Thursday, January 1, 2009

Ringin' in the New Year

We made it back to California just in time to celebrate the New Year with some of our favorite friends!! While on the plane ride home I get a text from my best friend asking what the plans are for New Years...can we say LAST MINUTE?! LOL!!! Just as we landed she calls and we start figuring things out. We decide it will be held here at our house and it'll just be a small get together with some friends. The Johnsons, Hillis', and Schreyer's all joined us here for a some fun and laughter as we ended out 2008. We had some BBQ food, played Wii and ping-pong. Had a few drinks as the kids ran around destroying the house!! It was a fun night, nothing too crazy but lots of laughs!!

Jay and Cindy, Jenny and Brian
A very yummy drink!!
The boys playing football
Missy, Eric, Brian and Tyler
Gangsta Jenny
Caiti playing with Uncle Brian
The boys getting ready to take a shot
Jay, Brian and Tyler
Another New Year together!!
Chizzle and Jelly Mac and PB
Eric and Missy
The Ladies...Missy, Jenny, Christy and Cindy
These boys made it thru Iraq and Afghanistan together!
Jay and Brian aka
Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum!
Jay and Christy
Tyler and Brian (not sure who was more gone!)
Me and two great men!!
Always laughter when we're together!
No silly New Years resolutions this year. Jay never really makes one but I have decided to make my life more dedicated to the Lord and be the person I let go of these past couple of years.

Christmas Vacation

This year we were finally able to take a mini vacation away from 29 Palms as a whole family! The kids and I have taken numerous vacations while Jay was deployed both times but this year we actually had the opportunity to take a family vacation. We decided that for Christmas we'd take a trip to Boynton Beach, Florida to visit Mom and Dad Evans. We took a week to enjoy some of the warm sun in Florida...and boy was it warm!! Typical Florida Christmas!! We really did enjoy ourselves though. The day after we arrived Jay and I headed out to do our Christmas shopping....we were one of the many last minute shoppers this year!!


The day before Christmas we let the kids open one gift each, something we do every year. After they opened their gifts the four of us went out for some fishing. We started out in one spot and attempted to head to another when of course it began to rain. So our day was cut short but we still had fun!




Christmas morning we woke the kids up, who are usually up before us so this was rare. They began opening up their gifts and loved everything they got! It was so much fun watching the both of them get so excited. After we ate some breakfast we took the kids over to the neighborhood park and let them play a bit. The rest of the day we just kind of relaxed and hung around the house, which was nice for a change!!



On Friday we headed out for some SHOPPING!! It was a very long day of shopping but they kept up with me pretty well, haha!

On Saturday we took the kids over to Boomers to have some family fun time!! We started off by playing a round of miniature golf, which Miss Caitlyn whooped us all in!! After that we went in and played some video games and then the kids got to get some prizes. We headed back home because Jay's cousin, Karel, was at the house hoping to see us. Karel was actually our wedding photographer!! Seeing her is always nice. She brought gifts for the kids and even though we only got to see her for about 10 minutes the kids took to her right away...as would anybody! She's very sweet!! Later on that night, Jays best friend Cory came by the house to see us. He brought his son Cory along. It was so nice seeing the both of them. It's been such a long time. Cory is who we named our son after and he also named his son Cory! So all three of them were together which became very confusing, hahaha!! We grilled up some food and just hung out and let the kids play. They got along so well!



On Sunday I had Jay (as well as the kids and Grandma) come to Dillards with me to see the two ball gowns I had picked out. I couldn't decide on one so I needed Jay's opinion. I ended up taking both because we still couldn't decided, ha! After that we headed over to Cory's house to do hang out and do some more fishing. Cory, Cory Allen and I all caught a fish...oh and I caught a turtle!! I felt bad at first until it started hissing and snapping at the guys, lol!! We enjoyed another day with them and Caitlyn and Cory Hayden get along so well...it's so cute watching them play together!



On Monday Jay and I planned on taking the kids to the movies but the movie we wanted to see wasn't playing so instead we took them to the new Chuck E. Cheese that was built near Mom and Dad's house. It was huge and the kids couldn't contain themselves!! They had a blast!!! We had lunch, played games and then Grandma called asking if we'd like to go to the zoo. Of course we would!! So we headed over there. This was probably Caitlyn's favorite part of the whole trip. That little girl loves animals! We cruised around the whole zoo and then went and got souveniers.



Tuesday finally rolled around and it was time to prepare to head home. We had an evening flight so we had the day to just kind of relax. We went and had breakfast and then back to Mom and Dad's house so the kids could play while we scanned the house to make sure we got everything. After we were done we let them play at the park for a little bit until it was time to go. We then got in the car and headed to the airport. Caitlyn had a hard time leaving Grandma and Papa but she understands we'll see them again. Our children have learned that saying goodbye to someone doesn't always mean it's forever. It's something they do so often that they have become very strong in that aspect! We got on the plane and finally made it home safe!!



Thank you so much Mom and Dad for letting us come! We enjoyed our time and can't wait to come visit again!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Day 2 in the Snow

We woke up this morning and it was amazing outside. The kids and I ate breakfast, got our warm clothes on and headed outside for some more fun in the snow...before it all melted away! I took them and two of their friends across the street to the big open field where none of the snow had been touched. It was wide open spaces for them to run around. Suzi came too and had a blast!! With the sun beating down on us it did get a little warm which prompted the kids to remove a layer, haha! It was fun just watching them play.


The girls chasing Suzi in the snow!
Gage and Cory
Brooklyn and Caitlyn

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Is That Snow?!

Yes, it is!!! Here in 29 Palms we got actual snow. I could not believe it today when I was getting in Jenny's car as we got ready to head out on a "snow hunt". We thought we were going to have to drive all the way to Yucca Valley to let the kids play in some snow. I walked out of my garage and said "is that snow?" Yes, I did get laughed at!! LOL!! True Cali girls don't know snow when they see it!! Within a matter of about 30 minutes the base was covered and it was just getting thicker by the minute. It began around 10am this morning and as I sit here typing this blog at 4:30pm....it is still coming down!! It is absolutely breathtaking outside. I would sit out all day if I could!! The kids loved it, Suzi loved it...only if Jay were off to enjoy it as well! He's been stuck at work all day. Hopefully he can experience it before it melts, LOL!! It may never rain in Southern California but it sure can snow when it wants!!!

Me and Jenny loving it!!
Cory playing in the snow
Me and the kids
Caitlyn and her snowball!!
Briana absolutely loved the snow!!
Cory making a snow angel
Briana attempting to do one too!!
And Caiti doing hers!
We rolled up this big snowball
Matthew and his snowman
Our house as we drove up....
it was nothing like this when we left!
Playing on the slide
Our backyard area
Suzi was enjoying it!
Cory sledding down the hill
Jenn!!
Even elephants enjoy some time in the snow!!
The view...typically I can see all the
way across the field to
The Johnson house but not today!!
Me by the drooping tree
The Schreyer Family built a snowman!
Sliding down the driveway on a boogie board!
Now coming down the hill behind our house!
I think this was my favorite day here in 29 Palms (well, besides the days Jay returned home). I love the snow and I can't wait until we are living in Virginia and we know to expect it and have it for a while, not just a day!!