Take Me Out...

Take me out to the ballgame...

Dan is a huge San Diego Padres Fan. You would think that we would attend their games regularly as they have Spring Training in Peoria, AZ and come to play the Diamondbacks at least twice a year, but no, we rarely get to go. We just don't make time for it, to tell the truth.

But earlier this month, Dan took Adam, Thunder and Storm to the game. They sat in the left field bleachers right next to the Dbacks bullpen.

There were several home runs hit all around them, but they didn't catch any. One was five seats away! It was Storm's first MLB game and he had a blast! Actually, his experience was double the fun because he and Adam rode the light rail to the game.

What a fun time for all!

Dad/Daughter

The church that Jessica and Adam attend has a Dad/Daughter event each year. Adam and Snow attended the Western themed event last night.

Adam said she had a blast and participated in all of the activities that she could. She sure looks like she had fun in these photos!

Adam and Snow had their first Dad/Daughter date when she was five days old and attended this event...

Can't wait to see what next year's theme is!

Thanks for Your Prayers...

Storm was released from the hospital late Monday afternoon. Since he's been home, he's gotten his appetite back and is moving around quite well. Thank you for the prayer support you gave us during this time!

As you can see from this photo, Mom and Dad are relieved and Snow and Storm are only interested in watching Netflix. Thankful that their lives are getting back to normal!

Cousins

A few weeks ago Jessica, Adam, Storm, Snow passed through Kansas City on their way to Branson, MO for a family vacation with Adam's family. They coordinated with JD and Janel to join up together in Kansas City for a visit.

This was the first time Blizzard got to meet relatives from JD's family (except for me and Dan). They provided me with cute photos of the cousins all together for the first time.

I would have been envious, but since I knew I was traveling to Kansas a week later I managed to restrain myself😉

Seriously, I can't wait until Thanksgiving when JD, Janel and Blizzard plan to travel here. I'm eager to have ALL of my grandkids together!

Snow - ready for take-off

Storm - a seasoned traveler

Meeting Blizzard

First Date

Jessica and Adam's church held a Father/Daughter event this week. Adam and Snow got dressed up and had their first Daddy/Daughter date. They are quite the handsome couple! Good job, Adam. This will be a story to be told and re-told as Snow is growing up.

There Will Be Snow in February in Phoenix

I know, the title of this post is a bold statement, but I can 100% guarantee that there will be Snow in Phoenix in February, at least at my house!

As you can see from the photo above, Storm is going to be a big brother! The new baby is coming in February and her/his name on my blog will be Snow.

In case you're new to my blog, let me explain. I don't want to use the kids' real names on my blog for security/safety concerns. Since I'm totally obsessed with weather, I decided to give them all weather related names. So far (in order of birth) we have Sunny, Skye, Thunder, Storm, and now Snow. Poor Thunder! I see he is the only one without an "S" name!

We are very excited to welcome our fifth grandchild! I know the time will fly by because this time of year I'm busy planning the holidays. We'll hold the baby shower the second weekend in January, then the VNSA Book Sale is held the weekend of 2/14, and then it will be time for the baby to arrive.

I can't wait to find out who is coming so I can start stitching on his/her Christmas stockings...

Congratulations Adam, Jessica, Storm!

Yes, I'm Behind...

I haven't posted since before Halloween! Goodness gracious, I wish I could give you a good reason why, but I can't.

Today will be the first of my catching up posts. Halloween was such fun this year. We went over to Jessica and Adam's house for trick-or-treating. They live in a great family neighborhood. Tons of kids. Tons of parents out with the kids. Lots of houses decorated to the hilt with scary or funny costumed characters in attendance. The kids got a lot of candy (even Storm!) and they looked very cute in their costumes.

Here's a peek:

Storm chose a Mutant Ninja Turtle costume (haha)

Storm's 1st Halloween

Cowboy, Turtle, and Super Girl patiently waiting to go trick-or-treating 

Let's go already!!

Katie, Thunder, and Sunny at one of the decorated homes

Wow! Great haul for his first time out

Family Photos

Since all of my kids were home for Christmas, we took advantage of the opportunity to have professional family photos made. The results were fantastic as always. If you live in the Phoenix area and are looking for a great family/kid photographer I highly recommend Joanna Polling Photography. You can find her site here. She has a good eye and is easy to work with. Her end results are always terrific. If you do contact her, please tell her I recommended her. Now on to the photos...

me and Dan

Skye

Sunny

Thunder

All of us plus my folks

Gigi and Papa with the great grandkids

Gramps and Grammy with the Grands

Gabe, Katie, Sunny, Thunder

Awww...

My folks with their grandkids (and one great who snuck in there!)

