An update (finally)

On November 2nd, we added lucky #13 to our quiver of grandchildren.

Lincoln Adam Hales was born.

Our baby had a baby.

And all is right with the world.

And then it was time for the Christmas decorations.  The Manhattan Beach pier is always festive and makes our exercising on the Strand that much more fun.

Christmas cookies for the Hales and Winder Christmas parties.

And then we FINALLY got to meet little 7 week old Lincoln.

(below) At the Winder family Christmas party.

All my brothers and sisters (and most spouses).  We had SO much fun.  I have been blessed with the greatest family.

Lincoln

Joshua and Matthew (and their family) came for Christmas.

Matthew and Kate decorated this little tree in the front yard.

Papa and Lincoln

David at the youth New Years Eve party.  French theme.  "No, honey, I won't include this picture in the blog."    Happy New Year!

Well, summer 2015 is almost over. (Boo! My favorite season.) So this will be a recap. 

We did a lot of fun things, but the best part of our summer was getting to see all 

of our kids and grandkids.

First stop in June:  Arkansas.  Wirthlins.

Above:  At Crystal Bridges.  

Boating and swimming at Beaver Lake.

Emma, David, Tyler

 And then in July, the Byram's came to visit.  It was fun to go to the beach with the kids and enjoy a great 4th of July.  Even if Kate was scared to death of the fireworks.

 Joshua

Kate, Papa and Joshua, Matthew

 

And then the Wirthlin's came here to visit.

 Collecting sand dollars.

In August, we went to Rexburg, Idaho to see Michael and Laura's family and Adam and Stephanie.    (Their baby Lincoln will be making his appearance in October.)

Papa, Benjamin, Chandler, Danny, Jessica

 Chandler got to go shooting.

 Jessica. (above) Ever the climber.

 The guys did an 11 mile hike with a 4000 ft. altitude gain.

The Tetons are behind them.  It would have been even prettier, but most of the state was covered with smoke from fires all over the north-west states.

We took a quick trip to Vegas and I got to see the show La Reve with my sister Kami and her friends.  Way cool.  And even better: free tickets / front row.  

 I also spent some time making sugar cookies.  Over 100 cookies for a wedding, and just a few for a Chinese-themed dinner.

So I will end this summer the same way I started it:  going to the Hermosa Beach Fair.  

Farewell.

Girls Weekend 2015

Salem!  (That's "hello" in Arabic.)   What a fun weekend we had this year.

Our theme was:  Arabian Nights.

Here's the formal invitation:

So on the Saturday before, the Bedouin tent was started in the front yard. 

It took lots of fabric to transform it into what was imagined in my head.

What's a party without sugar?

White and milk chocolate camels.  Of course.

The finished tent.

My talented daughter-in-law Laura (with help from the other girls) decorated the cookies for me.

The group. 

Top row:   Stephanie, Carly, Laura, Cheri

Middle:   Michelle, me, Kami

Front row:   Katie, Emma, Jessica

Last year we all got toe rings at T's Toe Rings on the Redondo Pier, so Jessica needed one this year.  Here she is being fitted.

Aarika came to teach us bellydancing.  Way fun.

Kami brought a ton of beads and we made bracelets and other jewelry.  We had Aladdin lamp and camel charms to add to our bracelets.  So cute.

On Friday we all took a harbor cruise in Long Beach.  Even David and Adam got to go.

We had so darn much fun that two-month-old Joshua was plain tuckered out.

Carly and Joshua, Cheri, Emma.  Long Beach.

Danny, Laura and Jessica.  Long Beach.

Jessica, Emma, Katie

Everyone leaves and we take everything down.  How depressing is this??

What a fun weekend.  Love these girls.

Next year's theme:

SAFARI!