Today our oldest turns 30! Birthdays are time to celebrate and also a time to reminisce (which is better than dwelling on the fact that I’m old enough to have a 30 year old).

Of course, this song brought tears to my eyes today, just as it did on her wedding day.

Kendyll, We love you so much and are so proud of the little girl you were and the woman you’ve become! We thank you for all the smiles, tears and tennis! You were adorable in your “board-shorts and high-ups.”  We loved your red glasses and you telling us about “singing to the ward.” You were always a tough little girl, keeping up with and often beating the boys at basketball, tennis and of course, some mean roller hockey! We love that you went to Westmont and made some of the best girl friends a girl could ask for. We even love that you decided to stay in SB for “just one summer” and met the man of your dreams! We love watching you being a mom to our precious little grand-babies. It goes without saying how much we love them! I’m sorry you had to spend your birthday morning with a sick little girl, I wish I were there to hold her and give you a hug! We love you!!  OXOX, Mom & Dad

In the last few days my husband and I have watched four movies by SHERWOOD PICTURES. We re-watched Fireproof, along with watching Flywheel, Courageous and Facing the Giants. These are all Christian based movies produced on a low budget (which may or may not be noticeable in the quality). These movies are definitely “feel good” movies with powerful messages. I highly encourage everyone (especially young parents) to watch these movies.

We also attended a farewell event for Kim Clary, founder of THE CORE. The Core is a youth group of sorts for our Eastside surfing youths. It’s been a place where they can hang out, attend events and get to know the love of God in a non-religious setting. To quote Kim, “Kids come to love Christ because they see Him modeled in the life of someone they respect. Someone who takes the time to go into their world and build a relationship with them. Through time and an intimate friendship, the love of Christ shines through in a very real and contagious way. Matthew 5:16 says – In the same way, let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Complete Awesomeness!!

Upon Kim’s retirement from the Core, HOPE CHURCH will now be leading weekly events for the Eastside “Groms.” Many thanks to Hope Church and Danny Bennet for continuing to share God’s love. Isn’t this a perfect mission statement, “Santa Cruz Hope is a new church with chill style, real faith and no perfect people allowed. We promise to love you as is!” I love it!

I’ve seen this posted on a few other blogs (I don’t know who started it) and it seemed more meaningful to me. And maybe, just maybe, I will embrace it more than I’ve embraced a resolution.

Choose one (yes, just one) word that you would like to have as your “word-theme” for the year. I saw this idea last night as I was lying in bed, blog browsing. I came up with my word and this morning I still thought this word would/could encompass my theme for this year.

Drum roll please…………..

I hope plan to be content in everything I have and do!

Now isn’t that better than a resolution?

I hope you’ll all take a moment to think about it and share with me your “word-theme” for 2012.

Blessings,

Renee

At 2 1/2, B skied!

While skiing is a part of their life, they weren’t quite sure how he’d do this year. He’s all boy, but still has his “cautious” moments, preferring to just play it safe. “No, I fine,” would be his response if he didn’t want to go. But instead, every morning he’d wake up and say, “me ski with my daddy.” He didn’t even mind all the gear and actually thought that the helmet and goggles were pretty cool!

I was amazed the difference in just the two days. The first day he was still fairly cautious and was still being held onto. If his daddy let go, a bit of panic would set in if he started going a bit too fast. But, the following day, he rode the “magic carpet” up the hill and proudly announced, “I do it myself!” And he did!

I love seeing these pics where B’s daddy is now running to keep up!

A very proud and patient daddy with his little boy!

One cool skiing dude! Melt my heart!

We rung in the New Year with great friends. We ate, laughed, played games and sipped Champagne till midnight!

I did a quick trip to Sun Valley, Idaho, spending a few days at my son-in-laws parents snow house. It is such a quaint little town and even though there isn’t much snow this year, the mountain views from their home are GORGEOUS. I just adore my daughter’s mother-in-law and always love spending time with her. The highlight of the trip was definitely getting to see Beckett on skis!

Back at home it was time to take down Christmas.

