Christmas 2013

This was a wonderful Christmas season this year! We got to spend time with all our children and grandchildren. We are so fortunate to have such a great family.

Christmas Cookie making with grandpa.

Puzzling with Linda and Nathaniel

Puzzling with Jacob, Carson, and Torrin

Puzzling with Sadie

The photo on the right is a really odd with Kevin's arm mysteriously in the picture

 Who wouldn't be excited to get a Twinkie maker!

Jacob and Jayson were pretty excited to get a rubber fishing boat (this is just the motor mount)

 Very happy to have Pat here with Kimberly.

The Remferts

The Best-Cravens

The Malones

Nathaniel's Wedding...and the CAKE!

I know. I am REALLY late with this post. Kevin's son Nathaniel married long time girl friend Linda on October 5. I did not get many pictures but got a few. The wedding took place at the Landmark Event Center in DesMoines. It was a beautiful venue and beautiful wedding!

Carson waiting to go bust a move on the dance floor.

I volunteered Ashley and myself to make the cake for the wedding. WOW! That was a lot of work and worry. 

Ashley putting the cake together.

It had lemon curd and fresh raspberries. Yum!

Here are the layers with the crumb coat on and dowels in.

Applying the decorative smashed dot butter cream.

Ta Da! The Cake! It was soooo delicious they ate the whole thing, except the top tier I saved for Nathaniel and Linda.

Celebrating July 4th at Davey's Beach House

This year Kevin and I celebrated the 4th of July at Davey's beach house. The following families were in attendance the hosts Davey and Paula, Quinn, the O'Keefe family Todd, Rosie, Maggie, Lily, the Remfert family Crystal, Jayson, Jacob, and Carson, Todd, Rosie, Maggie, and Lily, the Tavenner family Susan, Frank, David, Michael, Todd's friends Joel and his wife(?), and Davey's friends Jill and Larry.

The weather was just a little cloudy but most importantly it was not wet. I only got a few pictures most of which were of either Davey or Jacob. Jacob and Carson are quite the outdoors boys. Jacob spent the day collecting little crabs and riding in or on the various water vehicles.

Carson's Big Day!

Yesterday Crystal and Jayson Gave Carson a great 3rd birthday party. It was a fireman theme with a firetruck/wagon procession to the fire station then a barbecue / ice cream party. Kevin and I help Crystal make firetruck cutouts to put on the wagons.

We pulled the wagons up the street to the local fire station where the kids got a tour of the the station, fire truck and aid car.

After the fire station the kids had ice cream, hot dogs and a fire fighter obstacle course.

 Jordan's dad let the kids borrow his fire fighter gear for the day.

 Happy Birthday Carson!

Getting Ready For Summer

Summer means lots of days spent out on the patio enjoying the sun and watching the grandkids paddle around in the pool. Our stamped concrete was a little worse for the wear so we decided to paint it. Try to match the color of natural looking stone with paint is challenging. Even though we could not duplicate the look exactly we like what we ended up with. 

The color of the majority of the patio was a light brownish taupe color. The trim was a lighter tan color. The trim came out looking odd and too bright when we painted it so i decided to model the tan color with a little of the main color. It took a while but we like the results. So bring on the sun and fun!

The next project...the deck. New stairs and new stain.

Spring Break In Las Vegas

Kevin and I went to Las Vegas with the girls, Kimberly and Pat for Spring Break this year. Our grand plan was to stay in Las Vegas and drive to the Grand Canyon and or Bryce Canyon to look at the cool rock formations. But, because Torrin got sick mid way through the trip we decided to forgo the long car ride and just hang around Las Vegas. We found plenty to do and the sun was great every day we were there.

The Man Van

The Lazy River at the Condo

You don't see Torrin here but she lived in this pool. She preferred to just float around with not tube.

Jordan liked hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa. This is a late dinner at Planet Hollywood. Jordan wanted some juicy steak.

On the Strip. Kimberly holding Torrin after too much walking.

Awesome Jordan outside the Luxor.

 Easter Sunday.

We had to hide eggs outside the condo for the girls. We actually colored easter eggs to hide.

Tuesday night Torrin threw up all over everywhere. She was sick until Friday. Poor baby. We decided that the 4 hour car ride might not be such a good idea for a sick little girl so we did not go to the Grand Canyon.

Visiting the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

Go Kart racing. Torrin looked like a bobble head.

Hoover Dam

Embarrassing quote from Jordan, "I have never been on a dam tour".

And let's don't forget about golf. Pat, Kevin and I enjoyed the dry warm weather. Pat and I each got in 2 rounds and Kevin managed to play 4 rounds. All very nice courses.

It was a great vacation and we are bummed to be back in this wet soggy cold weather.