Christmas in November - 2008

I arrived in Sacramento on Friday, celebrated Jason's birthday on Saturday, Sunday was our Christmas celebration (since I wouldn't see them again until February 09), and then I left on Monday! The above picture was the last picture taken on Monday before Jason took me to the airport.
I was able to spend extra time with Paisley because Casey and Jenna had to leave on Sunday to return to San Jose for Casey's work. Paisley was able to entertain herself quite well.
Aunt Charity does a wonderful job feeding Paisley!
Cute Paisley eager to patty-cake when asked! So cute in pink!
Jason and Ashley eating Thai! Yum! (This picture reminds me of a similar one that I took of them on campus at the Georgia Tech cafeteria.)
Paisley was so patient in her high chair. I was impressed by how well she sat quietly and still.
Little Paisley was so cute; she moved the toys and baskets out of her way, and then crawled under the table top. She was having so much fun.
I think this look was to say, "Am I in trouble?" So cute all I could do was laugh and take her picture!
This little girl has great balance and was having fun.
I really liked this picture because I can see her little teeth so well. She was playing with my lip gloss and having fun. What beautiful eyes!
Now we make it to one of the Christmas pictures! I only took a few pictures though.....
I thought this cute first Christmas bib was adorable!
This grandma loves books and Christmas wouldn't be complete without a Christmas story for Paisley. Paisley wasn't very interested in the book but I'm glad Ashley read it to her anyway.
I loved this cute cupcake calendar with new creations and recipes for each month. I loved this movie "High Crimes." It was so good. Jason already had seen it so it was merely an addition to his DVD library.
Isn't this a beautiful family! I love those smiles! This was my last picture of them before they left to San Jose. I wish they could have stayed until I left. I was crying and look how they are smiling!
Jason is holding the Pampered Chef can opener Ashley got for Christmas.... These can openers are a must for all my daughter-in-laws. It cuts off the can lid with no sharp edges. We had an accident with a sharp can lid when Nathan was quite little so I feel better knowing this can opener is in use!

Casey is holding a BYU bookmark/ruler. I think he liked it based on his smile.
Weston was so cute. He took off his shoes and then played with them! I just love this picture. Weston is adorable beyond words! I didn't get many pictures of Weston since he left 24 hours before I left Paisley. I get to spend an extra day with Weston in San Francisco in a couple of weeks so I'll make up for it then!

I am such a lucky Grandma and so very blessed!

Jason's 29th Birthday Celebration!

Happy Birthday to Jason!







Jason was so excited to get this tent for his birthday! He immediately set it up and checked it out! I think a camping trip isn't too far away now. Ashley sure knows how to make Jason happy! I think it was quite a surprise for him.

Charity got Jason a Nike gift certificate that came in the little orange box! It is so cute! Charity, what a great gift!



Ashley made Jason's favorite birthday cake - Boston Cream Pie! Oh, it was so good. We all got one piece and I'm sure I speak for everyone that we would have all loved seconds!!!



Because Jason's birthday falls so close to Veteran's day, which is a holiday, I have been able to spend many of his birthdays with him. It is a real treat for me. I wish I could be there for all birthdays for everyone in my family! However, Jason taught me to be happy for what I have so I'm glad I was there for Jason's 29th birthday!

We were so busy having fun that I didn't take many pictures. Anyhow, I had to end with a picture of Paisley too so here's Jason, Ashley, and darling Paisley! (You can tell Jason was looking at the TV when I took this picture - I'm sorry I was so slow Jason!)

My November 2008 Trip to California

Look at how cute Paisley and Weston are!!! Weston won 2nd place in the cutest baby contest. As soon as Paisley is entered, I'm sure she will win too. It makes me happy just to look at these pictures. It was so fun to visit and watch the action. Paisley and Weston are almost like twins.
I'm not looking real good in this picture but you can see how happy I am to be holding two of my grandchildren. When I'm not holding them, I'm usually taking their pictures! I just love seeing their pictures when I'm not there. I wish I could visit more often. I dream of being able to go once a month to see them.
Isn't this just the best smile? Weston crawled into this car all by himself. I was impressed.
If you ever wonder why there aren't more pictures of Charity, this picture is worth a thousand words!

