My 3 Men!!

We arrived back in San Diego on Monday - This is a picture from the plane about 20 minutes before we landed at Lindberg Field. Keith and I got in from Florida about 12:30, Sharen (from K Falls via Bullhead) and Dad (Bullhead City) got in just as our gourmet dinner was being picked up from Popeyes (hehee). Rod and S'te, generous with thier home as always, just opened the door and we had a great time. Dad was amazed at how much the babies had grown since the last time he saw them 4 1/2 years ago. I was amazed that he took so well to all of them and they didn't drive him nuts (it's easy when there are 8 kids home). The littlest ones just absolutely adored him!
The kids went back to school on Tuesday so that gave us "adults" a chance to catch up, show pictures, brag on the kids, and generally eat, visit, and catch up on the 4 1/2 years since we were last all together. :) And 2 (actually 3) more children have been added to the family....

Aunt Sharen flew from Klamath Falls to Arizona last week and drove Dad down so we could have our little get- together before the kids move up to Bremerton next summer.

Cavelle had his own routine but really enjoyed having 4 extra people to entertain - but you can't bother him when he has a 'mission' - as in his food!Then we had a little reading after dinner....

Sharen, Keith, & I had a soak in the hot tub before calling it a night.... ooohhh it was great! Even if we did stay out there to long and got locked out! Security did come and let us in - thank you!!

S'te had made an appointment for us to have a 4 generation family portrait taken.... So on Tuesday, I made Dad a meatloaf, he washed cars, swept the porch, and otherwise kept himself busy. We put the meatloaf in the oven with the timer set and headed out for our 4 Generation Family portrait!

It's quite the task.... getting 15 people - and one of them being 18 months old and hungry - all to be looking in the right direction, at the right time, with the right look on thier face!! The woman at Sears was a trooper and did really well. S'te isn't fond of the way she choreographed us - but - it is done. We have Great- Grandpa, Great Aunt Sharen, Amah, Papa, Mom, Dad, and ALL NINE children!!! Truly a blended and blessed family!
Just as all was just about finished, we had a serious male family member bonding going on!! I think we wore them out... and embarassed Grandpa just a little..... LOL.... It is definately a fave!!

We made it back from San Diego in 1 (or 2) pieces.... Checked our mail, slept in our own camper bed for a night, unpacked, repacked, and headed back out to Orlando to meet Keith's own Little April! They were at the hotel when we arrived - all camped out at the pool.... in the nice warm sunshine!

We found our adjoining rooms, unwrapped gifts, outlined plans and then went to dinner. We had a really nice evening and more to come!

Next morning we got up and I wasn't feeling well enough to head out with the rest so I stayed behind while they went to Animal Kingdom.... Brennan got picked to participate in the Lion King show - he had a great time. Elizabeth could've participated also but her shy bug turned on - or so I heard.

But it looks to me like they had a great time! So all is still well at Animal Kingdom. Next day they went to Magic Kingdom.... by then Brennan and Rick were getting pretty tired - so they came back to the hotel - with Papa - while April and Elizabeth took in the night life. LOL They checked out Epcot and even made it back before midnight - don't know that anyone even heard them come in :))
The 29th we headed out to Melbourne Beach. It was beautiful. We got there several hours before the kids did, had dinner on the deck, and really relaxed... The kids got there and had bites and were really heavy eyed... Rick and Keith took them up while April and I sat out for a bit longer. There is just something about the stars and the sound of the ocean for relaxing totally! It was a beautiful evening..

New Year's Eve weather was really nice for spending an afternoon on the beach - I helped the kids make sand castles and dig holes - then to fill them back in again.... we went up and took cat naps so that we would be hale and hearty for ushering in 2009!

We met the kids just after dark, had another really scrumptious dinner, and managed to sit outside until about 9:30. The sun, sand, beach, and water, complimented by all that wonderful food just made it impossible to stay awake!!! Here is Keith clowning just before he went off to sleep. I catnapped with the balcony door open and Times Square on the tube - I was awake for the ushering in of the new year and watching the many fireworks shows from said balcony before waking Keith, wishing him a happy and healthy new year before he drifted off again....

New Year's Day saw us packing up again - this time to head back to the RV and for April, Rick, and the kids to head back to snowy Missouri.... We had a blast and it was so special to be able to spend the holidays with both of our girls and their families.... Now we just have to find a way to get us all together again!!!

And to you!

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Properous,

and Joyous New Year!!