Missouri Trip - Merry Christmas

Sorry about the delay, but I'm sure everyone understands!

We spent our Christmas with my sister, Lisa and her family in Missouri.  It snowed Christmas Eve and Day.  It was wonderful having a white Christmas!

It was rather difficult getting a picture of the kids playing in the snow.  They were everywhere.

I think Dash enjoyed the snow the most.  He is wearing a little fleece jacket I made him.

I love how his ears flop when he runs fast.

Luke is too precious!

Santa came!

Christmas drive down the road from my sister's house.

Christmas sledding at the local sled hill.  

I stayed home with Luke and cleaned up the present mess while everyone else went sledding.  Howard was in charge of pictures, but I think he had too much fun and forgot to take more than one picture.  We forgot hats and gloves, so that is why Jack is wearing pink gloves.  We borrowed from the cousins.

I spoke with my Mom on Christmas day, but she sounded weak.  We went home a day early, Monday, which turned out to be a good thing.  I also called my Mom and talked for a minute while we drove home.  That was the last time I spoke with her.  Late Monday night I got the call that she had went into respiratory arrest and was in the hospital. I'll save the rest for another post...

Obituary

Janice Marie (Simmons) Elliott of Riverside passed away peacefully on December 29th in Riverside, CA at the age of 59 with family and friends at her bedside after a long battle with COPD.

Jan was born on January 15, 1951 in Cherokee, IA. and lived there until the age of twelve when her family relocated to Riverside, CA.  She graduated from Ramona High School in 1969. She also attended R.C.C.

Jan worked for several companies, including PacBell and Riverside County Welfare Services before deciding to open her own Home Daycare business, which she operated successfully for over twenty years until her retirement. She was also a homemaker while her children were small. Jan's hobbies and interests included candy making, sewing, crocheting,camping, digital scrapbooking, genealogy, and farmville.

In May 1988 Jan married her high school sweetheart, Ted Elliott and joined families to include 9 children. Jan is survived by her husband, Ted Elliott, daughters Lori Rich of Riverside, Lisa Ozanich of Missouri, Tina Parkes of Oklahoma and son, Jody Elliott of Riverside. She is also survived by her step children, Ted Elliott Jr, Kevin Elliott, Kelly Elliott, Kasey Cohick, and Keith Elliott. Eight grandchildren, Howie, Erin, Conner, Jackie, Nadia, Jackson, Claire, and Lucas. She is also survived by her bother, Richard Simmons of Tennessee; her nephew, Brian Simmons of Riverside; niece, Melissa Kenny of Missouri and her best friend for 29 years, Linda Cayton of Crestline. She is preceded in death by her Father and Mother, Lorne and Charlotte Simmons.

Funeral services will be held on January 6,2011 at 2pm at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Cemetery 11500 Arlington Ave. Riverside, Ca. 92505. Cemetery info 689-1441.   All are welcome to attend. Ted  951-543-7955

Pray

Just last night we found out that Tina's mom went into respiratory arrest. She has brain damage and is now on a ventilator to breath for her.  If she is taken off, she will die.  We just got back from Missouri from celebrating Christmas with Tina's sister's family. We are now packed and ready to head off to California to say our last good-byes to Grandma Jan.  Lisa and Levi will be meeting us shortly and we will be caravanning there. When we are all in Riverside, then we, as a family, will make the final decision on when to take her off of life support.  

We ask for prayers of safety and comfort during this difficult time.

 We are grateful for the financial resources and time off of school and work that make this trip possible.  And we are especially grateful to know that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who can take away all pain. It is very likely that Tina will have lost both parents prior to the New Year.  

Hug your parents and children a little tighter and make sure you tell them,  I LOVE YOU! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

It may not seem like I am in the Christmas spirit, for lack of holiday posts, but I do have the spirit!

On the day after Thanksgiving (and after we were done Black Friday shopping) we decorated for Christmas!  This is the first time that we've put lights up outside since Howie was a baby.  I'm so glad we did.  It's so pretty!

Erin usually has the honors of putting up the star (or angel, whichever we use that year).

After many failed attempts on her part, Howard had to step in and finish.  We have a new tree this year, so that's why it was difficult.

Howard and I are HUGE fans of live trees, but because of our move to Okinawa we went artificial (one year in Oki, many of our neighbors did NOT have Christmas trees because of shipping problems!  So sad!)  Anyway, we replaced our pathetic tree last year after Christmas and scored this one for $17!!!!  I'm only a fan of skinny trees because we never know how big our house will be from one year to the next, and it takes up less space.  Eventually we will have a large tree, but not for many years.  We also have a 2ft children's tree for all of their homemade ornaments.  It's in the kitchen. Love it!

We will be going to my sister's for Christmas this year and we are so excited to share it with them.  It's wonderful being so close to family.  7 hour drive is close!

One Last Christmas

Grab your Kleenex for this one!  This is my favorite "new" Christmas song.  Normally I'm old school (Bing Crosby, Perry Como, etc.), but this just pulls at your heart strings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Flashback Friday

I saw on another friend's blog her flashback Friday and I thought I would give it a try.

