The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

No one loves Christmas as much as I do.  And this year you could really feel the love.  Expecting a new grandbaby adds a whole new dimension! Everyone is so excited about Baby A.

 

Melissa is due in February, and we couldn't be more pleased.

 

 

Amanda and Valerie are such sweet and lovable granddaughters.  No wonder we can't wait for another grandchild!

 

 

Grandkids, Maddie and Reese are a delight! They love every part of Christmas, and it's fun just being around them.

 

 

So blessed to have found this man to share my life with.  He has added so much joy to my life.

 

 

 

 

Moments from Christmases past.  Maddie in her first Christmas performance (preschool).  Scott and Kim and their girls the first Christmas we celebrated together, and cute little Reese, who loves hats!

 

Remembering also, our dear friend Marian who spent many Christmases with us.

 

A surprise for Baby A.  A dowel tree made by his Dad, and his Grandfather, Dave.

This Christmas was so special in so many ways.

 

 

 

 

Duck Hunting 2014

Duck hunting has always been Duane's passion, but this year there was an added attraction.....

His son Scott has become a bona fide duck hunter!  Scott took to it like "a duck to water"---WooHoo!

 

In addition to hunting at Duane's Duck Club, the boys also took a boat duck hunting expedition.

 

 

So Scott has added Havasu National Wildlife Refuge to his hunting experiences.

 

 

Thanks to Paul for bringing his great boat blind.

 

          Navigating could be somewhat difficult with underwater trees and the like.

 

But, once they were in place, they were completely camouflaged.

 

 

Duane loved every minute!

 

 

Scott joined Pat and George McGuire in their boat for a while.

 

 

A good time was had by all!

 

 

Way to go, Scott!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2014

Family comes first at Thanksgiving, and we were so blessed to have our kids and grandkids with us this year.  Everyone was in a good mood, and we had lots of fun.  The food was great too!

 

I wanted everyone to sit together so we got out our folding tables and chairs and set a festive table.

Maddie has a tradition of making the place settings, and this year they were adorable flower pots, each with a live succulent and 2 colorful felt feathers.  On Pinterest, I found a simple napkin holder of twine and a piece of rosemary from my garden.  The real pressed leaves came from my high school buddy, Carol who sent them all the way from Illinois.

 

Before the meal, we always have some wine and appetizers and congregate around our kitchen island.  Believe it or not, the conversation going on here is all about cell phones.  Wow, how important those have become!  I need to listen in and learn as much as I can.

 

We always laugh about how Heather and Melissa can't talk without using their hands.  I wonder what this conversation was about???

 

            Daughter-in-law Kim looks like a sister to her daughters Amanda and Valerie.

 

Finally got Reesie to smile for a picture!

 

 

Melissa and Adam's baby boy is due in February, so I gave them a onesie that says,

"I'll have a bottle of the house white."

 

 

Scott and his "girls"!

 

 

We try to end each Thanksgiving with a group photo.

Smile Reese!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramona Duck Club

For many years, Duane has been a member of the Ramona Duck Club, a non-profit duck hunting club near the San Jacinto Wildlife Preserve, by Lake Perris.  He enjoys duck hunting amongst the small ponds in duck blinds constructed by the members.

 

Because it is a non-profit corporation, the members must have a meeting of all members each year.  This year, only 8 members came to the meeting, but it is possible for a member to give another member his proxy for voting purposes.  Duane, being the secretary, attends every meeting.

 

 

Most years we are lucky enough to have the annual meeting at Doheny State Beach.  Not only is it at the ocean, but they also have a large grassy area with trees, and picnic tables on a concrete patio.

 

 

A short walk takes you to the beach itself, which is gorgeous, and at this time extremely uncrowded.

 

 

This year, Duane's son Scott came with us, and while the meeting was being held, he and I took a stroll down by the water.

 

 

You can also rent bicycles of all kinds and have a ride on the many trails around the area.

 

 

Many thanks to the members who brought in a Taco Man dinner, and to the ladies in the background who arranged all the dishes and heated the tortillas.  It was delicious!

 

 

A good time was had by all, we were well fed, and what a bonus it was that the Club was able to obtain a liquor license for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auntie Charlotte

When I was a child, I had numerous Aunts.  My Mother was one of eight children, and my Dad was one of four. In addition, there were several Great-Aunts too.  However, I have just one sister, and she has only one daughter---Chantelle.  For the past couple of years, Chantelle has visited from Indiana, and this time she stayed for 3 weeks. We love having her here, and I always try to think of fun things to do.  I love having a niece, I'm so happy to be her Auntie!

 

When she arrived, we went to her favorite Mexican Restaurant out here---

Casa del Rey in San Dimas.  This time she had a banana margarita.

 

 

I had to take her to the beach, so we stayed at The Tamarack Beach Resort

in Carlsbad, and the weather was perfect.

 

 

The sunset was spectacular that evening.

 

 

One thing we did a lot of was eating---here at P.F. Chang's in Chino Hills.  Notice

the bag?  Yes, we did some shopping there too at the Shoppes at Chino Hills.

 

 

One of Chantelle's priorities was to visit some wineries in Temecula.  We had

a great time that day with Adam and Melissa, and tasted soooo many wines!!!

 

 

The next day we revisited a restaurant where we had had dinner the night before

and had some Bloody Mary's at The Gambling Cowboy in the old town of

Temecula.

 

 

Of course we had to have a family Barbeque, and Heather hosted it this year.

I always love taking pictures of my three granddaughters (and granddog).

 

 

Scott, Kim and the girls loved meeting Chantelle, and Kim was thrilled

to find out that she was taller than Chantelle!!!

 

 

Heather and Jason did a great job with the meal, and

everything was yummy!

 

 

Reese was happy to show off his train set.

 

 

The day before she left, we went to Graber's Olives in Ontario.

It's a cute place specializing in everything olives, and we had

fun looking at all the olive paraphernalia. 

 

 

Truly an amazing variety of things.

 

 

Everything about the place was darling, and the grounds were beautiful

 

 

There is also a museum of old equipment, photos, and memorabilia.

 

 

The only regret we have is that we did not spend more time in Temecula

in its old town.  For instance, I wonder where this bridge leads???

 

Come back soon, Chantelle, so we can explore some more.....