Casey and Jason ...................... two great fathers!
Such good playmates! They never fight!
What a cute shot!
I just love Weston's smile..............
What a cute pose by Paisley. Charity was doing a great job of feeding her and they were having fun together.

Halloween 2008

Cute little Adalei was Tinker Bell for Halloween! I was lucky to find the halo at a craft show at work.
This grandma went trick-or-treating with Adalei and Brielle since the girls weren't going to come to my house for trick-or-treating. It was quite a workout carrying Adalei. I don't think I even ate any candy and how I didn't lose even a pound is hard to understand.

Brielle is really cute too. She kept nice and warm in her costume.
The picture below was taken at the retirement center near Nate and Misty's house. Nate, Misty and girls visit this retirement center every Sunday. The people there were so happy to have trick-or-treaters.

Just one of many doors for trick-or-treating!

Happy 31st Birthday to Nate!

Nate had a wonderful birthday. You can see how happy he was to receive BYU apparel! Casey and Jenna picked out a perfect gift!
Misty makes the best birthday cake! It was delicious! Nate easily blew out all the candles so his birthday wish should be coming true!
Cute little Adalei loves to have her picture taken. You can see Brielle in the background having fun by herself.
On a Sunday evening, you can often find Nate making chocolate chip cookies. They are delicious and I thought he would enjoy this cute book about the parable of the chocolate chips.

An Ansel Adams photograph from the Redwoods in California - one of his birthday gifts from Misty.
Peanut M&M's were a big hit for Nate and Adalei too! Misty sure knows what Nate loves!
This picture of Misty is so cute - I just had to add it...... She is such a wonderful wife and mother.
I just love this birthday card that I made Nate. I was so excited with how well it turned out.
This is a special gift for Nate for his birthday! For years, we made cookies on Sunday evenings when the kids were little. It has been interesting to see Nate do the same. Therefore, I thought it was only fitting to gift the family cookie jar to Nate as he carrys on the tradition we shared. This cookie jar is extra special because it was made by my mother, Grandma Creek. Adalei was excited to see the huge bag of chocolate chips that filled up the cookie jar.
Adalei had fun helping her dad unwrap his birthday gifts. I found a game with chocolate game pieces! I hope I'll be invited to play the game and maybe enjoy a yummy chocolate chip cookie too!
Here's a close up of Brielle - she was so oblivious of the birthday party going on. She adores the little people.
Happy Birthday to Nate! I'll be waiting to hear if there are still chocolate chips left when it's his birthday this year.

A White Christmas in Vancouver, Washington - 2008

(These pictures are not in chronological order as I prefer.)
The weather was quite a surprise as we seldom have snow that lasts more than a day or two. It is also usually just a few inches at most. I'm not sure how much snow we had. I heard 2 to 6 feet depending where you lived. I don't think I had more than 2 feet but I didn't measure.

The pictures are so beautiful! I love to look at the snow before it has been disturbed. It is awesome. The pictures are in front of and behind my house. You will notice that you can't tell where the street and curbs.

.The snowflakes were huge just like the pictures show. Isn't it amazing and so beautiful?

In all the snow, I was amazed that the mail and my newspaper were delivered every day. Unfortunately, the garbage routes were canceled and there were mounds of trash waiting to be picked up on January 3rd.

I didn't drive my car for 9 days. Fortunately Nate's car is all-wheel drive so he took us to his place for Christmas eve and they came to my house for Christmas day.

I have lived without snow so many years that the snow didn't make it seem more like Christmas. What a memorable holiday! I saved lots of money - no shopping and no eating out! We were home for the holidays!