Happy New Year!

As I write it is already 2010 in Hong Kong (the one sure way I can be awake at midnight!), but some of us are still waiting to ring in the new year. We pray you all have a safe celebration (even if it just means not rolling off the couch in your sleep) and may God richly bless you in 2010.
PS - if you'll click on the picture it will enlarge for you so you can actually read the caption (that note is especially for us baby boomers)

Happy Trails to You!

This little guy is visiting our home tonight. He'll be making a loooong road trip tomorrow, so he and his daddy are stopping over here to save some time.



We told 'little guy' that he didn't have to 'dress' for the trip, but he didn't believe us :o) I think he is waiting for Uncle Buba to tie a windsor knot on him!

Christmas in the Desert - Part Deux

While some folks are nestled by a warm, cozy fire, drinking hot cocoa or spiced cider, ( or in some cases, taking their annual cold dip in the ocean) we desert rats are on the golf course!

Our Christmas dinner hostess has a putting green in her backyard (which opens up to a real-life golf course!)

We had a mix of families represented for a wonderful dinner-- Great laughter, good fellowship, and yummy food!

Just in case you were wondering, our temperatures have been hovering in the 60s during the day, in the mid-30s at night.

Merry Christmas To All!

Yeah -- A Winter Storm!

What's so great about a winter storm, you may ask? Because they have been so rare for the past decade! We had a great rain storm..... thunder, lightening, wind, the whole package LOL

First came the clouds, they lingered all day long. Finally about 1:00 in the afternoon the thunder and lightening show began, then the rain. Then the high winds that knocked out our power source! No electricity for about an hour, just as I was getting ready to write this blog :o) I just had to amuse myself with candle lighting, a little reading, and enjoying the rest of the storm. (Fortunately the power came on in time for us to cook and enjoy a fam fav --- Old Fashioned Beef Stew)

We even have some colorful leaves, finally! Gorgeous greeting as we turned onto this street.

How Do You Know It's Christmas in the Desert?

You have the usual home decorations
The Cactus are wearing Santa Hats!
And Thom is on his way to have fun being "Uncle Thom"!

Happy Birthday, Tommie-Toes!

Hey Thom-- we hope you have a great birthday week! Maybe get a little rest like you and dad when you were 7 weeks old! We treasured every minute back then as we do today.





Your first birthday you got the 'birthday cupcake' and stayed pretty neat with it. At least that's what the picture shows, and I'm stickin' with it LOL














You were the first grandchild for the L. side of the family.
Here are 4 generations walking along.




















Then you got a little sister. How fair is that??
And yes, we kept her and you all did just fine.



















You absolutely LOVED reading with grandma, almost as much as she loved reading TO you! She kept you supplied with great reads!









you were a creative child......loved to explore and pretend.





















































"Is this really my life??"
You were usually a patient brother, and you have always been a joy to know! Being the oldest had its perks and its drawbacks, I'm sure, but we wouldn't trade a single minute of it!
We love you forever.........