Happy "Sweet Sixteen" Kendal

Happy Birthday to our darling daughter! We are so proud of you!!

Ding,Ding,Ding,Ding!

Round three of the flu began today with Carsyn, going down for the count! I do hope it doesn't go through my entire family...

Doctor's Rx for the flu

My grandma Wertz's remedy for the flu...a Hershey Sandwich! She would make this for my dad every time he was sick, my dad always made it for me, and today, I made it for Chris! Poor boy has been throwing up for the past 28 hours! He kept telling me that he "didn't think he was going to make it" and that "he was too young to die"!  I know how he feels...this bug is brutal! Glad that he has finally turned the corner, the hershey sandwich worked its magic.

Happy New Year!

We spent New Year's in Pasadena this year...thanks Jenny and Wyatt for your hospitality! We went to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles for breakfast, I know it sounds like a bad combination, but it's actually delicious! We cruised the route of the Rose Parade; watched all the crazy spectators set up their stuff to settle in for the LONG wait to have a birds-eye view of the parade; drove by the Rose Bowl; when everyone else arrived, we did it all over again (albeit a different restaurant)! The girls and kids walked from jenny's house to the watch the parade while Rick and Cole (on mountain bikes) chased Rick Sr., Wyatt, & Joe (on street bikes in their full biking gear) around town! They finally went back to the house to see the parade in HD!! We drove down to the beach house where I got deathly ill early saturday morning and spent the next 24 hours hugging the porcelain bowl while the rest of the family enjoyed the perfect So. Cal weather! I was so sad I didn't get to see the Mathis'! I emerged Sunday feeling weak and several pounds lighter!! Did get to see the Ferguson's and go to Tressles. Drove home after spending time at the park with our little nephews.  Man does Rick love HIS nephews!!!!  We missed Kendal, who stayed home to attend an AP World History Seminar. The highlight of the trip was Rick throwing a marshmallow at a moving car full of screaming girls, and nailing one of them on the nose...leaving them speechless!  Happy Birthday 10th Chris! Next year is your year!

Come on Christmastime...I just can't wait!

I love this time of the year when we have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  May we not forget His example and sacrifice as we go about the hussle and bussle of the season.  He is the greatest GIFT in our life; the greatest gift we may offer Him is a willing heart...to be an instrument in His Hands! Service to one another is the most valuable gift we may give to Him, to others, and to ourself.  May the gratitude and charity we feel in our heart at this time of year be a constant throughout the year. He lived to show is the way, it is my prayer that we FOLLOW HIM! I wish to express my love for each of you, though years and miles may separate us!                  
                                                                                                                                            

Show Time!

Our holiday season kicks off with a whirlwind! Long hours of rehearsals, sewing (my mom & I made the light blue sequin shrugs the girls wear with wedding dresses), pulling/assigning/labeling/fixing/ checking-out/checking-in costumes (I am the costumer for all the Galena girls which means I am in charge of every costume piece that all of them wear in the show!), building/putting up/taking down/ the Set, and late nights/early mornings, caroling, and that doesn't include staying on top of the house, kids' school work, and carpool!  We are all exhausted by the end of Holiday Tapestry, but it is also the most special time I spend with my girls! It's crazy, but it is worth it!!!!! Kendal sang her first solo, "Tennessee Christmas" and did beautifully...I am so proud of her! This was Carsyn's first year and she was a star! She even had a solo part in "Little Packages" and was dead on! Thanks Mom for dressing Carsyn...you are a trooper!