Family Pictures

For Christmas, my kids gave us a photo setting for family pictures.  I've wanted new ones forever, so this was a fabulous gift.  We went on a beautiful sunny day, just after a snow storm. Backgrounds are great, but it was 26 degrees outside and that was far too cold for the babies to be happy. 

I love the pictures and the gift.  Thanks everyone.

Yum

After many desperate requests, (and hungry husbands) we had another cooking day. Thanks to Suz for all her hours of work to prep for our day. Thanks to John for having crazy ladies messing up his house and invading his space. Suz's house is ideal because she has 2 kitchens, so we cook upstairs and downstairs. Some of the girls also exchanged cookie dough. Mykelle helped bring Katie garlic, now if she really knew what that was.

The basement kitchen.

Yum - bagels.

Katie does MyKelle's hair in the cutest styles, but this heart shape is one of my favorites.

We got the kids a Jeep for Christmas. The snow finally melted off the driveway, so we took it outside and let the kids drive it. Gage holds the steering wheel in one place and just drives around in a circle.

Mykelle Likes to try to run over you. The entire time, she has this little devious laugh. They love to try it and I can't wait until it's warmer so we can spend more time with them outdoors. I hate January.

Happy Birthday to Keith

Keith's Birthday is January 2nd, possibly one of the worse days ever. Just when you think the holidays and celebrating is over, you have to celebrate one more time. Poor Keith, I always am too tired to do much. However, this year the Utes have the opportunity to give him his best Birthday present ever, a win in the Sugar Bowl.

I'm not smart enough to think of 54 things about Keith, so lets settle for 10.

1. He loves to ride his motorcycle, so much so, he was sure I would enjoy riding with him. A year ago he came home with a motorcycle for me. I rode it once, 40 feet, and laid it down on top of me. Jeremy enjoys riding it now.

2. He loves his Utah Utes. Don't mess with him on game day. Mild mannered Keith becomes some kind of possessed animal. He will watch a Utah football game 10 -20 times. I keep telling him I know the outcome, but he loves to study the plays. I think he know the games better than the coach.

3. Keith loves to drive a new car, preferably red. I can't tell you the number of times he just comes home with a new car. My friends can't believe I "let him" do that. Keith does what he wants, really he does.

4. He is dedicated to his church calling, spending hours and days doing things others would not. I admire his commitment and compassion.

5. He loves to go on vacation with his family, always has. We worked our way up from a tent, to a black van, to a borrowed tent trailer, to a borrowed big trailer, to 2 different motor homes. We played with our kids a lot when they were young. It was a blessing to our family to be able to travel together. Our kids learned how to be friends and play with each other (not always nicely). Now we prefer Worldmark or the Marriott. Thanks Kelli and Natalie.

6. He doesn't want anyone else on his tractor. It bugs him that I drive the tractor to mow the lawn while he trims with the push mower. He is very particular about how the lawn is mowed. Doesn't worry about weeds though, that's my problem.

7.He loves all new electronic gadgets. He doesn't always use them , but we have them. For instance, we have 3 Garmin's. (We have 2 cars, but 1 is for hiking.) Big screen TVs are his thing. Just waiting for one as big as his parents, but we do have the projector that fills a wall.

8. He has the best sense of humor and loves to laugh, out loud and loud. He is fun to be with and people gravitate to him. Kindness is his trademark. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

9. He is a patient, loving, caring and kind husband. Highlight and underline patient. He's lived with me for 32 years, he's had to be. He is my rock and my life long love.

10. No better Grandpa on the planet. His grandchildren are his joy and they love him. I am awed by his care for them. Sorry kids, but he's better with them than he was with you. We learn as we age.

Now for tonight's activities.
Because we will be watching the game on his Birthday, we went to his favorite place to eat tonight, Joe's Crab Shack.
I do love Coconut Shrimp,but my favorite part was being with my kids and Grandbabies. They are the cutest kiddos ever.

