara(Jo Ann); Paula (Betty) and of course, Simon (Dave). They were fantastic!

The kids were dancing while Angela sang. I love Nick's face. :)

The lineup of kids watching the performers.

Jake and Kerrie, Luke and Allie. JP and Jo and others.
A very filling lasagna dinner. Thank you David Price for getting us more cake!!

Frank, JP and a table filled with Trasmundi relatives. :)

Melissa, Eric, Cortney, and kids.

Nick, JP, Paul, Kyle, Mike, Gina enjoying dinner.

Angela, Jo, Jim and Ali.







Amy, Jimmer, Jo, Ross and Ali.

Betty, Dave, Jessica, Audrianna and Lucas.




Nick, Aunt Dot, Cousin Jane Atchison, Jessica, and Audriana.It was a real treat to have our first cousin Jane come to the reunion.She fits right in. :)

Thayne, Ella, Kaden, David, Dominic, Jill and Sam.










Jen, Thayne and Ella.

Thursday, the 6th we had dinner in the park. Much thanks to Peg and Bet and Melissa and Meri and others who made this such a fun night. It was a beautiful evening and a beautiful park. Below are Rick Tierce, Paul, Meredith, Aunt Dot, Kyle and Melissa, Hailey? and Ella.

The sub sandwiches were a hit. In this photo: Crystal, Rich, Jarin, Donna, Jo Ann, David, Angela, Ross, Jim.

Jen, Crystal, Thayne, Bet, Jo, Amy, David, Ross and others.

Betty and Peg (responsible for the dinner), Thayne, Amy, Jo, Rich, etc.









AFTER THE REUNION I DROVE BACK TO UTAH FOLLOWING JARIN AND HOLLIE AND KIDS. THEY TOOK TURNS SITTING IN MY CAR. I STAYED OVERNIGHT IN ST. GEORGE AND DROVE BY MYSELF THE NEXT DAY TO SARATOGA SPRINGS WHERE I WAS VERY SICK WITH AN AWFUL COLD AND A UTI. FOUR DAYS LATER I WENT TO MARAN'S NEW APT. AND STAYED THERE UNTIL SEP. 10TH WHEN I DROVE MYSELF HOME. Meanwhile at home, on Aug. 9th, Jessica and Madison moved in for about 7 weeks. Maddy had her 10th birthday party in the back yard on Aug. 24th. I had the camera in Utah, so Dave did not get any photos. The back yard definitely got used this summer even though I was gone for two months.

Hannah and Brynn.

Brynn and Bailey checking each other out.

Little cuties around five weeks old.

Sunday, all dressed up. It was hard to get photos of the two of them without one of them crying. :) This time it was Bailey.
















Little Hannah all dressed up for Church.

A very tired-looking Grandma.














THE END