christmas in hawaii

good friends, good times...christmas night party...beach with the kids, surfing...

pool time and spa....drives...great dinners...oh, and rain...but, what's a little rain when you're in the

relaxing mode? we did have a crazy dinner at macky's shrimp truck...the downpour started right as

we got there...they ran out of shrimp so the mollers didn't get any...but, what i had was fantastic...worth all my fantasies while

i was at home :) but, the lightening and thunder was unreal...then movies at our villa...so far...so good...

thoughts from the grandkids

over the weekend i had 3 of my grandchildren visiting....this is what was said:
we were unwrapping  christmas lollipops for my candy jar...and as each one was upwrapped the boys licked each and every one.they said they had to taste everyone to see if they tasted different!..so if you come to my house...stay away from those lollipops!
also...i was calling them 'suckers'...gavin set me straight...jojo...they are lollipops...not suckers!
the boys also helped me put some little lights on the front hill...jojo....put the lights here...not there...they had definite decorating ideas...gavin also was talking about his very 'cool' skinny jeans...he told me that if he had a tuxedo jacket, a black tie, that it would make his jeans look super cool...charlie has found a new place for her paci..she puts it down her shirt...too bad there is nothing there to keep it there! she gets very upset when it falls out...best thing about the kids visit...when owen runs in to my room and climbs in bed every morning...love those hugs and kisses!

to grandma's house we go!

we had a great week...i flew up to slc on monday where willie, kelly and their kids met us...it was a busy few days getting ready for thanksgiving...tuesday we had the storm of the century, that sort of fizzled.....on wednesday we took a break, went out to the moller's to welcome nick home from his mission! what a fun time that was....he looked great...mom, dad, everyone was so happy...a few tears of joy from kerry...thursday was a fun time...then, picked up russ at the airport on the way home.....the fryers, j.p and kit joined our family for a feast...everyone contributed something to the table and it was delicious...we played cards afterwards, ate a bit more...just had a fun time visiting with family and friends...kerry was happy...all her best buddies are back..the kids snowboarded, we went to the movie, saw friends and family..just had a fun time being together....sunday we had the huge storm, finally...drove out to nick's homecoming...got everyone off to the airport...and just like that....it's over! what a great time....

what a zoo!

we had a fun time at the zoo the other day! which ones should be in cages?

an attitude of gratitude

what are the words that make you feel gratitude?
family....kids....grandchildren....friends...joy...smiles....a home....love...beautiful sunsets...happiness....seeing the beauty of the world.... blessings...life itself...being with my loved ones...the gospel...good health...safety...fun...kindness....faith...opportunities...
   'The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.'  Eric Hoffer
   'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' Gandhi

think of the word the fill you with gratitude....and be grateful everyday that you have them in your life!

halloween!

celebrating Halloween in great style!

falling for fall

i had a great long weekend in utah....it was so beautiful...the leaves were just the perfect color...the weather was rainy and cool...and actually snowed yesterday...i had a great time with danece on friday...hanging out and shopping...talking...saturday i went up to kathy's for the big boutique...it was fun to see my sisters, nieces, friends etc...they did a great job and had a successful time...driving up the canyon was so beautiful...sunday, we went back up for a delicious dinner with the fryers and a fun time playing cards...monday i got to hang out with kerry, whit and jason...then had a fun dinner with my brothers and sisters...so, all in all...a nice little get-away!!

broken

my body has a broken thermostat!!!!

and i'm sure you know what i mean!!!

gratitude

i loved pres. monson's talk on gratitude today during conference...made me start thinking how many things i'm grateful for...i have so much in m life...i've had such a wonderful life...so far...i know it will continue...i'm so blessed...my greatest blessing is my family...they are the best thing in my life...it's great to be with my family...they are so talented, smart, fun...i'm very proud of each and everyone of them....and my grandkids are the best ever...i'm sure they are the smartest and cutest kids ever!!! i also have the greatest friends ever...i'm so lucky to have such fantastic people to be my friends...they are my confidants and keep me going when times are tough...i also have wonderful brother, sisters and sisters and brother in laws...neices and nephews...i have just been so blessed...it is wonderful to know that i have so many people on 'my side'...if i wear out one person...i can call on another!  so thanks to all of you for being in my life...love you all...