Keith treated himself to a bucket of Dungenous Crab. Oh, happy boy.

After eating, we ending up playing Wii, a common activity of everyone this time of year.

Keith just can't quite figure out how to play the NCAA football game. Good news though, the Utes won.

The Grandbabies had fun playing with the "shooters." Fun night. Thanks kids.

Let's be FRANK!!

Tis the season for , "FRANK!" Code word for Santa Claus.  

Keith's oldest brother had a Santa outfit and for years was Santa at the Gines family Christmas party.  Well, he got tired of it and so Keith would borrow his suit and play the part.  About 3 years ago, Keith bought his own, new and improved Santa suit.  Since then, December has been filled with Santa sightings. We do family parties and ward parties and every year we do more. (I say we, because I am Santa's helper/dresser.  No, I do not dress up.) This year we  added Adam's and Kelli's wards. More people are finding out and asking Keith to join their party.  Today, for the 2nd year, he was Santa at Walgrens in Clinton where Darin works.  He had lines of people waiting today and had a fun time.  The only drawback is that Santa, well, sweats under the large amount of clothing that he wears. YUCK,

One of the most fun things we have done is to randomly show up Christmas Eve at homes with little kids in our ward.  Now, that's a shocker, but they love it.

He's a fun Santa, but now I worry about the grandkids recognizing his voice.  He tries to change it to fool them.  5 gigs down and 5 to go.

HAPPY 30TH ADAM

Heaven forbid, my oldest child is 30 years old today.  Adam is an amazing son.  He doesn't realize what an important part of my life he is. I depend on him for so many things. 

I knew from the time I was 4 months pregnant that I would have a son, (that's before ultrasound.) We were both so excited. Keith even bought Adam a train set when he was 1 month old. Sweetest baby ever and so loved.

Adam talked early.  At the age of 2 and 1 month he memorized an 8 line Christmas poem ( The first 4 lines were 'R is for reindeer a truly fine creature whose (something, something) at Christmas we feature.' I can't remember the rest.) I thought that was normal.   I use to bribe him to be quiet for 5 minutes.  To this day, when Adam talks to you, you must give him your full attention.

Adam loved to play with He-Man, transformers, legos, anything that used a great amount of imagination.  Best of all, he didn't require me to play with me, he entertained himself for hours.

Adam has always been a voice for the underdog.  He has a heart as big as gold and would do anything for anyone.  For many years, even before he was married, he has done sub for Santa for families without telling anyone.

Adam has always loved, LOVED computers, staring with the Commodore 64. He would work in the yard for hours with the promise of a new game.

His first video game system he bought was the Sega Genesis.  He had to sell things at a yard sale to earn the money to buy a used one.  Since that time, I think he has bought every system as it comes available.  And CD's - don't get me started, hundreds and hundreds of them.

Adam found his true love with Jess.  When they got married, I told her, he was her problem now. We love his choice of a mate.

Adam is passionate about many things, right now, it's his Utes and his video arcade that he is making. 

His dream of going to a pro football game came true in October when the girls in the family took the boys to a 49ers game.
Adam loves kids and is the best uncle around.  He will be a tender, kind, and loving father some day.

Adam has a sense of humor that entertains us for hours.  He's smart and witty and just plain fun to be around. He and Travis are their Dad's best friend. 
30 years. WOW!  I am truly blessed to be a part of your life.  You are destined for great things.  You don't know the potential you have for good and achievement.  

I love you Adam.

Southern California Fun

The Gines' always make an annual football trip.  We either go to Las Vegas or San Diego.  This year we went to San Diego.  Keith and I, Adam and Jess, Travis, Natalie and Addison, and Kelli and Jeremy (who celebrated their 1 year anniversary) went.We got cheap flights on JetBlue and were gone for 6 days.  Six wonderful, sunny, warm, happy days.Addison was a fabulous baby. She is so sweet and even tempered, even when she is sick.  She talks and smiles and is an absolute doll.
It was so warm - 88 degrees - we went to the beach and the boys had a great time body surfing. They had so much fun, we bought boogy boards and went back the next day.  That was great fun.  That is until Trav couldn't find the keys to the rental car.  You know, they just don't stay in you swim suit pockets when you're taking on the big waves of the ocean.  