December 2006

Oh how Erin LOVED to play in the rain!

Life

This is my life...

I have children...

They left their mark in my dining room!

These are just for fun!

We're Stuffed Like a Turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving.  We had a FULL HOUSE!  6 adults and 10 kids!  We all fit and still have LOTS of food left over.  It was delicious and worth all the time I spent in the kitchen.  We were so blessed to have our wonderful friends and family come for a visit (and they were a great clean-up crew!)

Billie 

My super helper in the kitchen!  Howard and I were married at her home in California.  They met on his mission and have been friends ever since.

Lisa - My Sister and BFF

Zach - working on the turkey, he was such a wonderful helper!

The organized chaos...all the adults served the kids and some kids were even done eating by the time we were able to sit down.  It was worth the peace and quiet to make sure the kids were happy before we decided to sit down.  The kids were surprisingly good...happy day.

Yes, I exist.  

I have been cooking for about 2 1/2 days.  I love it, but I'm glad the marathon is over.

Jackie - My 6 year old niece. 

My favorite picture of the day.  She was in a turkey trance chowin' down.  

Erin & Ava (good friend, turns 9 on 11/26)

Silly girls!

Deacon - 4 years, one of Jack's BFFs

See food anyone?

Love this picture of Howie (don't judge the iPod).

On the menu-

Brined Turkey

Brown Sugar Ham

Amish White Bread (rolls)

Sweet Potatoes

Asparagus Casserole

Fruit Salad

Bread Stuffing

Green Bean Casserole

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Veggie tray

Jello Orange Mousse

Canned Corn

Canned Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin Roll

Egg Nog Pumpkin Pie

Apple Crisp Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Blue Moon

It's a Blue Moon tonight!

Took this with my Nikon...doesn't look very blue to me.  Ha ha!!!!!

He's HOME!

Howard's home early! Not really if you count that he was supposed to be home last week, but hey...a day earlier than scheduled is good.  I found out Saturday morning that Howard would be coming in at 5:40pm that same night.  I didn't tell the kids and told them a big fat lie.  I said we needed to "practice" going to the airport so we could see how long it takes to drive there and find the area where Daddy would be coming out on Sunday.  I also told them we had to take our signs and ask security if we could have them there.  Since there are a million rules at an airport, the kids totally bought the story.  We arrived less than 5 minutes before Howard came out (I know...good timing on my part.)  I had the kids line up and "practice" holding their signs.  That's why the kids are not at all enthusiastic about this picture. 

As I was taking pictures, another person came over and whispered in my ear that he was coming.  Yeah, I'd say the kids were stunned!  They didn't move at first because they didn't know what to think, so I nudged them and told them to run to Daddy.  I said, "You won't get arrested, the security people understand!" (This summer we had issues at security when we were waiting for a friend and my kids got the evil eye and a talking to from TSA for crossing over a white line.)

I was so excited to take pictures of the kids, I forgot to run up to him and kiss him.  I finally came to my senses and walked up to him and gave him a big kiss.  The crowd cheered and clapped!  It was kind of like a movie (but with a small crowd).  It was sweet seeing strangers cry too.  I admit, I've been that person crying when someone else comes home.  I was really surprised because Howie cried.  It was so sweet!  I must be heartless...I didn't cry.  It was more of a sense of relief!

Our Happy Family!

  

Secret Project

Here's my secret project that I started and finished on Thursday.  I'm normally a copycat crafter, but this was all my own idea (although I'm sure you could find it somewhere on the internet). 

The letters are cut out from felt and the yellow is  1 package of bias tape.   I picked an appropriate font and printed it out on paper.  Then I pinned the letters to the felt and cut.  Sewed everything together and viola... super easy! 

Welcome home in blue.

Happy Birthday on the reverse side in burgundy.

Now I don't have to make a new sign every time Howard comes home. I like having multi-purpose things.

Updated Hair Do

Here' s a better photo than yesterday's. 

I don't look yellow.

Great Music!

These two are married...so cute! He's her back up singer! Love it!

New Favorite Song (for now)

New Do & Just Because

I hate taking pictures at night, but I really wanted to share my new hair cut.  I can't wait to make it cute tomorrow.  Howie did a decent job on the picture...and I'm super tired...I had a long day with bad news. Howard won't be home next week. :(

Just because he's cute!  

P.S. All 5 of us got haircuts today, and I think she did the best job we've ever had done.  She's a keeper!

Peek-a-Boo!

Every day Luke LOVES to play peek-a-boo.  It's his FAVORITE game! Sometimes he covers his ears, or his eyes, or hides somewhere. Everyone gets in on the act, "Where's Luke?" we all ask.  He loves it when we call for him and "can't" find him. Sometimes he's really good at hiding and I get nervous and search frantically for him.  Most times it's really obvious.  Just in case you can't find him, he's hiding under his towel behind Jack. Also, Jack was so funny because he thought I was taking pictures of him, but I was really trying to get Luke to peak through the towel.

Peek-a-Boo!

"I'm smiling for the camera!" For real, he was. 

  

 Oh no! Where did Luke go?

There he is!

My bathing beauty

Wearing only a towel can get chilly!