Sunday, January 10, 2010

Winter Festivities...

So, here are some highlights from these past few months, there were so many to choose from, I included a ton! But we had really fun pre-Christmas, Christmas, and Post Christmas celebrations- it was great to spend time with good friends and family!

A fun rooftop holiday party with our good buddies, Annah & Nick (who welcomed their 1st baby on Dec. 23rd, Baby Will) which was so much fun!
Bubba and Emery spent the day on Saturday out at the nursery (where Bubba works) while I stayed home to bake! She had a ball and napped GREAT when she came home! I loved this picture of her out in the grape fields.
Then we all went and delivered cookies to our neighbors in our red wagon, a fun little family tradition of ours!
We had a quick pre-Christmas gift exchange with Griffin since the kids wouldn't see each other for a few weeks, they got shaker cars and played with them up and down the hallway!
Then Emery and I headed north to make it to my extended families Christmas Party that we haven't made it to in a few years. She had a blast making gumdrop trees with the big kids even though she could barely see over the table!
We had a great dinner, Santa came for a visit, then we sang some Christmas Carols and enjoyed some delicious desserts! My parents were great hosts, it was a big shin-dig and they did a great job planning the whole thing!
All the cousins (of which Emery and Jude are the youngest) had a great time playing together.
Loved this picture of my sister and her sweet son Jude, aren't they just the cutest? Too pooped to party!
Once everyone got into town, the heat was on- it was time for the gingerbread house competition. Each couple had their own house and had to assemble it with the tools provided. There was an unfair advantage because of the construction skills held by some family members, and you guessed it- my brother the contractor and his wife won- not a surprise!

(These two goof balls had a blast the whole time!)
We also have a tradition of riding the "Train of Lights" on the Christmas Years that we are up north. We pack up a sack dinner, bundle up, and ride the train through the Sunol valley. It's a beautiful ride, Santa walks through the train cars and hands out candy canes, and the caboose sells warm hot coco..... it's really fun!
Christmas Eve....
My family.... not the best picture due to the self timer, but does have great memories!
Christmas morning, Emery opening her OWN truck, now she doesn't have to borrow one from all her BOY cousins!
Bubba got himself a real fine video camera.... and he got me the best present ever, sweet husband- a NEW BIKE!!!
And once we were back home, we celebrated Christmas again with Bubba's side of the family, more fun!
And a New Year's trip to Bass Lake, an unexpected surprise from my parents! We headed up there for a few days, played in the snow for a day, banged pots and pans and then headed home again!




Emmie loves this sweet baby, she wished she could carry him around or push him in her new baby stroller, unfortunately, he almost weighs as much as her, so for now, she'll just have to settle for giving him his pacifier!
We had a great Christmas and are reminded again by life's twists and turns how thankful we are for our families and friends- the time we get to spend with them and the memories we get to make because we know this life is but a glimpse and can be gone in just a moment. We also lost two dear people this season, it is sad to see them go, but we are hopeful to see what God will bring through it all.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thanksgiving...

Just a few pictures from our festivities....
Playing in the Backyard before the feast began.... some of my favorite shots...


The family at the feast...
cousins...
Our little family of 3...
And yes, the very next day we went and got our Christmas Tree....
And someone snuck me a Christmas smooch! Loved it!
The kids browsing the ornament selection!
And last but not least, Emery showing all of her friends her beautiful pink Christmas tree--- She loves Christmas already... just like her Mama :)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

What's New???

We've had some crazy weeks- with showers and traveling, spontaneous trips and lots of visitors, here's some pics that capture it better than words... and are probably more enjoyable :)
My sister in law, Lisa, and I gave my sister a shower to introduce everyone to our sweet Baby Jude! It was such an awesome time, she shared in detail about their journey to adopting Jude, it was an awesome account to the graciousness of God- wish I would have video taped it- darn it!
Had to snap a picture of the centerpiece because it turned out so cute- click on the pic to make it bigger, it's his name and some birds in a tree :)
And we had a blast making the favors (and eating them- oops!) and more owls to go along with the bird theme- thanks for the stamps Sarah Jane!!!
And a picture of the best mama ever and her sweet little man, Mr. Jude Stokes- who in typical Jude fashion slept through the whole party!
And back home, me and Emmie practiced smiles when I say "cheese"- pretty good huh?
Then off to SLO for a convention for Bubba, and me and the little miss tagged along- we had a blast with my brother and his wife, they are wonderfully hospitable and just down right fun. We did our normal run to Coldstones and had lots of good laughs, thanks guys!
And then some pics of me and Em at a park down the street from my brother's house ....


And a quick trip to Availa Beach, so much to do on the Central Coast.. miss it already! We had a blast!





the end.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Happy Late Halloween....

Here are some snipp-its of our Halloween this year, we had a blast!! Emery was a Bumblebee, I gave a go at making her costume which was fun since she's little and has no opinion! The first two pictures were taken by Curtis Nemetz- hence that's why they look so awesome, the rest of them are taken by little ol' me :)


Back up the train--- the day before Halloween we carved pumpkins with our cousin- Emery in her totally girlie fashion wouldn't touch it because it was too gushy- instead she hung with Uncle Buddy. So me and Griffin went after it.


Back to Halloween Day---BEE-utiful bee's!
Bubba was the Bee Keeper, I was the "Honey" (check out my ALL NATURAL Bee Hive, that was a dozey to take down!), and Emery and Griffin were bee's.
Bubba's parents stopped by to say hi!
All the little creatures... and the UPS guy :)
"why do we have these things on? and why are you taking our pictures so many times????"
Pizza Party with Jeff and the kiddos!
At the church carnival, Emery loved the baby cows, as you can see she was waving at them while they were trying to sleep!
Me and Em with our fun buddy Annah (and baby Will the pumpkin bump!)