Black Friday - Folsom - 2013

 We all hung out at Jason and Ashley's house while we waited for Jenna and Dalton to get out of the hospital.  I was having fun taking pictures to capture the moments.

Allison above was having a fun time coloring.

 Audrey just loved Elijah's shoes.

 Adalei and Brielle were busy with the castle.  Elijah gave me his best smile!

 Benson was playing with Adalei and Brielle.

 Paisley was in the middle of the kitchen floor drawing.

 Spencer was such a good boy to help load the dishwasher.

 Morris kept us all laughing.

 Weston had an upset stomach and Jason laid by him to comfort him.

 Malcolm was busy on his computer.

 After taking a nap, Weston seemed to feel better and Jason wrapped him up like a burrito!

 Charity is the best aunt - sitting by Weston.

 An intense conversation - Nate, Morris, and Misty....

 After Jenna and Dalton were released from the hospital, we met at the Fish Hatchery in Folsom and everyone had a great time watching the fish.

 Audrey was crawling under a tree.

 Paisley stopped long enough to pose for me.

 Paisley under the tree.

 I love this picture of Paisley in the fish at the playground.

 Allison after she walked the wall behind her.

 Spencer on the fish while Ashley watches.

 Paisley stopped to rest.

 Then we went back to Jason and Ashley's house.  Benson wanted to poke Dalton with the minion.

 Spencer and Elijah were playing together so well.

 Allison and Audrey were playing together.

 Brielle, Paisley, and Adalei were playing with the dolls.

We ended the day with the kids having hamburgers from In and Out.  

It was a great day.  I don't remember that we had any problems or fighting with the kids.  Eleven kids age 8 and younger and no problems!  It was so fun to all be together!  I wish we had taken a family picture.  That is my only regret.

Thanksgiving 2013 - California

 We had Thanksgiving at the church in Eldorado Hills, California.  I was so excited to see everyone - Jason and family, Nate and family, Casey and family (except Jenna and Dalton in the hospital), Charity, Malcolm, their Uncle Morris, and some friends of Jason and Ashley.  It was great to get together.  

This is Weston with Adalei in the background, above.

 Casey helping Benson and Weston.

 Audrey was patiently waiting for her dinner.

 Weston, Adalei, and Paisley were having so much fun together.  They were so cute.

 Casey feeding Allison with Benson on the left and Audrey on the right.

 Spencer was having fun instead of eating!

 Cute Brielle and Elijah!

 Uncle Morris, Misty with Isaiah, and Nate - the tables were decorated so nicely.

 Benson and Allison - slowly eating.

This was dessert!  Benson was done!

The food was delicious!  Everything was great!  I loved Charity's salads (traditional and broccoli) and her pumpkin pie.  She made a berry pie that disappeared before I got a bite.  I loved Ashley's sweet potatoes!  I could have eaten the whole thing!  Yum!  We enjoyed a marvelous feast!  I was just grateful that I could be there with the family.

#11 Grandchild

Dalton Jake was born barely before Thanksgiving at 11:58 pm.  I was so excited to see him and have him arrive.  When Casey texted me this picture, I cried with joy.  He is such a handsome little boy!  He weighed 8 lbs 6 ounces and 20 inches long.

 Casey took this picture of Dalton and Jenna napping.

I made this fleece blanket for Dalton.  

I stayed a week after he was born to help out.  It was like being in heaven for me to spend this time with Casey, Jenna, and the precious children.  I am such a blessed grandmother!

Isaiah in Vancouver (11/26/13)

 Nate and Misty came up with the kids to take Isaiah to a pediatric specialist in Beaverton.  I took off work and watched the other kids.  We had a fun time together.

Isaiah was so cute in his new frog hat!

 The morning after Isaiah's doctor appointment, we went for a walk to the water bagel shop.  This was such a cute picture of the family.  It was cold but we had a fun time.  

Here we are having bagels.

 While Nate and Misty were at the doctor, Adalei, Brielle, Elijah and I had a good time.  They colored, painted, and did crafts.

 We left Vancouver and I drove with them to Sacramento for Thanksgiving!  It was so fun!  We had a great time.  We stopped in Redding for the night and finished the trip Thanksgiving morning.  Dalton was born that night and I could hardly wait to get to Sacramento to see him!  This picture was taken at the hotel in Redding.

Here's a picture of Isaiah playing with the toys while we stopped in Grants Pass along the way from Vancouver to Sacramento.

It was so nice of Nate and Misty to invite me to drive with them so I could spend extra time with their family.  It was wonderful and a dream come true for me!  I'd rather drive with them than fly any day!

Time Out for Women 2013 (Portland) - November 15-16, 2013

 I really wanted to go to TOFW this year but didn't want to go by myself.  I was so excited when Ashley said she'd come up and go with me.  She was only here 4 nights and 2 days.  (Arrived late on Thursday night and left very early Sunday morning.)

We had a busy two days planned and had a great time.  We started off Friday morning with a breakfast of biscuits and gravy at Arleta Library Cafe in Portland.  Yum!  It was good.

 Next we went hiking up to Pittock Mansion and had a scenic view of Portland.

 It was a beautiful hike.

 We finished hiking before it started to rain.

After the hike, we went for a massage that was only $20 for an hour.  It was quite the experience.  They didn't speak English so that made it interesting.  I don't know how to describe the actual massage either but it was the most unusual massage I ever had.  We laughed and laughed after it was over.  It was relaxing though.

Friday night we ate Scottish fish and chips from a food cart in downtown Portland before going to the evening TOFW event.

 On Saturday we had water bagels for breakfast and then dim sum in downtown Portland for lunch.

We had a great time at TOFW.  

After TOFW was over, we went for manicures/pedicures and then for dinner at Beaches.  We finished the evening with a Red Box movie and Ashley left early the next morning.

It was so much fun!  Charity, Jenna, and Misty weren't available to come.  I'm grateful that Jason helped with the kids so Ashley could come.  I had a fantastic time and want to do it again next year!  

Ashley, thanks for coming and making fun memories with me!  It was wonderful to spend the weekend together!