Dan and I with our little family

Adam and Jessica

JD and Janel

Ashley, Skye, Zach

Carl and JoAnne

aka Dad and Mom

aka Papa and Grandma

aka Papa and Gigi

Zach (the youngest)

JD (the second born)

Katie (the third born)

Jessica (the oldest)

Looking Forward

Here we are. Down to the last few hours of 2013. We rarely stay up until Midnight any more so I'm pretty much done with 2013 and ready for 2014. So without further ado, here's a look at what I'm anticipating this new year:

Faith: I got a new Bible for Christmas! For the past few years I've wanted the NET Bible, but it is very hard to find. I did finally track it down on a website, but in the meantime I heard about the Our Daily Bread Devotional Bible on Bible Gateway. I told my mom about it and she gave it to me for Christmas. I am so thrilled to have it and plan to use it for my daily quiet time this year. I normally use a chronological Bible, but every three or four years I like to switch to something new for a year. Also, you'll notice, this Bible is purple, which is my favorite color! I can't wait to start reading it tomorrow.

Stitching: I have 14 projects kitted up for 2014. I also have six WIPs that I'd like to work on. I also have a list of about 10 other projects that I need to make. Too ambitious, you think?! Me too. I won't get them all done, but I'm hoping to accomplish more than I did in 2013.

Family: My little family of 13 is growing to 14 in 2014 and my entire family of 18 is growing to 20! Jessica and Adam are expecting a baby in June 2014. Dan and I are beyond thrilled to be welcoming another grandchild. My nephew Matt and his fiance, Shelby are planning a wedding this year, which will up our total to 20. As a child, I always dreamed up being a part of a large family and my dream has definitely come true!

One Word: I've been thinking about and praying about my One Word for 2014. And no matter what words Iconsider, it all comes back to one - Home. So my One Word for 2014 is Home and I hope that I will spend this year making our home a place that is welcoming, warm, cozy, friendly, and filled with love.

I have many dreams, wishes, and goals for 2014. Some of them will come to pass and some won't. But no matter what comes, I know that God has a plan for my life and my heart's desire is to follow His plan. I pray that you will have a safe, happy New Year's celebration and a blessed 2014.

Family Christmas

In the midst of the chaos of our move, needing to paint every square inch of wall in our new home, no baseboards, showers that don't work properly, and an overgrown backyard, we had family Christmas.

For the first time since 2009, all of my kids were here. It was wonderful. Nothing could have taken away from the joy of being all together. Of course, when I look at the photos, I can see the work that needs to be done glaring at me, but it recedes as I see my family gathered together.

Here's a snapshot of our Family Christmas 2013:

Zach, Jessica, Adam

Gabe, Katie, JoAnne (Gigi), Janel

Thunder, Sunny

Ashley, Skye

Janel, JD

Dan 

Me, Thunder

The cousins

Skye, Ashley, Zach

Carl (Papa)

San Diego

Last weekend we drove over to San Diego for a weekend away from the heat. We couldn't have picked a better time to go as the temps here in Phoenix hovered around 120 degrees. It was so funny to us that over in SD they were all complaining about the heat with temps in the low 80s. It was heavenly for us!

JD and Janel celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on July 3rd. Their celebration of choice this year was to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Washington State. They asked all of us to meet them in SD as they started their trip for a fun family weekend.

Dan and I went over on Friday. We headed straight to Ocean Beach upon arriving and spent some time enjoying the ocean. We then headed over to the Embarcadaro and toured the aircraft carrier Midway. That was so awesome. Then we were off to Seaport Village for some shopping before heading to Anthony's for dinner.

Here's an example of the highs and lows of our trip!

First stop: Ocean Beach

Midway

Flight Deck

View of San Diego from flight deck

On Saturday, we went to Sea World with Katie, Gabe, and the kids. I'd never been before. It was such fun.

Waiting for the Dolphin Show

Katie and Thunder

Shamu... of course!

By the time we finished at Sea World, JD and Janel and Jessica and Adam had arrived so we all headed back to Seaport Village for dinner, to ride the carousel, and to enjoy the shops and entertainment. When Katie, Gabe and kids headed back to hotel for bedtime, the rest of us headed back to Ocean Beach. We walked the shore and the kids walked the pier while Dan and I sat and people watched.

Sunday morning we all headed to the San Diego Zoo. Dan and I had not been there since our kids were still small enough for strollers. It is such a great vacation destination. After seven hours at the Zoo, Jessica and Adam headed back to Phoenix while the rest of us headed to Mission Beach for dinner on the beach and sand castle building. I just can't get enough of the sights and sounds of the ocean!

Adam and Jessica

JD and Janel

Dan and Vicki

Dan and Jessica

Thunder and Sunny

Dan, Adam, Jess, Katie, Thunder, Gabe, Sunny, Janel, JD

Janel, Vicki, Katie

JD, Sunny, Janel

Vicki, Katie

Dan, Thunder, Gabe

Dan, Vicki

JD, Janel

Gabe, Katie, Sunny, Thunder

Sunny, Dan, Thunder, Vicki

Sunny

I can't get over how much more relaxed we all look on the beach!

On Monday morning we headed back to Phoenix while JD and Janel headed up the PCH. It was a great weekend and Dan and I are already planning a return trip in September...