Christmas!

Christmas Spirit!

Christmas day is always fun when it includes the grandkids! We started the morning with Greg, Erika, Robert, Anthony, Kourtnie, and Launa. Just as we finished opening gifts to and from each other the rest of the family started arriving. All together we had 19 of us for the day. I love it! It makes the Christmas spirit so much more fun.

Christmas Love!

Christmas Fun! Something was funny.

Christmas Music! Anthony played music for us on his saxophone.

Christmas Happiness! Kourtnie was happy with everything.

Christmas Princess! Launa got her own vanity and kitchen.

Christmas Baking

I don't do a lot of baking for the holidays. A little a here, a little there. Glenn & I teach a Sunday School class- 16,17 & 18yr old students. We asked them what kind of Christmas lesson they wanted this year. Before we could even talk about a lesson they wanted to put in their orders for goodies. I promised their favorites: chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles and milk.

Launa & I spent all day Friday baking. Once Kourtnie got home from school she helped us finish. We ended up with dozens and dozens of cookies. Anthony, Kourtnie and Launa wanted to know if it was ALL for the teenagers at church. Ha! Do you really think my grandkids weren't going to get any of these cookies?
I was surprised to learn that Kourtnie and Launa had never heard of Snicker Doodles. They loved rolling the dough and covering them with the cinnamon/sugar.

Rolling the dough.

Super Bowl Champs!

Anthony's team, the Ojai Eagles, went to the Super Bowl today. They had an undefeated season and were playing the Santa Barbara Dons who had only lost 1 game. We drove to Santa Ynez for the game. It was really exciting to watch our guys play their hearts out. They won 20-0. The coaches said that they're the first Eagles team to go all the way undefeated.

Anthony on the line.

Anthony plays corner back and wide receiver. Today the coaches also put him on the line. He did great! Anthony said he loved it. We're so proud of he and the rest of the team!Is that one happy guy or what?

Papa & Anthony

Glenn & Anthony are close. Anthony found out Papa was going to put up the Christmas lights. He asked to help. When they were finished they sat and watched football together and ate pizza.

You can't tell from this picture but this spot on the roof is about 20 feet high.

Before going home Anthony told Papa that he had a school project he needed help with. He has to make a Polynesian mask. The next day Glenn went to Lowes and bought the wood etc. Anthony came over that evening and they were on their way. Anthony has come over every day since to work on the painting.

Measuring the wood
Cutting the woodDrawing the face.
Painting the face.

Christmas Decorating

I hadn't planned on it yet. We'd just returned the day before from our vacation. I had laundry, bills etc. But...... when you're 3 year old granddaughter says, "Grandma, let's decorate for Christmas." aaaahhhh What's a grandma to do?

So, on Tuesday we decorated. I dragged the ladder over in the garage, climbed up and pulled the numerous plastic buckets and other decorations down. We spent until afternoon nap time decorating. Launa had her own ideas as to where things should go. I was surprised, although I shouldn't have been-not with Launa, at how well she remembered where a lot of the things went from last year.

I bought some new talking stuffed animals from Hallmark. She confiscated Rudolph and it's now a new decoration at her house. She doesn't know I had secretly planned that. Each year I buy the newest musical promotion from Hallmark. This picture is Launa playing all of them at the same time.

Packer Fun!

Glenn & I went to a Packer football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas. I'd never been to a professional football game and Glenn hadn't been since 1969. What a Blast! Okay, yes, the Packers lost and Favre got hurt. If we'd been watching it on TV we would've both been really bummed. I admit we weren't happy that we lost BUT we had so much fun it was hard to be as bummed as usual.

The fun began before we even left California. As soon as we entered the terminal at Burbank airport a guy saw my Packer jersey. He was wearing a Cowboy T-shirt and began ribbing us. Turned out that half the people on the plane were going to the game. Unfortunately for us most of them were Cowboy fans. Even the pilot got in on the fun. As we began taxing out he announced that the "charter flight for the Dallas Cowboys" was leaving now.

Can you tell who Jon & Tracy were rooting for?

We went to the game with the couple who got the tickets for us. Jon works with Glenn. (Thank you for getting us the tickets Jon) Our seats were in the upper deck in the end zone near the press box. I don't think there are any bad seats in the stadium. We could see great. I think almost half the fans were Packer fans. Most of the fans around us were Packers. So much fun!

First look at the field from our seats.Favre goes for a pass
Glenn & Wenona in the stands

We returned to California the next day, drove home from the airport, repacked our suitcases and drove up north for an anniversary weekend. We spent 3 nights/2 days at Sycamore Mineral Springs. Very relaxing.

Dinner at McLintocks restaurant. One of our favorite places to go. If you've never tried it, go next time you're near Pismo. The food is great. Check it out here.