Better late than never - Christmas & New Year's

Christmas this year was so much fun with all the grandbabies! Roman was excited about all his presents (and Payton's presents). It was hectic but I loved every minute of it. We had my family over on Christmas Eve for dinner including my brother and his family and my mom. Then the next morning our girls and families were here for breakfast and their presents. That afternoon we went to Ray's sister Scheree's house and had a fun time with that side of the family.

Grandpa with his granddaughters Akasha and Payton.

Akasha is the most mellow baby. So sweet in her new hat.

Christmas Eve in their new jammies.

Nicki with Roman and Payton close by.

Roman's Geo Trax train is a big hit with him.

Dani, Josh and Miss Payton!

This is our annual New Year's party with some of our neighbors.

Our friend Rick wearing the table decorations even though I asked him not to because I said I would post the picture on facebook (I didn't but it didn't stop him from posing proudly!)

The table decorations before everyone arrived.

My Christmas Help

This is my favorite time of the year (although I could do without the cold). This year I have some great helpers.
Roman helps me make Christmas cookies.

I haven't put a tree in the family room for several years now but this year I did a small one with just snowmen and snowflakes - nothing breakable. The grandbabies could help decorate (and undecorate) to their heart's content.

And Roman helps me figure out the light mess. Too much fun! I love spending time with my grandbabies. I can't get enough.

TRAX

Roman is such a little boy and loves everything about trains, trucks and cars. He has been asking and asking to ride the TRAX train every time he passes it. So today Ray had the day off from work and we loaded everybody up and off we went. We rode from the 104 station to Gateway, got off and had lunch at Jason's Deli, and then got back on in the freezing cold and came back home. Roman was so quiet the whole time, just sat on his grandpa's lap and pointed out all the trains and buses we were passed. We are pretty sure he loved it!

Let's Finish Up Fall!

I have not posted in awhile and all of the sudden it is December! I wanted to publish a couple of pictures to send out the fall before welcoming in the Christmas holidays!

Nope, not my Thanksgiving table. Ray and I have a tradition of hosting a dinner every November for some friends and neighbors. We make Italian food and have a lot of fun. I really love having a beautifully decorated table and am trying to get better at it. Lately I have been reading some inspiring blogs and I think I am improving.

Roman playing in the last of our leaves. He would be outside all day, everyday, regardless of the temperature.

Akasha's Blessing

Details of the fun dress.

Roman, Nicki and Akasha

Happy girl!

Cute baby Akasha was blessed on Sunday in our ward by my Uncle Jim. He gave her a beautiful blessing. The day was somewhat bittersweet because we all missed my dad who gave our daughters and other grandchildren beautiful blessings. But we felt him there with us in spirit. These pictures are of course not in the order I wanted them posted but I can't figure things out. I made Akasha's blessing dress - twice. In my typical way, I just kept sewing away even though my mom kept telling me to try the dress on her. I was trying to finish the dress a week before her blessing day because I had such a crazy week coming up. So I tried it on her Friday night, it was almost completely done except for sewing in the skirt lining, and it didn't fit. Nope. No matter which way we turned her and tried to squish her cute little self into it, the back edges would not meet. Great. So I started over. I fortunately had about 10 yards of this gorgeous fabric covered in seed pearls that we had bought several years ago to maybe use as part of a wedding dress. Thank goodness I had so much. I am still cleaning up itty bitty pearls all over my house though. I can see them between the keys in my keyboard as I type.

Payton and her grandpa

Just bouncing on grandpa's knee. What could be more fun?

San Diego!

Last week I went with my friends Heather and Jan to San Diego (Lorie was all set to come with us but was too sick at the last minute). This was the view out our 14th floor hotel window. One direction we saw the bay and the other, downtown and the gaslamp quarter of San Diego. It was a beautiful hotel. We had so much fun and laughed tons. Girls trips are too fun! These trips have become an annual tradition since the days we went with our daughter's to their dance competition trips in Las Vegas and St. George. I hope it is something we can continue for years to come.