Gung Hay Fat Choy....

or as we say in English "Happy New Year"! Jack got in the car today and told me all about the Chinese New Year celebrations and that it is now the year of dog...woof, woof! SOOO, Happy New Year again from the rat (1972)!

Jack also told me one of the worst jokes ever...."what do you call a donut with eyes??...a monut???" Does anybody get that???...it had him and Ben laughing hard.

Grandmom

It has been a weepy week for many of us, last week, Grandmom passed away. She would have been 80 in April.

She was a lovely lady that I have many wonderful memories with. She was mother to five, grandmother to seven, and great grandmother to two. She traveled the world and loved her family, her girlfriends and all of her assorted dogs. She will be missed.

Funerals are not normally a time to take pictures...but since we all don't get to see each other very often I took my camera and some pictures. They were after a long day, but I thought I would share...


Me and the parents


Uncle Chris, Aunt Kathleen, Uncle Steve and Uncle Sonny


All the Words


Me and my beautiful cousins, Kelly, Ashley and Kristin

Andrew gets married!!

Little Andrews (he used to call my dad Williams when he was little) got married a couple of weeks ago to a beautiful woman named Kate. They had their reception at the Queen Mary. Since somebody had to take care of the boys (and do the laundry!!) Chris stayed home and I took Jessica as my date. We danced the night away....and had a great time!!



Me and the groom...a little fuzzy...kinda like the end of the night!!


The only picture I took with Kate in it...I guess I was having a little too much fun to take pictures with the camera!!


Gregory, Jean and Peter


Me and my cute date!!

New Year's

So we were suppose to be at Jeanne Smith's wedding out in Napa but due to 24 hours straight of rain...the 80 freeway (the only way to get to Napa) was flooded out. We tried our best to get there, but after 2 hours in traffic and only going a mile we decided to cut our losses, turn around and try plan B. Plan B took us up to the Winchester Country Club where we ate, danced, drank (a lot...I don't remember parts of the evening...oops!) and had a good time ringing in the new year.

I'm bummed we missed Jeanne's big event, but I got to visit with the bride the week after and see pictures.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!

P.S. Doesn't Chris look handsome in a tux??!!

Christmas

Nothing says Christmas like a bunch of legos!! Between relatives and Santa we could be the Meadow Vista Legoland!!

It was a great day-the boys had a good time and got most of what they asked for (there was a lump of coal or two). We ate a ton (of course...nothing says the holidays like a couple of extra pounds) played some games (a little healty competition) and enjoyed each others company.


Let me see what Santa brought!!!!


Cousin Hollie checking things out


A new look for the boys


Nana and Papa in disguise


Ed and Evelyn

Christmas Eve

We had the whole gang up here for Christmas (can you say Christmas Vacation anyone?? The jury is still out on who is cousin Eddy!!)

Lots of a family + lots of presents = lots of fun



The first of many legos gifts!!



Jason, Ania, Izzy and Jason



Jason, Izzy and Chris


Santa's little helper


Ready for bed and for Santa to come!

The boys and their buddies

The fellers were having fun during the holiday season with their friends...here are some funny pictures with some preschool friends and 1st grade buddies


Ben and the Rocklin preschool gang


Cameron (the coolest guy of 1st grade according to Jack) Jack and Wyatt


Two WILD AND CRAZY guys


Jack at his class puppet show

Griswold Family Christmas Tree

Did you know that Chris's alter ego is Clark W. Griswold?? I swear-really it is. To prove it to you, check out our Christmas tree this year...our 18 foot Christmas tree!! It fell over twice (luckily there were no ornaments on it yet...because we didn't have a ladder tall enough to reach the top!!). We finally got the lights on and some decorations on the top (while it was on its side) but there was a 3 foot gap where the tree couldn't be reached by our tallest ladder and did I mention it had to be wired to the wall?? I must say it was a beautiful tree and it fit perfectly in our new house...but I don't think we will get one quite that big next year.

December

Gosh December was a busy month!! Parties, presents and candy-OHMY!! Nana and Papa took us on the wine train with Santa. Pretty cool way to see Napa Valley and do the "Santa" thing at the same time...also nice to have a train full of other kids...made the boys seem like little angels...maybe Chris and I are doing something right??!!

I also tried to continue my "gingerbread house tradition"...they make it look so easy on the Food Network...I designed it and made it out of cardboard before (O.K. so maybe it was a little bit bigger than it should have been)...but didn't take into account how heavy my roof would end up being, it almost demolished the house so it ended up with a really lame (or wame as Ben says) paper roof. I don't think I will be winning any competitions with that thing. Can anyone guess what it is suppose to look like?? (It was suppose to be a replica of our new house...like I said LAME!!)

Jack and Ben designed one too-I think they may have a future in achitecture. It was a very well designed castle. They each had a side to decorate. Ben's side had an ATM machine made out of a tictac box...where does he come up with these things??


Nana, Papa and the boys on the train


Santa...all I want is world peace


Two good looking folks


My sad little house...



Fun with gingerbread...I think Ben had a little too much candy

Thanksgiving

Boy oh boy, nothing like a 20 lb turkey for 6 people to make you feel like overeating. I guess that is the nature of the day!! I think I still have some stuffing stuffed on my thighs...when will my new years resolutions kick in??

You may have already seen the picture of the boys with the turkey legs...but here it is again along with a couple more.


My three boys


Polo ad here we come


I WUV TURKEY!

The Crosses come for a visit

Alan, Sara (or Sierra as we all love to call her) and BEAUTIFUL baby Ava came out to visit right before Thanksgiving....the boys want a little sister now...or I should say Jack does, he was really sweet with her.

We got to hang out...the boys played some golf (big surprise!!) and we even went to "the snow" (not much...and we all dressed in sweatshirts??!-what were we thinking??!)

Hopefully we will be able to make our way to Iowa at some point to "give it a try" (The Iowa state motto!!)


The Crosses


Sweet Baby Ava


The shirt says it all


The brothers


Hanging out in our sweatshirts