February Fun 2019

I missed the whole month of January in my blog, because I spent most of the month trying to get over a sinus infection.  February went better.  It has been an unusually stormy month, but a good month.  We had a family party for all the February Birthdays.   We let Missy blow out the candles, because we know she wouldn't spit on the cake.  We welcomed Ian home. We visited Brent and Loni in California.  It took a long time to get there because of flight delays, but we had a fun time.  We loved visiting Hearst Castle also known as the enchanted hill.  It was in the most beautiful setting.  We also went to the Butterfly Biosphere with some our younger grandchildren.  It has been a very full month.

Hearst Castle

February Birthdays

Inalynn is the youngest of the February Birthdays

Lauren likes to come to Grandma's house

California Coastline

A view from Heast castle

What a gorgeous place to swim

Inside the castle

Brent's home in Monterrey

Dad at the beach in Santa Cruz

Brent Loni and Gemma

The beautiful beach at Santa Cruz

Welcome Ian

They were happy to be together!

Andrea and Avery get a view from the inside of a bug jar
at Butterfly Biosphere.

Marshall loved the caterpillar

Almost done at the Butterfly biosphere.

Blowing bubbles on Inalynn's birthday.

I love my geranium

The Week after Christmas

Brent and Loni were trying to recover from a long spell of illlness while they were here.  One afternoon after Christmas,  We took their girls to Elkridge to go sledding with their cousins.  Danica has a park just a block from her home with a wonderful hill for sledding.  I wish my pictures had been better, but the cousins had a great time sledding and we all enjoyed hot chocolate with Danica afterward.  Later that night we ate dinner at the Purple Turtle,  a favorite family drive inn.
Later that week we had a delicious dinner with my Brothers and Sister-in-laws.  It has been wonderful Christmas Season.  We feel very blessed.

Christmas Morning

December 25, 2019
We were blessed to have Brent and Loni and their girls with us for Christmas.  Brent and Loni made us a delicious breakfast complete with their wonderful scones!

I recovered one of Brent's favorite Aunt Ingred quilts for him.

I loved our grandchildren's Christmas Art

Family Christmas Party

December 23, 2019

We had our traditional "Junk Food Dinner" on Saturday night.  The nativity went well.  Everyone loved the food and opening the presents.  The highlight for me was seeing Katherine and Zariah play the violins together.  It was also great to hear Grant play his trumpet.

Our cute Christmas Dolls

Cousins Craft and Cookie Party

December 20 and 22

Our Beautiful flowers from Emily and Daniel came today.

We tended Kevin and Melany's children so they could have some time off for their annivery.  We did a pinecone Christmas tree with the children that turned out to be a little toxic.  The spray paint we used to make the pinecones green smelled terrible and it took a while for the smell to dissipate.  I think they enjoyed the project once the smell lessened.  On the December 22, Brents family had arrived so we got together to have our cookie decorating party.  A good time was had by all.

Avery worked hard on her tree.

A Musical Christmas

December 2019

Craig and I attended six different concerts for our grandchildren this year.  It was great to hear all the Christmas music.  We attended three concerts for Katherine and one for Grant and Charity.  Debbied and Jim took us to see a Christmas Carol.  We felt so lucky to be able to see that.  It was very well done.  I also helped with the nativity for our ward Christmas party.  It turned out well.

Katherine's duet

Charity's band concert

 

December 3, 2019

A Special Baptism Day

Craig had the opportunity to baptize a little boy from a family we had worked with on our mission.

It was a nice honor for him and it was a lovely baptismal service.