GG's 87th birthday party

The Uncles were there, the Aunts were there, the cousins and the GG.  Phyllis is the most amazing grandmother ever.  I love her dearly.  She is GG (Grandma Great) To the great grands.  We get to call her that too.  But when I was a kid we were sometimes told to call her Phyllis.  She was not about being a grandma.  She drove a red car, red hair and a personality to match. and she wasn't afraid to tell you all about it.  Namely that your hair was too straight and looked like you were just drowned.  Among other things.  She is also very generous and loving.  But I really love that spunk, her life is an inspiration.  

All the family that was in town turned out.  and some family that wasn't in town made the trek over from California.  Her little brothers were there too.  There was much dessert and visiting.  Lots of kisses for GG.  Not on the lips, because it messes up her lipstick.  On the cheeks like in Franc

Jenna & Sam
Born days apart from each other.  Growing up so fast.

If the venue looks familiar, yes it is an institute building in Glendale.  We are so lucky to have connections.

Cut to the night time activities. 

The cousins just had to get together and visit.  Aunt Lis and The Schuermans in town. Oh ya we have too.
Part at the Johnsons.  Fire pit and cocoa.  It was pretty dang cold that night.  Above this picture is Aubry and Richard.  Please take note of the tiny straw that Richard is drinking out of.  Ya he is going to kill me for posting that.  Ha.  Im not afraid......


  Well, I am a little afraid

***Priceless***

Everyone had a story to tell.  It was wonderful good times. 

So when Richard got some more wood for the fire... there were SCORPIONS on the  WOOD!!!!
Oh my gosh, it was really scary.  THey screamed as they were burned alive.  Yikes.  I highlighted them for easier viewing.  Ya, that full body shake, that's because scorpions are scary.!!! 


Yes below is some shots of the aunts.  Aunt Lynn was getting into a story about her kids, a little smidgen of Aunt Lis is on the side and my mother. Aunt Valerie toasting her marshmallow while wearing a comforter wrapped around her.  

Doug and Amanda 
They will be getting married 2 days from this post!!!.  And there is my handsome man.
A very successful party on the whole.  Great company/ warm fire. 

Oxcars Birthday (11!)

Our Oscar turned 11.  He is a smart kid. Loves video games and computer time.   He has the cutest smile, his eyes disappear like other members of our family.  Reminds me of his Uncle Andre all the time.  We love our Ox dearly.

He wanted this Lemon Coconut Cake.  Yumm
It is really involved.  Well it was a difficult cake for me.  I had to read the recipe like 5 times.  

Balloons in his room.  He loved the attention.  He shares a birthday with his cousin Phil, Great Grandma, And another cousin JJ.  She was born earlier in the morning when this picture was taken.  

We are grateful to have this wonderful kid in our home.

Halloween

So every year for Halloween the kids go to GG's Resort and Trick Or Treat with the residents.  Older but wiser generation loves this.  They are so excited to see the kids and there are lots of doors to knock on.  

Wesley wanted to do Snow White and the 7 dwarf zombies.  It didn't quite work.  Everyone was on board originally but it fell apart as we got closer to the event.  So sad.  I even got the Snow White dress.  No i didn't get a picture of me in it.  Sorry.  But Of course I looked like her. Dark hair, pasty white skin.  Yep that's me.
So Wes was the only on that looked like a Dwarf.  His shirt said, " I was a dwarf, til the Zombie got me"

I love this picture of our "Nerd"  Tessa.  

We love our GG.  Doesn't she look gorgeous!

YY doing his wink for me.  Captain America has been seen all over town, as well as batman, wolverine, and spiderman. The older boys are slightly appalled about the constant costume wearing. I try and remind them, that they all did this.  

Ox was a Sumo Wrestler.  He made his costume him self.  Proud mama, right here


Below is little Mitt, I mean Rock Guy.  He almost understood what was happening.  Kept wanting to stop and eat the candy right away.

The Halloween Clean Up Crew

Our friends do a haunted house every year.  It was very scary.  I didn't go in.  No thanks. But the boys went in multiple times.

Check out the spooky smoke over the neighborhood.  

Burton is 7!

Burton wanted a lego cake again.  So we found this on pinterest, Where else? and had to do it.  It is thinly sliced cake and marshmallows on top covered in frosting. Grandma pretty much made it.  Thank you so much mom.  Love you and your many skills.  

Our Christmas Card

Oh what to do with the Christmas card.  I traded family portraits with my friend Karen Pearce.  So I went and took their pictures and she was all itching to come and take ours. So I was trying to think of something.  And then one morning I woke up to find this on Pinterest.  And I had it.  I showed my phone to Nate and said, "This is what we are doing for our Christmas card this year."  He was Totally on board.  Now to find the sweaters.  It took me a while.  I searched at several thrift stores.  Finally found the winners.  

I just love everything about this picture.  The goat just adds so much.  So we used that in our picture too.  Not a goat.  Although I thought about finding one.  But we did have a large rodent on hand, so that did the trick nicely.

Other wise known as our Master Piece.  This was so much fun.
We did the studio set up with the black seemless paper and off camera flash.  I wanted to have 2 flashes but my extra trigger didn't come in time.  But I think it turned out ok.  Luckily I had a reflector too.  We told the boys that they were supposed to be kind of silly, but we didn't want to direct it too much.
When we try to do that it usually goes south. 

While we were shooting, my friend was just cracking up.  It was so fun.  We did it really quick.  Not much time with all the short attention spans.  Probably about 15 min

Tyler Got it.  Ha.  Great job.  He is so hilarious. 

This time Oscar's weird expressions were perfect.

Kind of cute if you can keep George Castansa out of your mind.  Ooops, sorry I ruined it for you.

The beloved. Oh ya and her name is Pandora. I like to call her Cucumber.

Of course after it was done we thought of a couple more awkward things that should have been in there. Like some guns, which are big now in pictures. Spare Tire, inappropriate tattoos.  Laser lights, disco ball.  What have you...  I found one where the mom and kids all had matching jammies standing in front of the Christmas tree and the dad is standing with them in a speedo, only.  Fantastic.  He was on the largish side and fury.
We wanted so more fun this season. And we wanted to share our awkwardness with all our friends and family.   

Our Trumpeter

Ox had his first band concert. He is in 5th grade so it is his first year.  It was very exciting, partially because it was the first time we went to the high school that they will attend.  So they were excited to be on campus.  And they got to perform on a stage in an auditorium.  Well I was excited. 

Happy Oscar.

When I saw him walking with his friends like this, wow, he just looked so big and grown up.  Made me fast forward to when he would be in high school.  He is going to be so handsome.  Love that kid. 

Thanksgiving day

Beautiful day.  Cloudy day, but not chilly.  Hum, I wonder if it is going to rain.  Ehh don't worry about it.  Just enjoy.  The food was beautiful and fabulous and tasty. 

We had Shields, Cowleys, Fletchers, Williss'

Just look at that goodness.  We had the turkey smoked by a friend of ours.  

This makes me laugh.  Andre will hate it.  Ha

And yes it did rain big fat drops for about 3 min.  But that is enough to soak your food.
 So we were out of there.  

Bella, Ashlyn, and Hollyn

Nathan the story teller.  

Kim and Andre
We had a great day of eating and movies and kids playing and eating.  Thanks Cowleys for a wonderful day.  Happy Thanksgiving.