I got a cold

I’m glad to share that over the holidays I’ve been able to maintain my weight loss. I’ve recently gotten rid of all my “fat” pants and just bought a pair of jeans in a size 8. I honestly think they run a little big, but I’m comfortably wearing a 10 and I haven’t done that in years (and years and years). I still hope to lose another 10 pounds.

I’ve been busy busy busy trying to organize and clean my house. I feel overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” we have. I guess that’s what happens when you raise your family and truly live and enjoy life in your home. I’ve sorted, organized and cleaned, not to mention a couple of runs to Goodwill and tossing out (too many to count) trash bags. I hope by posting this here and on FaceBook that I’ve encouraged a few of you to do the same.

This week I’ve been living by the motto………if in doubt, toss it out. I hope you’ll do the same.

And because a post isn’t a post without a photo, here’s the Sun Valley Barn (taken at dusk).

On the drive home (from SB to SC), my mind was going a mile a minute thinking of all I now had to do to get ready for Christmas. December is always a busy month and this one was gong to be no exception. Besides my “to-do” list of shopping, decorating and entertaining, I was busy thinking of my blog and “my twelve days of Christmas” blog idea.

It was still November, and besides a quick trip back to SB, a scheduled dinner party at our home and the usual get ready for Christmas routine, the calendar looked good. I was ultra productive the first week of December. I got caught up from being gone (mail sorting, bill paying, unpacking, laundry), transformed my home into Christmas and did a little shopping. Not bad. Tomorrow (Dec. 7) I’d head down to SB to be on Nana duty for a few days.

I loaded the car with bittersweet feelings that morning. I’m always excited for grand-baby time, but I was leaving on my husband’s birthday and he wasn’t coming with me. I wrote out his card, leaving it where I knew he’d see it (by the coffee pot) and got on the road. I usually don’t mind the 4+ hour car drive but today felt a little different. Maybe it was because it was his birthday or maybe I just had too much on my mind, but I was in a funk of a mood. Four hours in the car alone gives you a lot of time to think, and my mind was non stop. What gifts did I still need to shop for? What would I serve at our dinner party? Could we squeeze in one more dinner party to celebrate Christmas with our friends? When would I make Rocky Road and mail out our cards? And, I needed 12 ideas for my “twelve days of Christmas” blog posts. About an hour into the drive my husband calls. He tells me he has good news and bad news. I take the good news first. My nephew and his wife gave birth to their second daughter. A tiny little one and three weeks early, but perfectly healthy! Happy Birthday Adelia Grace! And the bad news….his Dad was not doing well. He’s been in failing health for some time, but it was looking inevitable that the end was near. Little did we know that the end would be within hours. Talking about an emotional roller coaster. One minute I’m thinking about spending time with my grand-babies or getting the meet baby Adelia and the next minute I’m swelling up with tears of sadness. I really just wanted to be with Ken, on his birthday, on the day his father passed away.

I spend the next three days in SB. I’m on Nana duty. Between phone calls and updates from Ken, I get all the baby snuggles I can, play with trucks & trains, make jars of holiday Chex mix, decorate a gingerbread house with B and take the final photo for my Christmas card.

I return home on Saturday evening, 12/10. My next few days are filled with a whole lot of prep for Wednesday nights party, making final arrangements for Papa’s funeral and preparing for the family to come home for an additional weekend. We offer to host the post-funeral family dinner at our home. Needless to say, this week was a whirlwind of shopping, cooking and cleaning.

Wednesday’s dinner party (Ken’s office party for 18) went off without a hitch. Fortunately I hired a kitchen helper (you’re amazing Erin!) and ordered a cake for dessert. I felt the need to top last years fondue party and I think I did it. I decided on a “grazing” style menu of heavy hor’d vourves. My tabled appetizers consisted of individual crab & shrimp cocktails, stuffed mushrooms, mini caramelized pear & gorgonzola pizzas, preschutto wrapped asparagus w/balsamic glaze, asian salad endive cups, and mini polenta cups w/italian sausage. In addition, we “passed” four signature appetizers throughout the evening: tomato soup shooters w/gruyere & caramelized onion mini grilled cheese sandwiches, individual ramekins of homemade mac & cheese, butternut squash w/ browned butter & sage, and ahi tuna sliders w/lemon aioli. Kristin of Sassy Cakes provided me with the most beautiful and delicious cake for dessert (salted carmel swirl). The champagne flowed as we toasted and honored our employees and celebrated winning another Brass Ring award.

