Christmas 2009

This Christmas was really fun. The family celebrations lasted a week.
Starting with Christmas at Mom Gould's last week.
Then, on Christmas Eve, we visited my Mom and brother.
Christmas afternoon our children started coming home for a day after Christmas celebration with all of us together...How much better can it get!

My Mom, with a new throw. You'd never know she will be 86 in February!

This year we celebrated the first Christmas with our newest granddaughter,
Tegan, 6 months old.

The Grandchildren 'portrait' I was able to capture...They are so adorable and precious!

OK, on to the family fun! The guys were showing off their new warm 'throws' they received as gifts. Well, there were lots of laughs about the pink (a joke) one Randy gave Derek. You had to have been here. One was more 'manly' than the other etc...
And, we have a fun family tradition, however, not every year. We create a scavenger hunt for everyone to participate in. This year Michelyn had to 'find' her gift. The hints started in a book we gave her, then lead the group outside and after working together they found her new Garden Cart.

Here are daughter's, Michelyn and Nicole enjoying Christmas fun.

And Randy's wife Staci reading a new book to their baby Tegan.

Here are the little ones playing with new toys.

We have a wonderful family and are so happy everyone loves to be together. I overheard several conversations about how blessed we all feel to be a connected family.

Christmas almost here

The Gould Family celebrating the week before Christmas at Mom Gould's.

Aubrey and Garrett are checking everything out before the gift exchange.

Mom Gould at the right. Everyone enjoying the little ones excitement as we all exchange gifts.

Yesterday, Randy and Staci brought the girls by for the afternoon. Tegan, 6 mos. and Siena almost 3. I sat them on our picnic table for the photo. We had fun swinging in the swing and playing while their parents ran a few errands.

December events

Garden club holiday luncheon was lovely.
Here I am with my dear friend, Sheila who has outsmarted Cancer by 13 months!

This photo of one of the Casa gardens taken in December.

At the evening events, the courtyard of the Casa is beautiful all lit up for Christmas.

We had a volunteer appreciation party for docents and garden volunteers at the Casa. About 80 people were there. I presented the first ever 'garden volunteer of the year' award and encouraged the house docents to venture out into the gardens.

Another monthly event I enjoy participating in (Mike too, when he can) is helping with the garden club activity at the local Adult Day Care Center. Here we are helping clients assemble a card to take home. (we are not in the photo).

Another monthly event we participate in is the Junior Garden program at a local school. We help with the butterfly garden, weeding, showing children and their parents how to deadhead flowers etc.

I really believe in supporting the activities I am interested in throughout the year, not just during the holidays. There are plenty of people that come out during the holidays. However, to do holiday activities and receive the special welcome as they recognize year around supporters is very rewarding.

Christmas prep

A weekend with the grandchildren...starting off the holiday season with them helping us decorate our tree...
It was fun to have Nicole and Michelyn here to enjoy and help .

Who gave them the idea of 'wearing' the Christmas Stockings on their feet and hands???

And, Aubrey has a December 17 birthday. So we celebrated her 6th birthday a bit early. She is into dinosaurs. We decorated the tree then had a birthday celebration.