Our Christmas 2009...

Off we went to Austin TX, to be with our son and his family... In one of our silly moods, with our grandkids taking the picture!

This was one of Paiges' first sentences! We love visiting new states, new places to see, new foods to the area! (Texas BBQ! YUM!) We had fun along the journey to Austin!

Todd and Laura's home is beautiful! We hadn't visited since their new move.. here Paige and Luke in front of the tree.

Christmas morning! Luke in his new helmut to go with his new cycle...fun!

Like father, like son...Star wars..............!

Paige modeling some her new digs!

Todd loves the movie " Rudy" we all do.. watched it one evening.

Our kids are good to us.. evening at a resort.

Laura trying out her "thing-e-ma-jobit!" for keeping track of her running, all kinds of good stuff it could do!

Outside of their new home....

Pete in the fam. room...

Todd making us breakfast...

Todd re-modeled his staircase, very creative!

The kids in the formal dining room.

I enjoyed this day with Luke, he dropped his little cycle for awhile while he and I went for a ride in the neighborhood, he showed me his school and other country roads outside of Austin where they live.. we also laid on the trampoline in the backyard, watching different shapes of the clouds ,looking at the birds with Todd's binoculars... it was a beautiful, memorable day for me to have some one on one with my grandson, Luke!

That same day, Pete and Todd built a gate for their fence.........they also looked like they were having some fun. ("Work" can become fun in our family our kids know what we mean?)

This was a fun time at the "Salt Lick" Austin is known for this BBQ place... it was sooooooooooo good.

Meanwhile we had about a 20 min wait,, good time to take pictures! Our darling Texas kids!

Our group!

We sure loved this precious time with these cute kids! They are growing up and away too fast!

Our good looking Texas cuties!

We decided on our way home, to stop by Show Low to visit our daughter and her 2 little ones. (Vinnie and Caden were on a hunt in Tx!) It was really cold there, but we sure enjoyed our time with them! The kids were given balloons at the restaurant we all went to..they sure enjoyed the silly things!

New towels for Christmas! Are they not just darling in them? Warming up by the fire.

Carder loved to put Kam's hat on and play with his gun...

Kamrielle entertained me dancing and singing to her rock out cd! Aunt Marcy made the cd for her ... she is quite the dancer and singer!!!!

We sooooooooo enjoyed the time with the kids and grandkids this Christmas! Now home and back to the usual... it's all good!

Some Turkey and some Mistletoe, help to make the Season Bright...

I recently went to Show Low to see my grandkids Christmas concerts and these are a few pics I took! Linden School puts on a fabulous, (I call it) Christmas pageant! The kindergartens were first. Here is so cute Kamrielle as the "mistletoe"! Loved it!

She was a little shy but not when came to saying her part! She was loud and distinct! Her "sparkly dress" look exceptional!

I also saw the next night Caden's band concert! Fantastic!!!! I was a very pleased grandma!

Our adorable Kamrielle! You made the cutest mistletoe ever!!!!!!!!

I took this in her new little snow hat! She really liked it, the other granddaughters got one as well, Paige I'm bringing yours to you this week...Yippee! Texas, here we come..................!

NO Turkey this weekend...

Even though it was Thanksgiving weekend! We had celebrated with turkey and the trimmings 2 weeks ago when Todd was visiting. LoraLeigh and her 2 small ones came to visit as Vinnie and Caden were hunting.. We were thrilled to have them. We found not too many restaurants open on Thanksgiving which surprised me..but found a delicious meal at Mimi's cafe..yum! I love this cute picture of Carder!

LoraLeigh and I took them to the park that afternoon... here they are and as they could see the park in their sight..they began running and still holding hands..cute. I had fun fixing Kam's hair like I used to do her mother's hair... she called it "princess hair".

Carder loved this horse and always went back to it..He found the slide at the end and I counted, he went 13 times in a row going down the slide!

Kamrielle wanted me to take a picture of her buried feet!

Together they came down! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Our pretty little Kamrielle...

Tis the reason for the season...off we went to see the lights at the temple.

Not a great picture of the kids..but such pretty lights!

Kam in front of the camels...

I know it's supposed to be Winter..but it doesn't feel as though it is..flowers and all???! Cute small Carder.

So glad our daughter and her kids came... it made a wonderful 2nd Thanksgiving!

THANKSGIVING 2009

http://www.lds.org/topic/gratitude/

LOTS OF REASONS TO BE THANKFUL THIS WEEK AND ALWAYS! Most of my blessings are seen in the family picture above! Love to all my sweet family immediate and extended!!!

Todd and Luke come for a visit!

Its been along time since we have had Todd in town for his birthday! So I decided to have a surprise for him when he arrived! I think he was pleasantly surprised! Too many candles to put on so I put 3 for his 3 kids! WE were so thrilled he and Luke could come... Paige and Laura were missed.

Todd is one of kind ...he has such a great, loving, giving personality! I love his smile!

This was the thrill of my life to give him back his star wars sheet I had saved all these years! I made it into a quilt for him! He seemed thrilled to get it! He still loves star wars and even named his son "Luke"!

Where did the years go? Seemed the other day you were 8 and making your bed with those sheets.

Very proud parents of our grown son.

I told a few about the evening and look who stopped by? Todd's very favorite cousin, Reed. These two have a few stories together!!!!

Todd with Reed, Jen, Aunt Irva and Uncle Fred....

The next day we all went to the park to let the kids play. We sure had a nice time...Todd with his kids, Savannah and Luke, oh and his favorite mom.

Of course we were lucky to get adjustments from our favorite chiropractor!

While he was here in November, we decided to have our families Thanksgiving together! Here are some of the kids at their table...

and some of the adults...we had Grandma and Grandpa Ries as well!

Four of our beautiful children! ok, "handsome" guys!

Show Low is in the play-offs, so off to Gilbert we went to see them WIN their game! Todd with one of his best buddies, Will.

I was trying to get my grandchildren in the foreground..not too clear. But the gold and green is pretty clear!

A little tired from a very busy time, but excited to be with our kids and grandkids!

Silly grandkids!

Our last evening together before Todd went home...good times and wonderful memories to hang onto.