A Look Back on the year 2015!

Hoping everyone had a very Merry and Joyful Christmas, 

filled with much love. We enjoyed Christmas as we spent it with family and  

celebrated the birth of our Savior.

Another great year has flown by, faster than the last. 

It was filled with so many blessings for which we are ever thankful. 

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone, 

and we will celebrate the beginning of another year! 

 Nick celebrated #60! Most Mondays he can be found riding his bike (20 miles) around Mission Bay. He tries to play golf at least once a week. He is "giving back" by doing interview preparations with firefighters who want to promote and teaching in the "fire community."

Karen still loves sewing, having made clothes for all 5 of our grandkids, and quilting!  

She also attended a couple of quilt retreats with her quilting buddies, Nancy and Lynn!

We love our times spent with family and the grandkids who are getting big, too fast. 

Gigi is 8, in 3rd grade, played softball and loved being a part of a team! 

Brody & Micah both 5, started kindergarten. They both love learning.

Brody played t-ball for the first time. 

Micah is in public school, doing skateboard tricks and ever active! 

Hallee, now 4, is basically doing kindergarten with Brody, 

goes to a home preschool 1 day a week, and started dance lessons. 

(Nicole continues to homeschool her kids.) 

Seth, now 2, is fearless, still running, talking up a storm, and knows his colors!

2015 included RVing trips to: Spring Training for Baseball in AZ; Julian; 

back to the state of Montana, for a month of camping @Yellowstone & Glacier Parks with good friends, as well as visiting friends who live in Montana; 

Santee Lakes & Pismo Beach; Del Mar Beach on Camp Pendleton, right on the sand! 

Thanksgiving week we camped at San Mateo campground-the inland campground that is part of San Onofre St Beach; it was one of the coldest Thanksgivings we've had, but we enjoyed our time together with family and friends. 

Our family vacation together took us to Laughlin/Lake Mojave, Nevada, for Labor Day weekend. All the grandkids loved riding in the boat (or helping Papa driving the boat!), playing on the big tube in the perfect, private cove we found. 

The big kids did some water sports (wake skating and wakeboarding), too! 

To top it off, Nick won big @ Keno! 

Best trip of 2015, was, by far, our 10 day Tahitian Islands Cruise. We sailed with my sister, Kathy and her fiance, Stan, and we had a fabulous time. Tahiti has the most beautiful teal ocean waters!

My mom, Great Grandma Hope is ever happy these days, albeit forgetful. She has Alzheimers but continues to have a healthy appetite and smiles a lot! She turned 88 on Christmas Day!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with family, friends, adventures and blessings!

Hallee is 4 !

A belated birthday post!

Hallee's birthday was June 7th, 

and I didn't finish my blog post about her special day!

(OOPS! bad me). I've been so busy, I have neglected my blog. Traveling, sewing, quilting and just plain life seems to get in the way. I always have good intentions, and then I fall behind.

Hallee is 4 years old.

When she was born she was so tiny, 

the size of a Cabbage Patch Doll;

she was instantly loved by her big sister and brother;

she's very curious;

she's a girl of many faces;

she's quite a character;

she has many expressions;

but some of her faces aren't so happy;

she's a busy bee, so it can be hard to catch her looking at the camera;

she is adorable;

and she can be such a happy girl;

she can be shy;

she's a risk taker and she loves her "Poppy;"

she's a sweetheart;

and she loves her Yaya, too!

This Yaya is so blessed by her grandkiddos. Just the other day, Hallee said to me, "Yaya, I love seeing you," as she climbed into my lap! Hallee is a heart melter for sure and I love her so much!

Seth Turns 2 !

Our youngest grandson, Seth, aka Sethers, Sethie, Doodle 
turned 2 on June 3rd. 

Once again we find ourselves asking the question, 

"Where has the time gone?"

It seems like only yesterday that

 he was such a chubby, cuddly baby;

 he's expressive;

he's sweet;

he loves his Papas (he has two!);

he loves his yaya (aka yayayayayaya!);

he's inquisitive;

he has no fear (just like his dad, the big kid in the helmet!);

he's happy;

 And, he's adventurous! 

So glad he's ours!! 

He makes everything brighter and happier when he is around!

Micah is 5 !

Happy birthday Micah!

Our grankiddos are growing up so fast. My son's first son is now 5, too!

The memories of how little he was are so clear. 

Here's a look back at his first 5 years!

Papa and Micah at Papa's fire station

Papa and his boys, Micah and Brody

Two crazy cousins

Silly boy!

Like father like son!

We sure love this boy !!

Our Little Gigi is 8

Gianna Brianne, Gigi, is 8 years old! 

WOW! 

It is so hard to believe how the years have definitely 

flown by right before our eyes. 

Wasn't it just yesterday she was our first and only grandchild.

How we love this sweet, adorable, precious girl, 

to the moon and back!

Happy Birthday Brody!!

This sweet, little guy, 

Brody Noah Nicholas Bennett 

is another year older. 

He turned 5 years old, yesterday,

pictured here with his sisters, Hallee (left) and Gigi!

We sure love these "crazies" to the moon and back!