Sayin' goodbye to 2008

Christmas Evening {december}

Last date night of the year

Thanksgiving Day

Coronado beach buddies

{October} Welcome Harvest

{September}

with our first pumpkin patch visit at Victoria's Garden

Summer ended with a BANG as we

spontaneously joined

the last Summer Nights Fireworks celebration.

First fishing experience! long awaited :)

{August}

Lots of healing happened in our family.
Here's the older one with a cast to help the recovery of a sprained elbow {summer}
Gina's failed root canal healed without dental treatment. The little one's ear tube surgery relieved

chronic fluid behind the ears and hearing loss. Pete completely recovered from abdominal surgery.

The little one turned 2 {June}

SOOO happy to have his request-banana crumb muffins- and blissful to be sung to!

earned an orange-white belt in martial arts

{May}

The little un's *first* swim class was in the Spring The Butterflies & Orchids celebration {March} Fun to see who the butterflies land on each year-the oldest one and Lola this time

We rode the gondola up to the top of Mammoth at 11053 feet to

celebrate the marriage of friends {February}

Here we are on the balcony building a snowman the snow was stacked 14 feet on the side of the road

Our first 2008 picture: Valentines Date Night with the Omega group at Church

Ten on Tuesday

1. It's been on my heart to post about the "winks from God" throughout the 2008 year, and share how you've touched our lives. i hope to get to that soon.
2. praise today! the scheduler at work (bless her heart) returned after a 2 week vacation, and already filled in some appts i just made available...
3. so now, we'll be able to pay cash for the dental work this month :)
4. my supervisor brought a smile to my heart today.
5. She walked into the office right in the middle of an individual evaluation appointment with a concerned look on her face. The team needed immediate coverage for a coworker who is going out on medical leave again (cancer history). of course, it's instinct to want to help a loyal coworker! we looked at my computerized schedule and i was already booked for this week and next.
6. i offered her the afternoon of the oldest son's dental extractions (if it went well). [i'm thinking of this ill coworker, whom i donated my hair in honor of in 2006, and with whom i've had the priviledge to pray, and to be mentored to "be still"].
7. My supervisor's immediate response was: "No! you are not available ;) the mom in you will want to be there all day." she smiled her gentle smile and walked out"
8. whew!
9. she was right,
10. that IS what i would want that day. thanks for stopping me in my tracks.

Ten on Tuesday

1. The dental extractions were postponed for our older son. If he has nasal congestion, he won't be able to breath in the laughing gas. He was elated to find out we rescheduled!
2. We are all "on the mend" as we have coughs, congestion, we are recovering from.
3. The house only had 2 showings in December - nice to relax and enjoy the season.
4. Two showings today though - people are shopping again.
5. So, we "deep cleaned" (vacuum baseboards, reorganize, dusted ceiling fans, declutter, give away) again for the first time since the house was originally placed on the market in June.
6. What a relief - i could see the dust and clutter daily -- and it was starting to "bug"
7. We are back outside in the yard - boys playing, i'm weeding.
8. nice to go back to the 'regular routine'
9. just thinking about posting a Bye 2008 picture tribute - stay tuned!
10. have a blessed week :)

Merry Christmas

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !
from our family to yours

God started the tradition of gift giving on the First Christmas.

What can we possibly give God for Christmas?

Our life, our every thought and action, our heart :)

Twas the Night before Christmas

and all through Lolo and Lola's house were all their children and grandkids continuing the Christmas Eve tradition of a meal together. Lola and Lola were missed, and yet we know that they are blessed to spend Christmas with Lola's brothers and sisters for the first time in many many years.
almost all of us (Lolo & Lola in spirit):

Paul is wonderful at grilling: we savored grilled shrimp, asparagus & chicken
Marn is most like Mom as she enjoys cooking, and is a talented chef. We enjoyed the roast, garlic mashed potatoes, veggie casserole she created and the salad Steve made :)

cousins!

The Little Drummer Boys

have the pleasure of drumming on the REAL drum set.

Al is a jazz musician. He was generous and trusting to let the boys have a go at it!
What a blessing since they both enjoy drums, guitars, and music!

Ten On Tuesday: Christmas Week Edition

1. Our older son remembers decorating a Gingerbread house a few years ago with his godbrother, and has been asking to do it again. 2. We've been stretching dollars, so we could buy the kids a toy for a Christmas gift...so the gingerbread house has been on the "wish list". Our older son says "mom, i'm okay without a gingerbread house". 3. We were blessed with a gingerbread house as a gift this past weekend! Both boys loved decorating it...and even more, eating away at it...each day since! 4. We set aside a few dollars for each of our boys to "secretly choose" a gift for his brother. 5. It's been fun to see how excited they are to "secretly wrap" the gift while their brother is busy...and they look forward to seeing each other open up the gift.
6. I had last night and tonight to myself because all the boys of the house are visiting grandma and i had work today.
7. what did i do?
8. brave the shops to "return" stuff and get our spending money back into our bank accounts! it's so easy to overspend!
9. wrap gifts
10. start prepping for Christmas meals (making the list, checking it twice):
Christmas Morning Meal tradition
When my hubby went back to animal training 3 years ago, the interviewers informed him that he'd likely have to work every holiday because the Union structure honors vacation requests of the more senior employees. We've been blessed that he's had FOUR Christmas days off [including the 1st year, when he was only there 2 weeks! In 2005, the senior manager worked for him]. We are so appreciative of his co-workers that in '05 we started a tradition of delivering a Christmas meal to them each Christmas lunch. We know that one day Pete will work on Christmas and it's good that our tradition is to be at his work --- one year, we'll deliver the meal to Pete himself. In the meantime, a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Ten on Work-day Tues-day

