Sledding Tradition

This is one of my most favorite

events of each year- sledding on Christmas Eve.

The tubes have to be inflated.

I am Grateful for people with muscles.
Notice that it is prohibited to build jumps....
yet nothing is said about jumping off buildings.
Go for it, Aaron!

My gorgeous girls.

Jayden is excited and ready to play.

Dare Devil Derek

This is the best part of Christmas-

the smiles on kids faces.

Creating memories to last a childhood.

Blake doesn't want to have anything

to do with the cold snow.

Blake did have fun.

For about 10 minutes.

I don't think Amanda

did ANY sledding.

Beautiful view from South Fork Park.

Yup- Grandpa even joined in the activities.

I really think Jayden had the most fun!

She was constantly sledding, carried her own sled,

and had the biggest smile!

'bout time to go.

Hot chocolate to the rescue!

A Sick Day Is Not As Fun As A Snow Day

I hate being sick. I would rather be at work exchanging/selling shoes than be at home laying on the couch watching a movie. Or worse yet- actually contemplating going to bed at 7:30 pm.
How many times had I wished for just a moment to sit down and relax? How many movies have I missed watching due to lack of time? How many photos need to be viewed and burned onto Cd's. My brain is telling me I should be able to accomplish those wishes today since I called in sick and have an empty day. Nah! Blowing my nose, coughing up gunk, sipping hot juice, resting my head, and drinking lots of water has taken all my energy.
Night.

...and more of Kauai

Ben was our driver for the whole vacation.
This is where we ate lunch
on the last day we were in Kauai.
Love the view!
Trying out the snorkling gear.
Aurelia.
Gotta have the shades and a hat.

Outdoor dining.

Here's my hunny in front of the falls.

Bruce was actually feeling fairly good on this day.

A cool looking tree- I just had

to take a photo so I could

remember this for the rest of my life.

It is so amazing to me

that a tree can have such a variety

of leaves, berries and colors.

More plant variety.

See- it has leaves with a flower

plus some twiggy things

all on the same plant.

I will have to ask Aurelia

the name of these falls.

Andi's Christmas gift from her Dad.

Andi wasn't planning on finding her wedding dress just yet- but when she went in to Allyses to purchase a gift for Amanda the new bridal catalogs were out at the counter. It was fun for Andi to be told she was the first customer to view the new catalog release.
She took a few minutes to browse the pages as she walked through the mall to meet me at Nordstrom. One dress caught her attention and she was baffled at the price. Surely it was a typo error. When she met up with me she showed me the picture of the dress and also showed me the price voicing her doubt that that could not possibly be the actual price. I adviced her to call the store when she got home and ask them.
Our excitement grew as Andi verified that was indeed the price and they had a size 6 and a 2 for her to try on. I was able to leave work early and the three of us girls went dress shopping. (By then Amanda was out of school).
Short story shorter- Amanda was dissapointed that the dress she had put on hold the previous night was back on the sale rack. Little did she know that in fact it was not the same items she had put on hold because Andi had already purchased them and hidden them at home.
Andi found her perfect wedding dress (size 00). Bruce picked it up for her after he got home from work. He got a bit teary eyed carrying her daughters wedding dress through the mall back to the car. He is so sweet and very tender hearted.
After Christmas we will have a 'sister' party where the girls and I help Andi pick out the accessories such as tiara and veil. It will be a fun day spent with Katy, Liz, Amryn, Amanda, and Andi. So looking forward to it! Hope all the girls will be there.
P.S.- Amber will be in Japan and Rachel will be in Arizona.

More pictures of Kauai

Check out the colors of the water and sand!

I will have to be reminded of what this Valley is called.
The important part is that I remember being there,
and I enjoyed every moment!

More of the same valley.

A bit of Kauai

I have just finished uploading my pictures from Hawaii. (Oct. 09) Bruce had to clear out a ton of Amanda's files before there was room to move the photos off the memory cards onto the desk top. After I unloaded two memory cards the computer is complaining of low disc space again. I have thousands of pictures to go through. The two here are my attempt at getting something blogged. These birds are an example of the type of visitors we would see from the lanai.

