Half Moon Bay

It had been Rebecca's huband, Vern's, dream for years. To find a group of guys that loved driving cars as much as he did and, with their wives, take a scenic road trip along California's Pacific Coast Highway. Then intersperse it with golf and good food. Not surprisingly, he didn't have to look far for takers. They were revving their engines.

And thus was born the road trip of all road trips....

Day 1: The boys took off driving for California's Half Moon Bay. We (their willing wives) flew out and met them there a day later.

Christian drove us to the airport. I think he was a little surprised at how excited 5 moms could get leaving behind their responsibilites (and a combined 22 kids) for a couple of days.

It was dusk at the end of October as we drove toward our hotel. Out the taxi window we could see bright oranges, yellows and greens of field after field of pumpkin patches. A slight mist was settling in with the sunset. It was an absolutely breathtaking sight. Turns out, Half Moon Bay is just the right climate for growing the perfect pumpkin. Hence, Half Moon Bay's biggest event of the year: The Pumpkin Festival! An event that serendipitously fell on the one full day we were in town.

While we were there, Jana introduced me to camera apps on my iphone. I don't think I read the whole trip-usually my entertainment of choice-I was way too enthralled with my new apps. And so...road trip pictures interspersed like special seasoning with iphone camera app pictures:

Safeway's World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-In took place that morning. The scale in the picture displays the heaviest pumpkin so far: 1,713 pounds. That had been beat by the end of the morning.

Alyse

Rebecca

enthusiastic festival goers

lunch

Jana took this photo from her hotel room window. Un-believable!

enthusiastic wives in front of the hotel

Jana

the most enthusiastic group of all: the car drivers

L to R: Sean, Chuck, Vern, Kyle, Mark, and Jordan

These last 2 photos are courtesy of Jana: I think this next one is my favorite: Rebecca and Kelly in a display of what became indicitive of the whole trip. Who knew I could come to love these girls even more than I already did?

It was a very good year.

2011

Good friends are a gift

Admidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, Debbie hosted her large extended family and then a Relief Society function for about 100 women. Then, as if that wasn't enough, she invited friends over on a cold December morning and served us warm taco soup and a salad with sugared blackberries that was so delicious that I just can't seem to get it out of my mind. For me, to have an excuse to stop in the middle of the 'December crazies' and just relish the good company of these sweet women was such a gift. Thank you, Debbie for making it happen.

Karalyn and Rebecca

This is how our friendship works: Jana helps, I take pictures of Jana helping.

The hostess with the mostest in her fabulous kitchen.

Debbie's beautiful table beckons.
L to R: Rebecca, Debbie, Karalyn (Jana had to leave)

A Holiday in the desert.

The text from Kelli said only, "Are you ready for Christmas?" I had been enjoying having my girls home from college and watching Hailee and Kate (Kelli's oldest daughter) banter easily back and forth. Hailee was preparing to take Kate to the airport so she could join her family for Christmas in their new home state of California. I knew Kelli was staying with her in-laws while they did some small rennovations to their little beach home and Kate was mulling over the meaning of the words, "going home."

I paused to quickly text back, "I am having a hard time getting in the spirit of Christmas. My mom is gone, my sister is gone, we're living in a rental without Christmas decorations and I don't want to spend money." Kelli responded, "Good thing I didn't call. I'm experiencing the exact same things. We probably would have both just ended up crying."

It was a different Christmas without my entire extended family gathered around me. I missed the energy and excitement of planning and people. I can't remember the last time we didn't spend Christmas Eve or Christmas day or even New Years Eve together. I loved the memories and traditions that we had created together. To have to create new memories and traditions that didn't include all of them seemed daunting and, well, not fun. I reflected on my Christmases as a child. Most were in various parts of the world, before unknown, with my parents and 3 siblings. Extended family far away. They were warm and wonderful memories. Never before had I had such appreciation for the solitary efforts made by my mom in creating those feelings and memories. She herself far away from loved ones and extended family and years and years of established extended family traditions. I know it could not have been easy and yet never once did I hear her whine or complain. Deep down, I knew that having just my little family gathered around me was an amazing opportunity. And so it was that with no other family obligations or opportunities, we surprised the kids with a quick getaway to Arizona.

From Christmas day to New Years Day we soaked up the warmth and each other. It was a perfect week. And a whole lot of fun.


Non-fat, vanilla steamer. My fav.
Finally. Christmas decoration. At the hotel. Hailee called this "The Band Photo" because it looked like the cover for a music group.
Waiting for a table. I have lots of pictures with Gabe resting his hand on Jordan's round head.

Gabe had a hard time putting his new book down. Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans. He would like to talk Steven Speilberg into making it a movie.

New Years Eve at the Mesa temple.

Headed home.
...all pictures were taken with my trusty iphone.

Merry Christmas and we're off...

to FEE+NIX

A Christmas Photo with my iphone.

Christmas Eve 2011

There was cheese fondue and hot broth for the meat and veggies. But everyone kept ending up over at the counter.
With the chocolate fountain!
We had stories and thoughts from everyone.
And then the kids opened their presents from each other. I love this part.





They always seem to know just what each other wants. Although I knew Christian wanted this hat but I thought it was ugly and didn't want to get it for him.