All This in a Week

Once every 14 years Craig buys a new car and this was the week.  We drove to Sacramento on a Friday and bought it, but didn't take delivery until the next Thursday.  It is pretty cute and I think he will enjoy the warmth of a hardtop and the fun of the convertible and be safe!

Sunday was Easter and we celebrated with and Easter egg hunt and a family brunch after church.  It was a wonderful day.

Iz and I colored 3 dozen eggs and I hid almost 100.  I think she found all of them herself.  Claire just ran around and Emmett takes it very seriously.  

On Tuesday morning, April 2, we had a call from Whitney that she was going in to have her baby three weeks early.  That was at 7:30 am and at 10:30 we were on the road to Santa Barbara.  We had Mom with us and dropped her at home.  It was like a well orchestrated plan.  We arrived just before visiting hours ended and got to meet their beautiful new daughter, Michelle Elysia.  She was 8 lbs.  and looked very healthy, beautiful, (and sleepy).  We stayed for three days and then raced home to...

Tired grandma and baby.  Even 8 lbs. looks tiny!



attend Devery's endowment and
help with a shower.
The decorations were beautiful, the food delicious, and it was a wonderful evening for the bride.

Kathy was great to open her home and Dwan, LaRae, Diane made it all come together perfectly.  It was great to be a part of it.

There were almost 40 people there and Dwight, her fiancé came to meet everyone.  Very cute couple.

Merry Christmas and Aloha

We had three wonderful Christmas celebrations this year.  Here are the photos to prove it.

We celebrated with the Dutton side of our family early in December.  We had a great dinner and dessert, a white elephant exchange and, of course, a few presents for the grandkids.   

Then it was off in a limo to San Francisco for a super fun stay and the St. Francis on Union Square with the Baileys.  This was our gift from Mom and it was a wonderful way to get in the Christmas spirit and be together. 

Along for the ride

This limo has cool lights

 

William and Truman, Isabel and Wesley really got into the spirit of the season.  Claire and Emmett   actually caught on pretty well too.

   

We had a wonderful lunch at Neiman Marcus and then a white elephant exchange at night.  The grandkids danced, ran, opened presents and played.  The cousins opted for a white elephant exchange and it brought out some interesting responses and lots of laughs.  An inflatable alien, wax vac, fake mustaches, giant party popper, iTunes card were just some of the gifts we fought over.

Thanks, Mom, it was sooo fun!

I love new shoes

Dancing up a storm

Union Square tree out our window

Gingerbread Castle in the lobby of the hotel.

Then it was off to Hawaii.  These pics are all mixed up but will show what a wonderful Christmas we have in Hawaii with family.


Christmas morning waiting to see what Santa brought

Claire wondering why we got her up so early.
 Isabel doing the hula and playing with a new Christmas toy.

 The wonder of Christmas!

The joy of playing outside in your jammies in 80 degree weather.

The Cozy Coup was a hit.

We had Christmas morning breakfast right on the beach. Eat a little, play a little and drop what you don't want in the sand.

 Life doesn't get much better than being with our family.  We are truly blessed!

Chocolate ice cream and cotton candy Yum

 We laughed, ate, golfed, swam, played, read, slept and talked.  It was glorious.

This and That

Here are a couple pictures of our girls weekend at Lake Almanor.  It was a beautiful lake, beautiful house, and beautiful friends.  The weather was spectacular and who would think we could sit and talk for 10 hours and still have more to say to each other.  Shelly was in town for a week and that was reason enough for a party.  Dwan was wonderful to have us to her home.

 This is the view from the driveway, but the huge deck hanging over the lake was my favorite spot.

 Two pics of us as we headed home, tired and happy.  Dwan should have been in the photo, but she was behind the camera.  Friends are the best.  There should have been more of us, but many could not get away on short notice and they were missed.

 Spring in Reno is one of my favorite times.  My apple tree had thousands of blossoms and didn't freeze once.  Maybe we'll have a bumper crop.  I wish my friend Christy was here to make applesauce with me.

One of the weeping cherries in the backyard.  It really was a beautiful spring.

We are starting our kitchen remodel.  One picture is before tear out the next one is after.  The third is the new island and the fourth is where we removed a desk and added more counter and drawers. Lots has happened in just two days.  I am excited to see the finished product.