THANKSGIVING

We had a treat in having Cody and Liesel here for Thanksgiving this past weekend. (I love when my children come home!) Thursday, we spent with the Clark side of the family at Grant's brother's house. John and Jeanna always do a great job on Thanksgiving. All their chilren were there including their adorable granddaughter, Ivy. I was "Grandma Sister"to her. So all night she would say, "Grandma sister, could you please get me fishy crackers?" She is so darling!!!
Our daughter, Michelle and her family along with Liesel & Cody were there. Madelyn and Spencer loved playing with Jamie and Ivy. After dinner, we stayed and played games until it was time to go home.
On Friday, we went to my Mom & Dad's home for our traditional Friday Thanksgiving Dinner.
Since my Mom, Sonia, always had to work on Thanksgiving day, we started having Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. This year, my mom wanted to have it on Thursday. But everyone in the family didn't want her to change our Friday tradition, so we had it on Friday. Afterwards we went to Metro point, at South Coast Plaza, to listen to the band, to dance, wander around the stores and eat 'Cosi' warm bread right out of the oven! A good weekend to be had!
Thankful for: FAMILY & FRIENDS!!! Life is so so good!!!

GRANT'S TRIP TO UTAH

Grant spent this past weekend in Utah. He went for the basketball tournament at BYU and also for the BYU vs. University of Utah football game. He stayed at Becky's house a few nights and also at Norton's house. He took toys for our grandkids to enjoy. He introduced the boys, Drew 4 and Clark 2, to donuts and chocolate milk. He also took them to Wendy's and showed them how to dip their french fries into the chocolate shakes and eat them! I'm sure Becky has a lot of "Un-doing" to do today, Monday, now that Opa is gone! BYU was undefeated in thebasketball tournament but lost the football game to University of Utah. Oh well, all in all it was a great weekend for him.

MY PREGNANT GIRLS

Here are our girls and their cousin, Lisa. All pregnant at the same time! There are actually two more cousins on the Williams side of the family that are expecting also, Angela Williams and Amy Bang. Becky is due at the end of January, Liesel is due the beginning of May and Lisa is in March.

Aren't they cute! L to R Rebecca, Lisa, and Liesel

FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!

This past weekend, November 15-16, 2008, proved to be a very tense weekend. Saturday morning we noticed smoke in the air so turned on the TV to notice that Corona was on fire at the corner of the 71 freeway and the 91 freeway. What happened next was very unexpected. The Santa Ana winds were blowing so the fire jumped the 91 freeway and started burning by Green Valley Road. It roared through the houses damaging many, up the hills, into Yorba Linda, and embers started fires in Brea. The fire burned houses by Kathleen's old place in Yorba Linda. Carbon Canyon became a hot spot so everyone fromt there was evacuated. Then the fire came over the hill towards Chino Hills. All of Butterfield ranch was evacuated as was Carbon Canyon. The fire eventually went into Tonner Canyon where it spread to Diamond Bar. Right now at this moment, Monday Morning, Nov. 17th, Ayala High school is being used as a red cross shelter. Grant went over Sunday morning where they were housing about 1,000 people. This evening, Monday, the Stake is providing dinner to about 450 people. Larry and Lorrie, my brother and sister-in-law, were packed up Sunday morning waiting for the evcuation order. Joe and Angela evacuated to my sister, Patricia's house. Patricia happened to be at the beach with my mom when all this broke out so she was stuck in Orange County because all the freeways around here were closed the 91, the 71, and the 57. Saturday night was erie to see the glow coming over the hills. We were surrounded by fire! No one slept very well. Now the fire is semi contained and the winds have died down. Many have lost homes but fortunately no one died.

GRANT DOES WORK

Grant and his partner "Jackie" sit at our dining room table and work. I thought it was funny that they always have the same pose when they are concentrating and thinking.

FIELDTRIP TO THE FIRESTATION !

I took my preschool to the Chino Valley Fire Station on Peyton north of Grand Avenue in Chino Hills. The children loved it! We toured two trucks and the inside of the fire station. The children couldn't get enough. It was very interesting to the adults too. I like fieldtrips!!!

VETERANS DAY GET AWAY!

Grant and I went away for the Veterans Day Holiday. We went to a Bed & Breakfast in the Temecula wine country. It is off the 15 freeway and down Rancho California Road. There are many wineries around this area plus it is so peaceful and quiet. Lots of rolling hills with grape vines or citrus groves around the area. Our B&B was up on a hill so we were able to watch the sunset in the hills and have a great view. For breakfast, the 1st course was fresh fruits of several kinds and juices out on the veranda.

The second course was fresh breads of all kinds and finally the entree was Eggs Florentine with grape tomatoes and goat cheese or champagne poached salmon with capers, a bagel, cream cheese, tomato, and onions. I took the salmon and Grant took the Eggs Florentine. We sat and visited with the other guests at the B&B for a while and then took a drive through the wine country.

We also drove to Old Towne Temecula and had lunch and went to the fun shops there.

All in all, it was a great get away and I would do it again in a heartbeat!