Guess who got her first haircut?

Miss Zoe Luna at 3 1/2 years she had her first haircut.  I think it was most stressful for her Daddy but I do believe he survived.  Off to Umbro Salon to have Fabrizio do the deed.

 

How cool is it to sit on a pink motorcycle while you get your haircut?

 

Zoe's not too sure about this but is being cool and collected.

 

 Gogo plays with his Ugg boot and cheers on his sister.  She's looking a little more confident.

Haircut complete and she's happy to see she still has her long hair.  Just to be sure though she's holding onto her hair so no more can be cut.

Good job Zoe Luna.  You're  beautifu!!!

First Get Away of 2013

Our first get away of 2013 is to our timeshare in Las Vegas.  It was so nice to get away.  What did we do?  Not much.  Went to a couple of movies, a little shopping, walked around the City Center next door to us and the high light of our week was "lunch with Bernie".  Not quite as entertaining as the movie "Lunch with Bernie" but a good time just the same.

Bernie had to head back to Parawan to take care of some business so we opted to meet for brunch.  The designated place was Mimi's, one of our favorites.  I love the Eggs Benedict there.  However, getting there turned into something of an adventure.  Steve looked up a Mimi's he thought would be closer to meet Bernie.  Well...as things go, it wasn't where it was suppose to be so we met up with Bernie and went looking for it.  We stopped at a 7-11 (I think) and went in to see if someone knew where it was.  When I asked for a phone book, a customer jokingly asked me what a phone book is.  Anyway, he ended up looking it up on his iphone (I don't have a smart phone just a dumb antique one) and located it for us.  Off we went again, it took a while, or so it seemed, but we finally found it.  The Eggs Benedict lived up to my expectations but the best was the time with Bernie.  He is and has been a good friend for many years.  We'll be going back in a couple of months and hope to schedule a longer visit so we can finish talking his ears off.

We also drove out to the dam to look at and drive over the new bridge.  That was pretty uneventful.   Thought we'd be able to see the sights but it was not to be.  There is  a walkway to check out the sights but it ended up being the same you see from the lookout points at the dam.

I took a couple of pictures of the new bridge.  It's pretty spectacular.

Boy, I bet truckers and those not wanting to go down to the dam really love the bridge.  Saves a lot of time by passing the dam.

That white is how far down the water is.  Hope we get some good rain soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL

2012 is gone and past and it was a fine year.  I would list all of the wonderful things that happened this year but the one that stands out most is Desmond James Rice-Porter joining our family.  He is such a joy to his family.    Another is Our  Zoe Luna.  She turned 3 in August and is developing into the most delightful little girl.  She is happy, inventive, entertaining, loving, determined and precious to all who know her.  We are so happy with the love and commitment Matt and Jen share and how they bless our lives every day.  Let's see . . . Oh ya, Steve and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary in June.  Quite an accomplishment considering who Steve has to put up with (that would be me).  All the time we've spent with our family and friends.  My life is so full and happy and I'm blessed with a feeling of contentment and peace in my life.

My Heavenly Father has showered me with so many blessings, deserved or not, and I am greatful for his love and support.

Again,  Happy New Year.

Happy Birthday Matt

Today is Matt's birthday and we have the pleasure of doing Grandpa and Grammie duty.  So while Jen took Matt out to lunch and movie, this is how we spent our time with our kiddies.

Manicure by Miss Zoe

I love getting a pedicure and manicure, but especially a pedicure.  Zoe loves to paint.  Who is a better client that the Grammie.  Enter the world of imagination and creativity.

Green was the color of the day for Grammies toesies.

My proud and beautiful manicurist

A fine job by any ones standards

Miss Zoe's turn, but she decides to do her own.  More fun
that way.

Zoe and Grammie toes.  Beautiful!

Time for the nails.  Nothing like a good solid
and thick layer of paint. 

And Grammies nails to.

Zoe and Grammie matching manicures.