Thursday, I clean, grocery shop, cook for Fridays family dinner and prepare for the family  to start arriving for the weekend.

Friday is Papa’s funeral. It was a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Late afternoon (after the service and reception), family starts arriving to our house. Have I ever mentioned that Ken is from a big family? I served chili, cornbread & salad to approximately 60 (immediate family members). Memories were shared, tears were shed and hugs were given. We’ll miss you Papa, but know that you are now with Grandma fishing along the river banks in heaven.

And then it hits……..THE FUNERAL FLU! One by one, about half the family (and a few others) came down with the stomach flu. I really did not have time to get sick (after all, I’ve just spent the past week cooking and cleaning and Christmas is a week away). I’m yet another victim, I got it. I went to bed feeling fine on Sat. evening and didn’t get back up until Monday morning.

YIKES, it’s now the 19th and I’m nowhere ready for Christmas. But, I’m the mom and I will not let my family down. I have 3 days before my family starts arriving home (again) for Christmas. I made my list, checked it twice and shopped and wrapped till I dropped. We managed to get our 250 Christmas cards in the mail, I made Rocky Road and once again grocery shopped.

This year it was truly a miracle to get it all done, but by the time our family all arrived home, I was ready for Christmas. Time to enjoy some time with my family and celebrate the true meaning of CHRISTmas!

Today is New Yea’s Eve and I’m writing this on a plane. We’re on our way home from Miami where my hubby and I spent a couple of days doing a whole lot of nothing. Thanks honey, for whisking me away for a few days of R&R, you know I needed it.

*****

We’ll ring in the New Year with some good friends, then in the morning I fly out to Sun Valley for a couple of snow days.

*****

My Christmas decorations? Still up. Maybe I’ll take them down next week.

*****

My “twelve days of Christmas” blog idea? Well, there’s always next year.

*****

Merry Christmas from My Family to Yours and may you be Blessed with a Happy and Healthy 2012.

Hopefully life will slow down a bit in 2012, but even if it doesn’t, I plan to hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

*The slideshow can often be a little slow to load, give it a couple minutes.

And this is why my heart is smiling today:

“Hey Renee,

I just wanted to write and tell you that your “Lose It!” blog entry really inspired me. I had gotten a bit lazy when it came to my health and fitness and was pretty down on myself for letting fatty foods and a sedentary lifestyle get the best of me. I have gotten back into it and the Lose It! app makes staying on track so much easier, I’ve really never felt better. I’m already down 15lbs and counting. I know your friends and loved ones tell you all the time, but your blog is truly great and a real inspiration. You are looking amazing, congratulations to you and Ken for getting back on track and thank you for sharing your story.”

I just love the “circle” of this post topic. I was the inspiration that someone needed to get back on the health track and in the few minutes it took her to message me, she inspired me to keep doing what I’m doing. I guess we all need to remember that kind words go a long way. Use them!

I guess I was feeling a bit sassy, or just couldn’t resist the perfect light and location, so I set up the shot and handed my camera off to my husband to shoot a few shots of me. Two things I never do: let Ken handle my camera or be in the photo! Yep, I was certainly feeling sassy!

For those of you who’ve never seen me, since my blog seems to be absent of a profile pic, I’d like to introduce me to you!

I have to tell you, I’m still chuckling to myself, I posted a new profile pic on FB and my sister commented on it and said, “Damn, you got the long legs in the family!!!” I don’t know why I find it funny, I just do. And for what it’s worth, it’s true. I’m 5’10″ and have inches on both my sisters. I also love the fact that in the morning I had no idea I’d be in a few photos, so I dressed for a regular day. This is me on a typical day, jeans & a sweater, boots & a scarf, and my sunglasses are holding my hair back.

So there you have it, it’s very nice to meet you!

And, since I cannot tell a lie, I’m confessing that we didn’t pick our apples, rather we went into their store and purchased them. Same difference, right?

So many options for bags and bags of apples……….stay tuned!