aunt cammie

a great lady passed away today...tom's aunt cammie...while she was a wonderful mother, sister, daughter, aunt...she was also bonnie blue butler in 'gone with the wind'.she was also the voice of 'faline' in 'bambi'..i'll miss cammie so much...she taught me much over the years...her life wasn't easy...she had many setbacks, but she perservered and went on...she had a wonderful sense of humor...i loved to read her stories that she wrote of her childhood years...she told stories of kissing rhett butler on the cheek...and her many experiences making that great movie...we were all blessed to have her in our lives...love you...

Feels good

In Utah, my garage is a dumping ground...for everyone and everything....you can't imagine what's in it...couches, chairs, tables, bookcase, a kayak, snowboards, baby stuff, my parents old stuff...you get the picture! Today, Kerry, whit and I cleaned it! We can walk in it! It's wonderful. One of those little things that make such a difference! So you better not get it dirty!! I'm talking to you!

party times...

it's the weekend...it's been the weekend for about 8 days now...i've been in utah playing with family and friends...it's been so fun...came up last thursday and met up with cousin mare...we don't get to see each other too often, so it was very fun....friday was a girl's day, danece, alison, larene, kelly, kerry, shannon, kristen and carissa and i went to see the parade of homes, lunch and alot of talk!!!..my kids all arrived on thursday night and friday night...i love it when the whole family is together...it gets pretty wild, crazy and loud, but what fun...the little kids love to play together...it's the greatest..on saturday we got to go to tayler and nathan's wedding...that was a very fun wedding...alot of good friends were there...it's a big reunion..on sunday we got together for a little more  reunion time with good friend, getting everyone together and catching up is alot of fun.....the family left day by day until kerry and i were left alone...pretty quiet...this week has been alot of lunches out, dinners out, moving kerry into her new apartment.(and as a sidebar...little owen broke his arm and elbow after he got home...had to have surgery last night and is home recuperating right now  :(((....)speaking of reunions...tomorrow night is my 35th high school reunion...that should be a great time....a few more day of fun...i still have a birthday party to attend, seeing some more friends...then, home again....

kerry

my beautiful baby is 21!!! how can that be...let me tell you a few things about her...21 to be exact..
1.beautiful
2.loyal
3.friend
4.fun
5.artistic
6.happy
7.adventurous
8.surfer girl
9.traveler
10.fashionista
11.spiritual
12.loves disney
13.auntie
14.sister
15.daughter
16.athletic
17.smart
18.hard worker
19.smiler
20.reader
21.brings the light into my life
love you so much ker...happy day and year!

who's turning the BIG 30?

with his idol...mr. T!

always a great cook

leadimg the way, always

styling!

willie and his 2 best buds....tommy and owen

it's Willie!!! i can't believe he's that old!!! once again, i say, i'm not old enough to have these old kids....willie is a wonderful 30 year old...he has accomplished so much...willie has so many wonderful talents...as you can tell from the pictures...he's always had great style...even as a young boy...he's athletic, smart, handsome, funny...a great husband, a great father and a wonderful son...i am so blessed to have willie in my life...have a wonderful day and a fantastic 30th year!!! love you always

newport beach

the last few days we've had a mini-vaca....russ and i came down to newport beach and kelly, jeff and kids joined us...we've been staying at the beautiful pelican hill resort...we weren't able to go to italy, so this is the closest we could come...the resort and villas are fashioned after beautiful italian villas...they have a gorgeous circular pool which is the largest in the world...at the villa pool, they have a pool that's a quarter the size, but still huge...the kids have been swimming every day...even charlie loves the water...gavin and owen went to the kids club on saturday and loved it...we went to the 'kids' club for adults...the spa...it was fantastic...on friday night we had dinner at the hotel, saturday jeff suggested this fun jamacaiian restaurant...the owner, eva, took great care of us...it was delicious..on sunday night adam and ashley met us and we ate at the grill at the golf course..on monday we had delicious indian food...and topped off the week with 'despicable me'....it's been a fun few days...i could stay here looking at the ocean for alot longer...