I'm one lucky Grammie.  It just makes my heart sing to be with this little girl and her baby brother. 

hen Zoe and Grandpa did some swimming

Watching Grandpa and Zoe swim wore Des out, even though
he napped on Grammies knee most of the time.

Happy Birthday Matt/Daddy

Cupcakes were made - Candles blown out - cupcakes were eaten.

Family picture - minus Grammie as someone had to take the picture.  There is
one with me in it, I just can't seem to find it.

p.s. Matt's birthday is in June but I'm late posting and posting out of order.  

  

Christmas Joy

What a day!  Christmas day was everything I could want and then some.

A couple of the activities that helped prepare us for and get us in the holiday spirit were making Christmas cookies with Grandma  (Jen's) in Temecula.  They also made buckeye drops which are peanut butter cookie doe (I think) dipped in chodolate.  Zoe was especially interested in the dipping in chocolate part.

By the time they were finished she was one tired littler baker.

 Check out all the buckeye balls, sugar cookies and other treats that 
were made.  Good job Grandma and Zoe.

Then there was a Gingerbread house making day with Grandpa and Grammie.

 

 The Gingerbread house was a successd and Zoe was so pleased with it.  She kept telling me that her mommy would LOVE it and be so proud of her.  It's true, she does and she did. Gogo had some lunch and then watched the proceeding and nibbled on cheerios.  As you can tell by his face, he enjoyed it.

Christmas Eve Steve and I headed to Simi Valley for dinner and fun with Barb and the family. 

                                         Grandpa (Larry) looked at on of Grandma's pop-up
                                         books with Abby (Kristy's youngest) and Liam
                                         (Natalies child #3, she has 4).  They are very
                                          special books so the kids have to be supervised
                                          when looking at them.

                                          Jason, Liam and Natalie at the dinner table.  They
                                          are leaving on the 27th  for a new assignment
                                          in Kansas.  Don't know the name of the base but it
                                          doesn't matter as long as they do.

                                          Kayla (Kristies oldest) and Kayleih ( Cheri's daughter)
                                          Cousins and best friends.  Good combination.

                                               Kayleih and Aunt Joan in the kitchen.
 

 Here it is, finally, CHRISTMAS DAY

We loaded up the car with dinner, presents and Gidget and off we went to spend the day with Matt, Jen,  Zoe and Gogo (Des).

Zoe was so excited to show us her Dora play house that Santa brought her.  She told us she asked Santa for it and he brought it.

Then we brought in our gifts for them.  The last one was a new chair for Zoe so we asked her to close her eyes because her present was so big Grammie couldn't wrap it.
 

It wasn't easy but she did it, with a lot of wiggling and giggling.  Then the moment came and we told her to open her eyes .  .  .

THE CHAIR . . . SHE IS SO EXCITED

She is very happy with her new chair and spent quite a bit of time in it looking at her new Peppa Pig book.  But it will take some time to make the emotional move.  No problem.

bye bye old chair.  

There were hugs and kisses for the old, well used, loved, cherished chair and it was going to go bye bye.  Well, to make a long story short, we had to put it behind the couch so she could go to it any time she wanted.  I made this chair for her first birthday and it has been her comfort place ever since.  So we'll let her take her time and cut the cord when she's ready.

 Zoe playing the harmonica that Grandma gave.  We learned today that Grandma plays the harmonica so were excited to hear her play some time soon.

Des loves his turtle (or whatever it is).  You put the little balls in the middle, push and button and they bounce, sometimes right out on the floor, or they roll down the turtles mouth onto the floor.  Took him about 3 times watching Zoe put the button in the middle to make it go and then he did it himself.

See, he can do it all by himself.  He's wearing the sweater that Great Grandma Ruth made him.

After all the presents were opened and we played for a while we ate dinner.  Zoe helped with the turkey and all in all the dinner was really good.  That's always a good thing.

 Last but not least, a couple of three generation pictures.  Des like to get Grandpa's cheek but I think he's really trying to get his hair.

Sorry this is so long but it's the best Christmas we've had for a long time.  Just love our kids so darn much.