Thursday, December 31, 2009

Kelso Sand Dunes

My cousin Tara and her kids, Sammy and Beth came to visit from New York. They escaped the snow, just barely. They did get stuck in Cleveland,Ohio for an extra day, but they finally arrived on December 30th. We felt the only appropriate activity would be the sand dunes at Kelso. My brother Jeff, Emily and their kids, Gage, Gavin and Kennady all arrived on the same day. The weather was beautiful for a hike at Kelso. It was however, a long hike for little ones and big ones alike. As you can see the kids needed carrying occasionally. Jeff and Emily got the brunt of that, having the youngest kids. Even Summer, our dog needed carrying at the end of a long day. Her paws were cut up from the sand and would only go a few feet before she had to stop and lick them. Craig and Wendy hefted the 56 lbs. of dog every once in awhile for as long as they could last. Even my parents, both in their 60's made the hike admirably. They are tough cookies. Tara and I both took a billion pictures and everyone had fun rolling around in the sand. We were exhausted on the way home and ached the next day, but it was well worth it. The views are incredible.
The beginning!

Wendy and Beth

Tara caught Gage relaxing!

Craig and Sammy. The shovel was in hopes of sliding down the dunes on it. Not a great sled!
Dad carried a chair the whole way but he was the most relaxed when he wanted to be.
1/4 of the way!
We made it to the saddle back!
Climbing to the peak.
Wendy
I'm almost there!
Seth, Wendy and Abbey! Unfortunately, Emily had to work.
The plunge!
Beth
The Jeff Decker Family
Donna and Paul (Mom and Dad)
Sammy, Tara and Beth
Craig Roberts family minus Emily
Summer exhausted!
Tara made us do it!
Want some help?
We can make it! Seth and Gavin
Home base. The saddleback!
Kennady and Emily. Kennady wasn't tired at all.
Tara took these of the runners. Seth and Beth
Jeff and Gavin
Tara and Gavin
Tara during photo shoot at the dunes.
Summer and Kiwi. Kiwi was a crazy dog. I have no idea how she could keep going. Every time we dropped the ball, she raced after it and came right back up the hill. We tried to conserve her energy, but she was super dog! No, Stupid dog!


Poor Summer!
Poor Craig!
View from our car window as we left the dunes towards the 40 freeway!



Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve was full of family traditions. For starters, we had the missionaries over to celebrate with us. I'm sure it is a rough time to be away from their families. We had a nice ham and mashed potato dinner. Mom made alot of the dinner. I have to admit I love having her cook. Cooking is not my favorite. We gathered as a family and the missionaries gave us a beautiful presentation of the Savior's birth. We watched some of Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer. The kids put on their annual family skit. We read the Christmas at the Inn story with Wallace Purling. My mother's absolute favorite Christmas story. Wallace turns away Mary and Joseph as the innkeeper in the play and after they leave to look for shelter, Wallace says "Wait, you can have my room." Some people thought the play was ruined, but in actuality, it was the most christmasy of all plays. Great Story!

Christmas Eve Dinner
Annual Skit. Santa was able to replace the missing carrot nose, so the snowmen did not have to fight over the two available carrot noses.

Abbey played Christmas music for us all season. Great to get some payback from all the money invested in lessons. She really does play beautifully and we all enjoyed the Christmas spirit she brought into the home.
Christmas Morning. Waiting to enter the Santa zone!@!
Dancing to Grandma and Grandpa's new CD of Sugarland!
More Tools! Shocking!
Emily and Jerreed


Hanging out on Christmas Day enjoying each others company, eating leftovers and playing with our toys. The girls gave me a tripod! Yeah! Merry Christmas to all.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Beehive Sleepover

We had a fun sleepover with the Beehives (12 and 13 year old girls from church). It was extremely wild and they didn't go to sleep till 2:00am. We made Santa heads that hold candy and had a mean round of American Idol. These girls have alot of talent.




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