down by the bay

I recently accompanied my sweet grandmother to the Bay Area. Many years ago, she and my grandpa raised their family there. Only one of the five children stayed put. My Uncle Steve and Aunt Pat graciously hosted us for a weekend - and cousins Jennifer and Steven gave up their bedrooms to camp out in the family room.

We had no agenda and only one objective – enjoy ourselves. We spent an afternoon driving around the old ‘hood in San Leandro. I loved hearing Steve and my grandma reminisce about old acquaintances and memories of their growing up years.

Of course we couldn’t be there without heading for San Francisco! The drive was beautiful and I found myself, once again, wondering what the heck I’m doing living in Arizona. Once talk of earthquakes started up and we were crossing the long, long Bay Bridge and driving in congested traffic, I was able to appreciate the desert again.

We wondered around the pier until we found what I wanted – clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl. Yum! We took a cruise around the bay and got a closer look at the Golden Gate Bridge:

I was really thinking that the fog could cooperate better for our little boat cruise. Doesn’t the fog know I’ve never been there before?

{The sights of Fisherman’s Wharf}

{One of my favorite signs}

{The view of Alcatraz from Pier 39}

{I can’t understand the people that do this in a freezing ocean with crazy currents. Surely there’s a better way to get an adrenaline rush}

{Crab.}

{Does anyone else hear “mine.mine.mine.” ? Or are we watching entirely too much Finding Nemo around here?}

{Sailing. A new addition to my bucket list.}

{So many loud, large seals}

{The bridge [sorta]}

{Granny, Steve, Jennifer and Pat}

We fell victim to the $20 picture taken in front of the green screen. At least we got a good look at the bridge this way.

Steven played in a soccer game [scored a goal like the athlete he is], we hung out, enjoyed the weather, did a lot of reading, and enjoyed our break from the heat. All too soon it was over.

I can’t wait to go back.

christmas eve

Began with our annual family photo with the Cederstrom and Yancey families. Last minute, slightly dark, but we had unheard of cooperation by everyone. Yeah!

We ate our traditional Mexican feast. Delicioso! as usual. The younger kids played endlessly in the backyard raking and playing in the leaves. As also per tradition, we exchanged and opened gifts. It was wonderful chaos, full of anticipation. Our group is growing in numbers and in noise levels, but I love when we all get together. Each of the kids has a playmate or two (or three) and always look forward to Grandma and Grandpa's. An added treat this year, was to have Great-Grandma Cederstrom with us as well.

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Once we called it a night at the Yancey's, we headed to my grandma's house to open jammies with her and my mom. Their pajama bottoms were craftily hand-made my their mother (that would be me). My very first sewing project. With the exception of Taylor's being about an inch too short (stop growing already!), they were quite darling (if I do say so myself).

They loved being there to show their Nana and Grandma and got to open gifts from Grandma, too.

The kids were anxious to get to sleep so Santa could come. Out went the cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer (which Gabriel found on the back porch and devoured Christmas morning - mmmm).

celebration time

It's been some time since we had a complete girls' night out. Celebrating my grandma's birthday seemed to be a perfect time to get the gang together. My grandma, mom, 3 sisters and I made a Christmas-y night of it. We started off with a little Joe's B-b-q. I provided the cake (meaning: I bought it from Joe's bbq) and we sang a quiet happy birthday to both Grandma and Mara, who celebrate just days apart. Even minus candles, the cake was yummy.

From there we went to see A Christmas Carol. I thought it was very un-procrastinating of me to think ahead and get us great seats. Turns out I was really thinking ahead. To December of 2009. When I got to will-call and my tickets weren't there for me, it was discovered I purchased them for the wrong year! Who knew they sold tickets for shows so far in advance? I don't know what I'm doing next week, let alone next year! Lucky for us, they fit us in to some house seats that they reserve for emergencies. {Saved my embarrassed behind.}

Outside, they had [small] faux snow machine. Sara and I shoved our way through the children already playing in it for a photo op via Faith's iphone. Good times are had when you revert back to being 12 years old and stop all traffic coming out of the theater when the iphone fails to be a quick alternative to a camera. It was 'snowing', baby!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera (gasp!) and didn't get any shots of the birthday girls. But it was a giggly-gossipy good time and helped bring some Christmas cheer to the season. I look forward to the next girls' night out.

