What I'll Get My Husband For Christmas

I'm not really a beard fan and my husband likes to grow his out during hunting season -much to my dismay - so I've discovered the perfect gift that can make us both happy!!!!

I Have a Weakness For Impersonations

This guy is good!

The Dad Life.

Day at Dad's

Little J with his cousin 'Buzz Lightyear' in the 'space helmet' made from one of the cake pop boxes.

MN with her big birthday card. Such fun to see our sister and brother in law and adorable niece and nephew! They made the long drive from their house way up north to spend the day with us all at Dad's house.

MN trying on her new baby doll clothes for her American Girl Bitty Baby. She is thrilled with her new present!

Yesterday we went out to my father in law's house. We shared lunch and company with both of my husband's sisters and their husbands and kids. We always have such an enjoyable time as Dad usually barbeque's up a huge pan load of meat for us all to enjoy and the kids love playing with each other and 'Uncle Alex'. He makes up trivia games and challenges the kids to use their noggins and also plays Lego's with them and teaches them how to make cool toys like paper poppers, blow guns, ninja stars, paper airplanes and all sorts of creative things to make out of common household items. The video I've put above is on cake pops. My sister in law always goes above and beyond for every occasion to make it special for everyone and she made these to celebrate MN's and our younger sister's upcoming birthdays. This sister is one of the most generous and gracious people I know and is always going out of her way to help everyone else. The cake pops she made were displayed beautifully in decorative boxes with their white chocolate and sprinkles.

Food Court Flash Mob - Hallelujah Chorus

Just sent to me in an email by my Australian family... Love it!

Pacific Island Club Performance

This is a performance by the Pacific Islanders Club ( PIC ) and the beautiful girl that you first see come on and also at the center for much of the video is my husband's cousin. She and her brother are very talented dancers, dance in many competitions and I just love watching these shows ( wish I could see more in person! ) so thought I'd share here on our blog!

The Best Reunions Aren't Planned

My husband Tom and my cousin's husband Gari. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed getting together with a bunch of my cousins over the weekend! I'm the oldest of all of my cousins on my Dad's side and I've also discovered I'm the shortest. Being the oldest, I was around to hear about or see all of their births and like to keep track of how each and every one of them is doing. Getting to actually see, talk to and hug them is even better! My cousin Brad and his wife and kids traveled here to WA from the Chicago area and are on their way to CA. They were staying just down the road for 2 whole weeks - right next door to my parents house. It's always been very important to me that even if my kids don't get to meet or see very often, all of our aunts, uncles and cousins, that at least they know their names, ages and how they are related. Then when they do see them in person - they treat them with respect and know very well who they are. So far, my kids remember very well who each family member is and how we're related - on both my side and my husband's side of the family. I tried to put all of these photos into a slide show but the program didn't want to work with me here. So ~ At the bottom of this post is the music and all of the photos are listed one by one. Thanks for stopping by my blog to catch up on our family! Me with Little J who just loves our new little cousin Gavin. Lucky for us, this little guy doesn't live far!

CT has always enjoyed helping with the little ones and here he entertains 2 of the little girl cousins.

This is my cousin Brad and his baby girl. His mom is my Dad's baby sister.

My cousin Michael on the far left, his wife Karla and baby girl Ellie traveled here from Minnesota! This is our first time to meet Ellie in person although we've been enjoying watching her grow through her grandma's blog at" Wobegon Cottage". Next to Michael and Karla in the photo are Brad's mom, my Aunt Joanne and her newest grandson, my Dad's brother David and my dad holding Little J on his shoulders. These three siblings live next door to each other and just down the road from us!

My mom Kathy holding Gavin - he's a social little guy!

Michael, Karla and Ellie

Ellie is such a good and happy little girl and so mature for her age!

Aunt Joanne always makes sure the kids are having a good time and got out paper and crayons for all the little ones at the table. ( Little J with my cousin Michelle's 2 youngest. )

MN and her pal, cousin Alani. These two always enjoy their time together.

Little J with Brad and his son Carson.

Three of the youngest boys, Little J, Gavin and Carter.

The little doll Ellie with her daddy.

Cousin Michelle's son Carter.

Gavin working on standing - with help.

Awwww, brother and sister, Michael and Michelle.

A couple of photo's of the first generation cousins at my Aunt's house. Michael, Brad and his sister Jenny in the back row. Myself and Michelle in the front. I like what baby Olivia is doing in the second photo and yes, she did get Michelle's hair at least once!=)

Star Trek Here We Come!

Crazy right? I saw an article for this in my March issue of Sunset Magazine and was kind of in awe. If this is ever completed and I do ever have the necessary funds to send myself into space as a space tourist - I think I'll pass. Now if anyone wants to get going on a proper C3PO I could pick up at Walmart - I'm game!