"Explorer Spirit…Servant Heart…"
Dec 21st, 2010 by leigharev2
After the G– Gene Pool Party, I drove across town to visit with my in-laws, Fabio and Esperanza. It was Esperanza’s birthday the day before and in the second picture, she’s modeling the new lunch bag we gave her. We had a nice dinner and some good conversation before I headed for my mom’s place.
Dec 21st, 2010 by leigharev2
Entering the house after a morning run, I was greeted by my husband and his computer. He told me that there was an incredibly low price for air on Southwest ($50 each way) to Seattle and suggested I carve out a few days to go up and spend time with family and friends. Wow, that’s an arm twister! I found time and headed to Seattle on an early Sunday flight.
There were only 23 people on the flight from SMF to SEA. And guess what number I was? 23! I may have had the last choice of seats, but, hey, no complaining here!
It was stormy, stormy, stormy, on arrival, and after driving I-5 and getting completely submerged after large cars drove past my little rental compact and kicked up water, I began thinking maybe I should have taken that optional car insurance on the rental! There was a time when I was literally without vision for around three seconds due to the water on the windshield, while driving 60! I definitely have a new awareness of small cars as I drive by them in rainy weather now.
First stop…the G– gene pool Christmas party (my Dad’s side of the family). My cousin was heading to Texas for Christmas, so everyone decided to have a very early Christmas and it worked out that I’d be there! My aunt and uncle hosted it and everyone made it, except for my poor cousin, Robyn, and her beloved, Dan, who unfortunately had to suffer on a Caribbean cruise.
My beautiful nieces and their great-grandpa (my grandpa)
My awesome brother, Devin, and niece ‘P’..
My cousin, Terry, and Uncle Bob…
My 2nd cousin ‘H’, niece KK, and friend, ‘J’…
Sweet 2nd cousin’G’ (I think that’s right…my cousin’s child. Correct me if I’m wrong…)
My lovely auntie DeeDee…
Dev and Grandpa…
At the dinner table…
The Norwegian side of my family… 🙂
Tanya (Dev’s girlfriend) and me…
My Dad and Stepmom, Julee..
‘H’, showing off his new Transformer…
Silly Girls…
Sweet girls…
‘P and ‘G’. It was special having (almost) everyone under one roof!
Dec 10th, 2010 by leigharev2
Last night, around 8pm, we were gathered around the TV, watching an old 70s series called, “Alias Smith and Jones”. David heard extremely loud music coming from outside. We went to the door and discovered Santa on top of the Rocklin Fire Department fire engine! They were slowly working their way through the neighborhood, handing out candy canes. The boys were beside themselves with excitement!!
Dec 10th, 2010 by leigharev2
The boys and I are volunteering for six hours (3×2 hour shifts) to ring the Salvation Army bell in front of Fry’s Electronics on Roseville.
In case you did not already guess, our little ‘A’ is a serious ham. When he has the bell, he’s singing and dancing, and ‘Merry Christmas-ing” everyone in three languages1 (English, Spanish, and French).
They both are having a good time and I think that little kids can rack up some good donations, more than the adults. Who can say ‘no’ to these precious little faces?
Of course, we can’t pass up the opportunity for a photo op with the train crashing through the store…
Dec 10th, 2010 by leigharev2
In November, I won a Thanksgiving flower arrangement in a wonderful Longaberger basket. As the flowers started to die off, I supplemented them with a grocery store bouquet. We were able to have a lovely tabletop bouquet through the month of November.
I decided to try to recreate another full arrangement for Christmas. I think it turned out nice.
Dec 10th, 2010 by leigharev2
While Daddy’s away, the boys will…BAKE! David was away on a business day trip. We decided to have a “merryChrismasmassivemonstercookiebake” and baked away for about eight hours!
The four of us each picked three recipes out of this cookbook. Of the 12, we ended up making 9…
The ingredients were placed in our island…
#1 Gingerbread People
#2 Rocky Road Bars
#3 Oatmeal Brownie Gems
#4 Cinnamony Apple Streusal Bars
#5 Triple Layer Peanut Butter Bars (No individual picture, but it is in the group photo)
#6 Gingersnaps
#7 Kolacky
They are supposed to look like this. (The boys call them tri-fighters…)
They turned out like this…
#8 Macaroons
#9 Welsh Tea Cakes
The grand finale!
Dec 10th, 2010 by leigharev2
This is the gift I woke to on the day of the CIM relay…
Dec 5th, 2010 by leigharev2
Whew, what a day!
Listening to it rain all night, we were gearing ourselves up for a worst case scenario. But, as morning dawned, the sun broke through the mist in all its splendor, and stayed that way until long after the run was over!
All four of us ran very well, and between the first three runners (Shanti, Carrie, and Tina), they shaved a solid 30 minutes off of their collective run time! I was the 4th leg and I only showed up with about five minutes to spare, instead of the 30 I had planned for!
Last year, I ran the 3rd leg. This year running the last leg opened my eyes to how hard running a marathon is. There were many people who were finishing strong, but there were also many people who were really struggling. I even saw a fair amount of puking…the not so glamorous side of running…
There were some wonderful highlights.
I ran by a group of about eight girls, all around ages 8 or 9. I slowed down and made sure I “high-fived” them all before moving on….
I saw a three generation family of men running the marathon together…
I saw a woman running the marathon. At different intervals, a friend would come out of the crowd and run alongside her, cheering her on and saying encouraging words nonstop for about a half mile, then another friend would take over. I witnessed three exchanges before she was far enough ahead of me that I could not see her.
Post run with Tina..
At the celebratory brunch at Paul Martins after…
Shanti, Tina, Carrie, Me
Dec 5th, 2010 by leigharev2
Some of the families in our group trecked on out to Woodland to watch the play, “A Miracle on 32nd Street”.
Waiting outside…
Ginger, Heather, Lori(singing a song), and Kelly
Some of our girls…
Some of our boys…
Kelly, Christie, and Heather
Our family…
Christie’s beautiful family…
A visit with Santa after the show. Check out the cookie bouquet Santa received. I heard him say he received four batches of cookies from audience fans…
A few of us decided to extend the fun of our evening and go to a cute BBQ place, next to the Woodland Opera House, for a late dinner…
Dec 5th, 2010 by leigharev2
Our Thursday morning Bible Study hosted a brunch for Christmas. All the groups that meet on Thursday gathered in one room to celebrate. Our group took up three tables and I got to break out my holiday dishes and decorate a table!
A group of ladies did a parody on “The 12 Days of Christmas”. While singing the song, they passed out items that representing each “day”…
Here is Kim holding up one of the three French Hens (a cornish game hen)…
Catherine, showing off one of the “7 swans a swimming…”(duck soap in jello)
A ballet group from Auburn shared their Praise Dance with us. I have never experienced dance as Worship, until now. While watching them, I kept thinking, “I am witnessing a sacred act; a Holy moment.” It was unbelievably powerful and awe-some.
The wonderful women of our Bible Study…
I am in heaven! Getting snuggly with my friends new little bundle of joy!
Mama Eun and ‘E’…