14

How to feel two decades younger:

• road-trip by yourself to a place you love
• listen to your music (no Radio Disney allowed)
• have uninterrupted thoughts of your own
• stay with your grandma in the same room/bed reserved for you at age 14
• let Grandma make you breakfast
• go hiking with your mom for 3 1/2 hours (wonder why you complained about it when you were actually 14)
• have endless conversations with Grandma
• let Mom make you dinner (x2)
• extend overnight stay to a two night stay (and wish it could be 3)
• walk with Grandma, take pictures
• sit on the porch, talk, wait for a storm, put off sleep

(ps - thanks to Todd who took over 'mommy duty'. I appreciate it - even if you did feed the children pizza for dinner... both nights.)

last summer road trip

Several weeks ago, the kids, my sisters, their kids and I made one last hurrah before summer's end and drove up to Pine.  9 of us and all our junk smashed into one vehicle.  My grandma has been spending the summer there, and I have been anxious to visit with her and enjoy a storm in the mountains. 

I've been going to Pine since I was born and I love it there.  My grandpa's side of the family has a lot of history there, and the home that his mother was raised in is still there (built around 1904 - anyone know exactly?), and it's a favorite spot of ours for picture taking.  It's been a bit neglected lately, but I love the history of it.

 

 

Just like their mommies used to, the kids spent entire afternoons under the bridge down the lane from Grandma's house.  This is the first time they've had permission to go on their own, and Taylor was in charge.  He took full advantage of the title "boss" and made the kids ask 'permission to speak'.  Very army sergeant of him.  They were ordered to worked as a team to move heavy rocks and built some sort of throne.  No guessing as to who sat there. 

Taylor also taught Hayden how to shoot an airsoft gun, and spent much of the day running around shooting at each other.  Taylor is a good teacher, and really patient with the younger kids when they are learning.

 We visited a goat and llama farm in Strawberry, which was surprisingly enjoyable.  We got there at milking time and the kids learned about the goats and each took a turn to milk.  The llamas were just intimidating and extremely unattractive.

 

 

 

One night after dinner, Taylor introduced his grandma to airsoft.  He had anticipated kickin' grandma's booty all week.  They had a great time, and played until it was too dark to continue. 

 

While they were at war, Ron kept the little ones busy in their dental lab.  Paige loved having her own Bunsen burner, making teeth molds.  Getting their thumbs forever molded in plaster was another highlight.  Paige would have stayed there all night if we let her. The even littler kids were entertained by all of Ron's guitars and helped themselves.  Gabriel is sure to be a natural musician with amazing handling of the guitar.  Faith even belted out a few songs, which is a rare treat.  It was short lived, though, with all the craziness that comes with a bunch of cousins running around.

In the end, our stay was during the only dry spell in 3 weeks and we didn't see a drop of rain.  According to Taylor it was successful because he told me it was the "best Pine trip ever".  (I've heard this several times recently.  Which means either a) I've really stepped up my mad entertainment skills, b) I've given my kids nothing to do in their early years, giving us nowhere to go but up, or c) they are finally learning how to entertain themselves.  With any of these, though, I'm a winner.)

Thanks for having all of us, Grandma.  I look forward to coming back soon... could you make it rain next time?

as good as it gets

• When you (try to) get 8 cousins together for a photo op with their Nana you can expect:

waning smiles

fake smiles

forced and cheesy smiles

no smile

separation anxiety

tears

fits

Gabriel counting to 3 with the cameraman

4 different cameras, no child looking at the same one

(But Nana still looks great, doesn't she?!)

It was worth a try. Hopefully, another cameraman got better shots than I.

grandpa

since i couldn't say it any better, read my sister's lovely words to grandpa here

one of the best christmases ever

Hurray! Christmas is here!

We spent Christmas Eve at the Yancey's. Nearly the whole family was in attendance (minus 2 of Don's boys). The cousins played outside to their hearts content until it was time for dinner. Each year Debbie labors over home-made tamales and we feast on Mexican food. As usual it was delicious. This year I was quite sick (I can't ignore it anymore), so I didn't have the regret of over indulging on it all. Then we gathered around together and opened presents. Each year we have one family we're responsible for buying gifts for and we open them while we're all together. The gifts both given and recieved seemed to be a big hit.