Work-day Edition
1. Tuesday is work-day.
2. This is the first time i've worked during Christmas week and New Years week since the late 1990's. I just assumed I had it off this year, and found out we were open!
3. Must've been God's plan because there were so many unexpected expenses this month.
4. It'd be nice if it were for fun stuff like Christmas stuff...yet it is for...
5. 2 new tires.
6. 2 teeth extractions
7. an emergency room visit
8. proffesional dues
9. thank you God for providing the extra hours at work this month.
10. Since Rady blessed the hospital, each year the staff has recieved a warm jacket from Senior Management with the sentiment that we "warm the hearts" of the families we serve. I now have received three Rady jackets, a Rady briefcase, drink cup, mouse pad, and sticky pad holder. Go Rady!

Five on Friday - Fond of Traditions

Five on Friday: Christmas Tradition Edition
1. We started out on December 2nd by enjoying candy canes while driving through Christmas Card Lane, a neighborhood decked out with beautiful lights and "house-sized" Christmas greeting cards.
2. Christmas at Old Poway Park was festive with carolers, twinkling white lights, and a ride around the Midland Railroad station on a steam engine. choo choo!
3. A starry-night at our church was a wonderful way to remember the reason for the season: Jesus. That He came down from Heaven to be our sin sacrifice, and that He would overcome death, and make a way to Heaven for us.

4. We enjoyed Horizon Christian Fellowhip's Living Nativity for the first time, and it's likely the most memorable activity we've enjoyed this season and past seasons! Both boys loved it. Our older one's only complaint was that it was too short :) We just received gold coins from "Roman Soldiers" to pay taxes when we arrive at Bethlehem

Almost to the entrance to the Roman gates: passage to Bethlehem

All of us with our narrator and guide, an actor dressed as Jesus

After enjoying the walk-through theater, we enjoyed the activities in the Bethlehem market place. Here are the boys with the "Follow Jesus" bracelets they made.

5. Since 2005, we enjoy December Lights (Wild Animal Park). this year is it's 20th anniversary and final celebration.

see the snow falling?

enjoying falling "snow" at the main gate

p.s. also memorable was Seaport Village - live music and an ornament activity made from real sand dollars**

Merry Christmas!!!

Raising the Roof

With our visit to Uncle Mike's place,

a highlight for our older son was "looking down from the roof."

The place was built around the 1920s - check out this elevator. "I loved that we could take pictures there. It was verrrry rainy!" say the older one.

It was heartwarming to enjoy my kids, the two brothers, hang out with another two brothers: Pete & Mike.

We also watched Ratatouille for the first time!

Mmmm Mmmm good!

We enjoyed car trip up for an evening & sleepover visit with Aunt Sammie. Part of her special treats for us was making a dairy free Carmel Corn. Fun to make and Mmmm Mmmm good!

Countdown to Christmas

It's time prepare for Jesus' arrival!! I've been excited for this time of year since the summer :)

We enjoy Advent devotional time in the evenings.

The kids remember the Christmas stories and look forward to them year after year.

This years favorite story is "What God wants for Christmas"

We start our time by lighting candles, then we read a Christmas story & scripture (Jesse tree), pray, and end our time blowing candles out.

Here's our construction paper Jesse tree.

Each ornament reminds us of a Bible story

(from Creation in Genesis to Jesus Birth),

we read scripture ...

and we place one ornament each day til Christmas on our "tree".

We used to have a make-shift or homemade advent wreath. now we put the candles next to our nativity.

The kids especially enjoy blowing out the candles!

Christmas Stockings

Each Christmas we hang our stockings with care,

and fill them with small gifts for loved ones to share.

But do we remember that the first Christmas night

God gave us His Son who gave us His life?

A sacrifice so great- how can we repay?

We can say, "Thank you Jesus" on this His birthday.

Hang a stocking for Jesus and fill it with love.

Do good for others and thank God above.

-Author Unknown

Last year we found that Berean marks down merchandise 50-75% off before Christmas.
We found this great tradition & started a tradition of a Stocking for Jesus.The boys' piggy banks have 3 sections, one each for: God's work, savings, spending.
The kids and parents will pool our money set aside for "Church" to share with people less fortunate than we. The children look through the Samaritan's purse Christmas gift catalog and picked "Share the gospel with boys and girls" (bottom of the pictured page).
On construction paper hearts, we wrote our 'gifts' ---the things we've done or will do to reflect Jesus' love-- and put them in Jesus stocking

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;

as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13: 34-35

On December 6, we remember Saint Nicholas' love for Jesus, by placing small trinkets (race cars that say "Go with Jesus", fruit (apple, orange), office supplies (paper pads, pencils say "God is my ruler"), and candy (candy canes, candy bracelets) in the children's stockings hung by their bed. We remember how the real Saint Nicholas, former Bishop of Myra (modern day Turkey), had thrown a bag of gold coins through the window of a poor family and the coins landed in the stocking of the daughter, and blessed the family as it was used for a wedding dowry. Saint Nicholas did this for the younger two daughters of this impoverished family also. Saint Nicholas' love for Jesus prompted his giving.