We were able to stay in the Marriott Vacation Club in Newport Beach. (Thanks Kelli!)  This is the view from our balcony. Yes that's the ocean you see. We were well taken care of and the resort is beautiful. 
The boys and Kelli went to the football game.  They took baby Addi with them. (Can you say blowout?)  Natalie, Jessica and I went to Hollywood to see "Wicked." This is my all time favorite musical.  It was stressful getting there - way to much traffic.  Fortunately, Keith had bought a Garmin and we found the place just fine.  The play, however, was fabulously wicked. 
I talked the kids into going to Universal Studios.  Things have changed since the last time I was there and the Mummy ride is an absolute kick.  It was smokey from the fires, but what a great time of year to go, warm weather and NO CROWDS.  You get right on the rides and can go as many times as you choose.
This is the sunset from Universal.  Gorgeous isn't it.
Disneyland was great, no lines no waiting.  I've never been there when it was like this.  We went on everything we wanted to in both parks as many times as we wanted.  The only bummer was that Natalie had the flu.  She tried so hard to enjoy the day, but just felt too awful.  I felt so bad for her.  Travis was a sweetheart and took to the hotel and stayed with her.  Sometimes the kid surprises me.  This is Addison's first ride, "Pirates of the Caribbean."  She loved it.  (Sorry, I don't know how to turn the picture.)
My favorite ride is the Tower of Terror.  Keith hates it and opted out after the first 2 rides. See us all on the front row. LOVE IT!
I don't know whose great idea it was to go on Splash Mountain after dark, but hey, no line.  So we went --- 3 times! Each time changing positions in the canoe.  I have never seen so much water splash up on the side of the ride - and on us.  We laughed so hard, but boy were we wet when we got done. Jeremy is taking the picture and he is wetter than all of us.  Yes, that's wet, not just dark jeans.
It was a terrific trip, now if we just didn't have to come back to real life and go to work. Booo! 

I love going in vacations with my family.  We have so many great memories and really do enjoy  each other's company.  Thanks all for a fab trip.

Happy 26th Katie

Today my daughter turns 26 years old.  

We were so excited when she was born.  We had 2 sons and were so excited to have a girl.  I went crazy and bought EVERYTHING pink.  She wore so much pink that at the age of 3 or 4, she said to me, "Mommy, no more pink!"  She has loved purple every since.  She was gifted and talented as a child, doing things ahead of expected time. Some of my favorite things she said:  Her Papa was tending and he was reading the newspaper, not really paying a whole lot of attention to the chatty 3 year old.  Finally, she pulled down his paper and scolded him with, "Fine, you not talk to me, I go to Bed!"  One day after primary, I asked her how class  had gone.  She told me, "Sunbeams fart."  I guess one kid had a problem in class and that's how she understood her teacher's explanation.  

Katie has overcome trials and hard times.  She has learned and grown from her experiences in life. Heavenly Father has watched over and protected her and led her where she needed to be.

Katie has always been everyone's princess. To this day her Papa still thinks of her has his special princess.  She is kind, thoughtful, loving, silly, (and to the amazement of her brothers) funny, talented, creative, and my best friend (along with her sister).

She loves sleep, loooong showers, soap operas, TV and movies, the Olive Garden, crafting, reading, her family and her husband and wonderful children.

Katie is an awesome Mom.  She has always loved children and is much more patient and kind than I ever was. She is a tender, understanding, giving wife.

I love her and am so glad she is a part of my world.  I am better because I know her.  I feel blessed with the priviledge of being her Mom and watching her learn and grow. 

Happy Day my sweet daughter.