Afterwards we came home and hurriedly bathed so the kids could have the traditional opening of the pj's on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that has carried over from when I was little, and I believe my mother did as a child as well. I love to see them all in their new comfy jammies in the morning. It was Taylor's request this year to get jammies that weren't so 'juvenille'. He says that these qualify. Then Paige fell asleep as Todd read the Christmas story from the bible.

Todd and I helped Santa put the finishing touches on gifts and went right to bed.

Christmas morning Paige and Taylor were in our room at precisely 6:30 - the pre-determined time that mommy and daddy would oblige their request to get started. We let them open gifts one at a time so we could enjoy one anothers excitement and to keep it from being a big blur. This is the first year that Gabriel recognized Santa and enjoyed opening gifts, and it was a treat to watch his excitement. When they were asked how their morning had been Taylor uncharactaristically exclaimed, "This is one of the best Christmases ever!" Paige reports that she is happy with all that she got, but didn't get the electric moped she'd asked Santa for.

Paige was also concerned with whether or not Santa was left the cookies she made the day before since she fell asleep before she could put them out herself. We assured her we did and showed her the plate where one half eaten cookie and a whole cookie remained along with an empty glass of milk. After a few minutes had lapsed, Paige looked again at the plate and exclaimed that the half eaten cookie was now gone. Who ate it? Daddy's guilty expression gave it away immediately. I was puzzled as to her concern for a half-eaten cookie until she said "Daddy, that's gross that you would eat Santa's leftover cookie!"

We didn't have our annual pancake breakfast since Dad went and left the country for a vacation, but we made our own fabulous waffle & strawberries breakfast with homemade buttermilk syrup and cinnamon rolls. It's enough to rot a few teeth. Sommer & Steve and their family and Mara and her family live nearby so they joined us and the kids had a chance to excitedly talk about their new presents. We all enjoyed a relaxed breakfast next to our roaring fire courtesy of channel 9.

We planned to go hiking, but much to Todd's relief, I still wasn't up for it. So, the kids played outside, giving their new toys a ride. Paige is still trying to adapt to Heely's and a scooter and Taylor, being an old pro, is giving her lessons. Gabriel is anxious to take his new tricycle out for a spin, so we'll eventually take a walk around the neighborhood.

We had all of my sisters and their families, my mom, Todd's mom & Don, my grandparents and the Hoopes family all over for Christmas dinner. If I do say so, myself, I think it went pretty well. The paparazzi was out in full force, with about 6 cameras going at any given time. Gabriel loved having everyone over and as each person left he gave them giant hugs and wouldn't let go. I think that he must have been trying to go home with some of them.

After the final goodbye, our family, alone again, snuggled together on the couch and talked about our favorite parts of the day. Gabriel took in a deep breath and fell asleep in less than a minute. Paige says her favorite gift was fingernail polish (I could have saved a lot of money), Taylor couldn't narrow it down to just one, and Todd enjoyed the food (huge surprise). Taylor was stunned when I told him that right then, when we were all snuggling as a family was my favorite part of the whole day.

Happy Holidays!

birthday wishes

Today we celebrate the 80th birthday of my maternal Grandma Shumway!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

As a girl in junior high, I used to take the bus home from school to Grandma's house. I would spend my afternoons with Grandma (and Grandpa too) and she'd get me a snack, help me with homework, and I'd watch her make dinner. I cherish this time I had with Grandma and Grandpa.

Each year on our birthdays growing up, Grandma gave each of the grandchildren the gift of time. We each got to choose and activity and we spent the day with Grandma. One year Grandma and I went to the old castle made from junk in Phoenix. Our adventures were always well documented - she never went anywhere without her camera. Grandma went out of her way to make each of us feel special on our big day.

However, it didn't have to be a special day for Grandma to spend hours helping with an English project, or take us on a trip to Pine, or have an overnight stay at Grandma's house. I always felt love from Grandma, no matter the occasion.

Have a fantastic day, Grandma!