Quiet Sunday Afternoon

It is beginning to look as if autumn is giving way to winter. A few flakes drift from the heavens throughout the day- yet none of it stays. The tree branches are mostly bare and the darkness comes quickly each night. It is early afternoon when Amanda and Puma curl up together in a chair. Amanda enjoys the last of the daytime light as she reads the scriptures, and Puma basks in the attention of his favorite human. There is indeed peace on earth.

Autumn View

Just wanted to share the view from my moms window.

Her bed was not situated for

her to look out the window much.

But I sure appreciated the beauty for her.

I love the mountains and their ever changing colors.

Grandma Lambert Update

My Mom came home from the specialty hospital/rehab on Friday (yup, the 13th). She has a hospital bed and air mattress set up in the living room. Ca mode, wheelchair and walker are all right there handy for her.
On Sunday the primary children in our ward tied a fleece blanket for her and delivered it to her home after church. It was so sweet and lifted mom's spirits greatly. The children sang 'Families Can Be Together Forever' and 'I wonder When He Comes Again'. Mom was able to testify to the children that Heavenly Father does watch out for us all and that He does hear and answer our prayers.
I am grateful that my mom is doing so well and at a much faster rate than the doctors expected. Dialysis is still three times a week, but we expect that will eventually not be required. Thank you for the past prayers and the continuing prayers in my mother's behalf.

Amanda is DEFINATLY an ARTIST

I came home from work one night to view a canvas with a bit of oil paint on it. It was the beginning of what would be Amanda's first attempt at using oils. The skin tone and details were beautiful so far. I think I actually did a little dance of excitement at seeing so much talent on that 11 x 17 piece of artist background.

Tonight the project is complete. I feel just a tad bit proud. I am excited to see what beauty will find its way onto Amanda's future canvases.

P.S. to Katy. Amanda says she can attempt your special request when time permits. I am SO excited for that project!

Guess Who Came To Visit On Sunday

Ben enjoyed sitting with Grandpa Decker.

Isn't he a cutie?

Amanda helped entertain by reading books

and playing with puppets.

Jayden made a NEST for the birdies
out of the many knit scarves.
The ball weights are hidden underneath
the assortment of birds as large blue eggs.

It was a real treat
to have a houseful of fun little people.
It made Grandpa and Grandma
smile really BIG.

Kauai 2009

The spot we ate lunch

on our last day there.

Looking down towards a beach

we had to climb down tree roots

to reach the shore.

The area we climbed down to.

I think this is the same beach.
Photo taken from the point
we descended the cliff at.

Bruce and I
This is the waterfall Aurelia
passed everyday when she rode
the school bus to and from school.

Yvonne and my older brother, Richard.

My older sis, Aurelia and her husband Ben.

In the condo right before we

left to go to church at the

same chapel we attended so many years ago.
Even Kauai has it's autumn colors.

Roosters can be found EVERYWHERE

you go on the island.

Leaves on a tree.

Photo taken near the wet and dry caves.

These are Ne Ne's.

Pronounced nay nay.

Probably taken just outside our condo.

Bruce and I were treated to a remarkable vacation by Aurelia and Ben. This trip had been planned since last February. At the last minute Dad and Mom were not able to make the trip with us as expected. Richard and Yvonne were able to make the hurried arrangements to join us. The whole experience was amazing and definitely memorable. I feel very blessed that I was able to be in Kauai with my two oldest siblings and visit the home we lived in 46 years ago. The places we went were beautiful and worth remembering. I was so young at the time we lived there that even with being in the same place again, nothing sparked any memories from the past for me. Happily both Aurelia and Richard were able to recall things from their memories and experiences. My favorite activity was snorkeling and being on the beaches. Bruce especially enjoyed the big waterfall we drove to on the last day we were there. Poor Bruce got sick the second day we were there. He did his best to enjoy everything despite being miserable. Today we found out that he has bronchitis. Silly guy!

Thank you, Aurelia and Ben, for making this vacation of a lifetime possible! Thank you, Richard and Yvonne, for dropping everything and being there! We had a GREAT time!