December 2014

It's been a very busy month and end to 2014!  Along with shopping, wrapping, baking, brunch, and decorating, we threw in a trip to Disneyland at the beginning of the month!  Disneyland is such a magical place and even more magical in December!  All the attractions are so beautiful this time of year.  We did have some rain while we were there and discovered that Coleman loves walking in the rain with an umbrella!  We didn't let the rain stop us from enjoying every minute.  We were cold and wet but we kept going.  Luckily the rain only lasted two days so we had three days of great weather.  Shauna and Iain joined us our first day which was a treat.  Deacon was a trooper but got very tired of being in the stroller and the car seat.  We had a great time as always at the happiest place on  earth!

 

Christmas 2015

It's been a great year, and Christmastime did not disappoint.  I had to pass the wand to Megan this year and have everything at her house.  It was a little bittersweet, but worked out really great.  Shauna and Iain were able to spend it with us this year.  We missed Erin and Jordan and Kristine and their boys.

 

This year we decided to go to Dovewood Court to see the lights and decorations.  It was pretty amazing to see what these people do every year to their houses!  It was pretty much a zoo with hoards of people everywhere.  Of course it was freezing cold but the hot chocolate helped.  This could be a new tradition for us.

Selfie of Shauna, Iain and me at Dovewood Court

We continued our tradition of going to a movie on Christmas Eve.

Our Christmas Eve candle light dinner was amazing.  Everything was so delicious.  We had the traditional twice baked potatoes, wonderful chicken by Justin (secret recipe), Yorkshire pudding courtesy of Iain and Shauna and roasted carrots and another tradition, dessert of brownies topped with peppermint ice cream and chocolate sauce.  Everything tasted sooo good and as an added treat we celebrated English style with Poppers (that's where the crowns come in).

Shauna and Iain in their Christmas jammies and look at all those presents!!

Cute boys in their new Christmas Jammies

 

Deacon was loving all the packages and ribbon and boxes.  Not that thrilled with what was inside!  He was pretty overwhelmed.

Megan and Justin's 'professional' gingerbread house, worthy of a magazine cover!

 

 

 

Even though they celebrated Christmas in Maryland, I just had to include this darling picture of these cute little grandsons of mine, Owen and Ames.

Enjoying a great dinner and company at the Patrick's again this year. 

And that wraps up Christmas 2014!

FALL in MARYLAND

Such a beautiful time of the year to visit the east coast.  So much to see and do and I was so excited to be there to share in all the Halloween fun!!  It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back.  I love it back there and I love visiting my family. 

 

Getting ready for Halloween.  Owen and Grammy made a mummy and Jordan and Owen carved a cute little pumpkin that Owen picked out at the Summerland Pumpkin Farm.  Owen loved the cookies Aunt Megan sent him too!

Owen was a skeleton and Ames was a cute little pumpkin.  Grammy borrowed Aunt Megan's skeleton shirt so her and Owen could be matching.

We had a great time at Harper's Ferry in West Virginia.  What a beautiful historic town.  I love learning about all the Civil War history and this is where John Brown and his men seized the armory.  The fall colors were incredible and the town was so quaint and full of history.  The B&O Railroad runs right through the town and Owen loved watching the trains go by.  It was a great day even though it was a little chilly!

Jordan took a little detour on the way to Baltimore so I could see the Washington DC temple for the first time.  What a beautiful sight~ It is huge and so gorgeous.  We toured the visitors center and walked around a little.  Next time I want to tour the grounds.  This temple has the most acreage of any temple in the world.

It was fun to have lunch with Erin.  She took us to One Eyed Mikes and we had a fabulous lunch.  I had the most delicious crab cake sandwich.  I will never look at crab the same again!  Nothing compares to Maryland crab.  We took Owen to the toy store where Auntie Erin spoiled him and then we went to little Italy where we got some chocolate cannolis.  I wish I had taken more pictures while we were in Baltimore.

August 2014

Ames Blessing Day at the Scholar Way building in Folsom.  Such a special day with family on both sides.

Lake Bowl in Folsom.  The boys loved it!

Coleman is a big fan of suckers!

Not the best picture (some scary eyes going on) but it was a dinner together with some of Iain's family and our family at one of our favorite restaurants, Pizzaria Classico on Sutter Street in Folsom
 



Owen and Grammy took a ride on the Folsom Valley railway!

Wedding Day! 8-2-2014

Jordan and Kristine and their sweet boys, Owen and Ames
Grammy and her pride and joys!  Six of the cutest little boys in the world!

Russ and Stella Hedlind - so happy they came!

Coleman and Owen were the cutest ring bearers.  The pillows holding the rings were from my Grandmother Wells' handkerchiefs.



Proud moment for this Mom as my handsome son walks his beautiful sister down the aisle.  The tears flowed for sure.

Beautiful couple - Iain and Shauna - so in love!

Wedding Set up and Rehearsal

The whole Family together for the first time in 4 years! 

The Lewis and Green families

The Green Family came all the way from London to celebrate the happy couple!

The two babies Ames and Deacon enjoying the rehearsal

Aunt Erin on the swing in the dark with four of her nephews enjoying ice cream.  It finally cooled off!



Trying to get things set up for the wedding despite the 110 degree temperature

The bride getting ready in the cottage.  Natalie Hill who sang a beautiful song during the ceremony feeding Deacon.

Pre Wedding/Family Time

 

 

 

Lots of family time was spent together getting ready for Shauna and Iain's wedding.  It was a very busy, crazy, stressful week but it was so fun having everyone together

 

Iain and Deacon bonding time.  Deacon is such a happy boy. 



There was lots of cousin time.  It was so hot that the boys had to spend most of the time indoors watching movies, playing video games, legos and whatever it is little boys like to do.  Jack holding Deacon, Owen, Coleman, Lincoln holding Ames

Over 300 flowers were made out of crepe paper, butcher paper and coffee filters.  My good friends came over one day and stayed until 10 pm helping cut, gather, glue and make the flowers.

We took time out to have a nice dinner at the Fountains in Roseville and then spent the rest of the evening at Dave & Busters

Lincoln and Owen playing a little baseball
Jordan hanging out with baby Ames
Boys watching TV - probably Lego Movie or Sponge Bob
Owen couldn't get enough of baby Deacon

We took some time out to cool off at my pool.  It was 105+ everyday!