Crazy - Busy - Wonderful JANUARY

This is going to be a great year!  I can feel it.  It started out not so great but I will never let a little cold get me down!  Being retired is a feeling that is hard to descibe.  I knew I was going to love it, but I didn't now how much.  It is amazing just doing what I want to do everyday without worrying about having to be somewhere and have someone breathing down my neck all the time.  I highly recommend it to everyone!!

My dear sweet friend Bonnie Smith had a little breakfast gathering at the beginning of the month to celebrate my retirement. 

Megan was a good sport to come  and hang out with all my "older" friends. Most of them have known her since she was a little girl!

Bonnie Smith, NancyEdwards, Pam Garvin, Margaret Fairchild, Kris Day, Nancy Anderson, Kris King and me

The middle of the month I took a much anticipated trip to Disneyland with Megan, Justin and the boys.  We had so much fun for four days.  I have never spent that much time at Disneyland. I realized how old I am getting.  Every night when we returned to the hotel, my poor legs would hardly hold me up they hurt so bad!  I spent lots of evenings soaking my feet and legs in the bathtub.  We had a great time and since a picture speaks a 1000 words here goes....

 

 

 

Coleman was a BIG fan of the merry go round 

Lincoln, Jack and I tried really hard to pull out that sword!

I saw the World of Color for the first time and it was amazing

Of course all three boys got picked for the Jedi training and loved it

Lincoln sitting on the pirates treasure on Pirate Island (formerly Tom Sawyer Island)

What can I say about this picture?  Not my idea but I tried to be a good sport!

Love this picture with Pluto at Toon Town



Coleman all strapped in on the Buglife ferris wheel.  Coleman and I enjoyed Bugs Life while everyone else went on Tower of Terror!!

We all loved the newest attraction at CA Adventure - Cars Land!

The first two days it was very cold as you can see by the layers that Megan and Justin are wearing
 

 

Taking a break in front of Small World

Megan - Lincoln - Coleman on the rockets

See you in a couple of years Disneyland!!

I have spent a lot of time watching basketball games!  Really brings me back to all those basketball games I watched Shauna and Jordan play.  I have missed them and now I get to relive them again with Jackson and Lincoln! 

Did I mention how much I love being RETIRED??!!
 

Christmas Videos

The first video is of me opening the canvas Shauna had made of my four grandsons. Of course I cried and everyone laughed! The picture is the cutest ever! The 2nd video was taken on Christmas Eve of Lincoln singing "This is the Season"

Christmas 2012

We had a great Christmas this year.  Three of my four children came to Folsom to celebrate the holiday.  Megan's family (yay they live here now), Shauna came from LA, and Jordan's family came from Utah.  We really missed Erin a lot!  We spent lots of time together doing all kinds of things from Jordan's birthday dinner at Chicago Fire, lots of shopping, baking and cooking, lots of lunches at La Bou, lunch at Pizzaria Classico, and Freebird, dinner at Red Robin, movies - Le Miserable, and lots of friends and family visits. 

Megan and Lincoln catching up on celebrity news!

Kristine whipping up a meal for everyone

Jordan and Owen enjoying a quiet moment on the Ipad

Three cute boys playing a video game

Our families favorite cookies - a Christmas tradition.  Shauna made all these cookies and we loved everyone of them!

Christmas Eve at Grandma Lewis'

Jordan's family with Grandma Lewis

Me, Shauna Jordan and Megan

Some of the Lewis clan

Christmas morning

 

Jack and Owen

Jordan and Owen opening t-ball from Aunt Erin

Owen is a big fan of balls just like his Dad was!

Coleman reading his book from Aunt Shauna

Christmas Breakfast

Lincoln lounging on his giant stuffed dog!
 

We all needed a Diet Coke after opening all those presents!!



Last Week of Work!!!

It's been a great week knowing that the end was in sight.  We celebrated every day with each department in charge of a meal.  Wednesday was my department and we had a brunch which they combined with my retirement party.  The food was delicious.  I feel like I have gained 10 pounds this week!

Martha, Sharon, Amelia, me and Deanna

Some of the gang

Me with Raechelle and Renee

Martha made me a diet coke cake! (One of the things she said she would miss about me was the sound of me opening a soda can five times a day!)

Me with my lunch buddy Lianne

Me with my last time sheet

The rest of the gang

Pre-Christmas Festivities

December is in full swing and the festivities have begun! I love this time of year. It is so fun and special to spend time with family and friends to celebrate Christmas. I have had my Christmas music going since the day after Thanksgiving. I never get sick of Christmas music. All the decorations are up, shopping is almost done and presents have begun to show up under the tree (I still have lots of wrapping to do) Shopping for food and baking will begin shortly.  And maybe by the end of next week I can relax before all the company arrives (Probably NOT!)

I had my annual Christmas brunch with my favorite girlfriends to kick off the holiday season.  Pam, Sheri, Bonnie and I had a great time.  We missed Patice and Jan this year.  We enjoyed egg souffles, muffins, fresh fruit and fruit tarte.  As always our gift exchange was a hit!  I have some very clever, thoughtful friends!

 

Megan made some adorable cookies for each guest to go with my color scheme of red and blue.




Pam, Sheri and me (Bonnie took the picture and wouldn't let us take another of her)



I've been having fun with the grandkids.  Jack, Lincoln and Coleman decorating the gingerbread house.

Finished product - They did an awesome job!



The boys and I had fun looking at Christmas lights in Lexington Hills.  Coleman was fascinated by the laser light show on the driveway!  This house was amazing.  The picture does not capture the full effect.




The entire cul-de-sac was decorated to the max.  This house had a Peter Pan theme.  Again the picture is not that great but it was pretty awesome.  The boys loved it and so did Grammy!  One of my favorite things about Christmas is watching the excitement and joy in the kid's eyes. 




I had to throw this picture in since this month is all about my retirement!  I can't believe it is finally here.  I couldn't be more excited and happy to spend the rest of my life doing what I want to do when I want to do it!! (My actual retirement date is 12/30 but my last day is 12/19)



Here is my cute little tree.  I decided to buy a real one this year since my artifical one is a little too big for all the company I am going to have.  This one is Owen proof too since it is up on a table. 

More photos to come after all the family arrives.  Can't wait!!