What a fun way to kick off the holiday season- pictures with Santa. Our good friends Sandy and Brian Blain joined in on the festivities. Our ward does a Christmas breakfast- hence the apron (I was serving egg strata to 225 people). We eat and sing and eat some more. We are anxious for more holiday cheer as we all gather in Newport, California, December 27, 2008.
Navarre and Catherine came to Visalia driving their new car. It was wonderful having them home. They've been married for 6 months. Gasoline was down from 4.00 a gallon to 1.85 per gallon. President elect Barak Obama had something to do with lifting the tariff so the price would be lowered.
Visalia Jewelry Services is open for Black Friday. Goodies Cookies is our neighbor to the left and Flower Affair to the right.
Our store is filled with jewelry, knives, swords, and other medieval artifacts. The balloons are fit for the Black Friday Sale and celebrations.
Thanksgiving was complete for me when pictures were taken with my two sisters. Mine is the unique experience being sandwiched between Jana and Sharon.
Elle's 18th birthday shared with friends. She decided to have a Halloween party as well. Homemade Root Beer is in the silver bowl, frothing with dry ice- yummy! Elle was a vampire FBI agent. On the front of her shirt was FBI and on the back it read "take a bite out of crime." The ensemble was completed with vampire teeth.
Others arrived later. Notice the cob webs and spiders.
Friends from Institute came too.
What are 5 things on your TO DO list?
1. Read scriptures and pray
2. Walk daily and don't forget to bowflex
3. Practice piano
4. Update journals
5. Keep grandchildren's books current
Name 5 snacks you love:
Not in any particular order: Snickers, Look, Payday, Almond Joy candy bars and anything German Chocolate (pie, cake...)
Name 5 things you would do if you suddenly became a Millionaire:
1. Pay tithing
2. Buy 6 ranches (I guess we all know who they'd be for.)
3. Buy my husband whatever car he would want.
4. Go on several missions.
5. Save the rest of the money so I can travel to visit my children and go on great vacations with the family.
Name 5 places you have lived:
1. Covina, California (birth place and childhood)
2. Pomona, California
3. Provo, Utah
4. Azusa, California
5. Visalia, California
Name 5 jobs you have had:
1. Babysitter (I had to split my 0.50 an hour with my twin.)
2. Donut shop (1.25 hourly wage)
3.Waitress at Bob's Big Boy (California)
and Marie Callendars (Utah)
4. Back office nurse at Doctor Reed's office
5. Emergency Room admitting clerk
Name 5 things people don't know about you:
1. I've always wanted to be able to sing beautifully and perform with confidence.
2. Equally important is being able to play the piano. I long for the talent to just sit down at the piano and play any piece of music.
3. Probably more important than singing and playing the piano is being able to tango with the best of them. That's right- I would love to be Fred Astaire's dancing partner. Heck, I'll settle for just being able to dance with just a little rhythm.
4. In high school I wanted to be as popular as my twin sister,Sharon.
5. I know it seems silly, but I had always wanted to be like Sharon, she was always so confident. In order to be like her, I thought I'd need a great smile like Clarissa's, or a small waistline like Megan's, or .... yes, the list keeps going. One day I resolved that I was the best I could be and that was good enough for me. I am finally comfortable in my own skin. That is a good feeling. It only took 50 years to get there but I'm there.
Okay, tag. You're it- Elle.
Clarissa said, "Kaela, wants to do her own hair and won't let me brush it." I couldn't believe it. Kaela has always loved getting her hair put into braids to look pretty for her daddy. When they arrived on their next visit I had a hair stylin' kit ready for her. Complete with headbands and a brush and comb set just her size. Doing her own hair was serious business. She brushed it and put headbands on in a specific order.
Talk about De-Ja-Vu. Her mommy loved wearing 3 or 4 headbands at a young age as well. We complemented her on her fashion sense.
After her hair styling experience drained her, she relaxed with her feet on an ottoman (or should I say- she relaxed with her feet on a container filled with headbands, barrettes, brush and comb...). She wouldn't let the container out of her sight.
I love being a grandmother. It simply is TOOOO FUNNNN!!!!
Yes, she is darling! WE are so proud of her. I don't know who has the bigger smile-me because she is the last or Elle because she is so excited about the big world that awaits her.
That is Josh in the background. The Texan Valdiviesos were here visiting and were able to join in on the festivities.
I loved the homing pigeon release. It was symbolic - they fly free but always return home.
SEMINARY GRADUATION is just as important.
Paige Smith, Elle, Aunt Sharon, & Jack Valdivieso
Paige is serving cake; she's helping her mom who is the Seminary Supervisor.
Aren't they cutest cousins? Actually they look more like sisters! Paige is one month younger than Elle.
Carly is enjoying deeelicious chocolate cake. Josh contemplates....I wonder which is better, chocolate cake or gold fish?
First stop- GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. Elle is taking the picture. This trip was to honor Elle's graduation from high school. With the Golden Gate as the backdrop Megan, Mama Tess (Jack 7 months old), and Clarissa smile with anticipation for the day's activities to unfold. We're wearing California Dreamin' hats. Megan was thinking of Jarod who was in Texas, so we let her take her hat off (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
Joseph Strauss had a vision to build a bridge to span the San Francisco bay. After many hurdles, the least of which was the Great Depression, his dream was finally becoming a reality. What a wonderful story to inspire us all- If you build it, they will come.
We decided to walk on the bridge and enjoy the picturesque view. The walkway was filled with beautiful foliage and flowers in bloom.
Sadly, we were not able to take the tour of Alcatraz. We'll just have to plan another trip back to San Francisco-oh darn. 
If I remember correctly, The Presidio was built as a protection from enemy invasion by sea and from attack on land during the civil war.
This is the cable from the bridge. It is unbelievable how huge it is.
Next stop- Lombard Street. The most crooked street in America. The slope is approximately 26%. It takes 5 minutes to drive down the cobbled stone street at 5 mph. The scenery is gorgeous. The street is lined with purple, red, and orange hydrangeas. Simply beautiful. Megan is driving and I'm waving.
Pictured from the base of the infamous Lombard Street.
What's a trip to San Francisco without a stop at Pier 39.
A bowl of clam chowder-yummmmmmy.
Off to GHIRARDELLI SQUARE....
Nothing says happiness like chocolate (especially from free samples).
I'm lamenting how sad it is without Navarre's cherished Catherine. I'm sending her that sunflower box filled with chocolate. (We're just getting ready to eat a fabulous brownie sundae.)
As we leave San Francisco we all agreed that our Girls' Getaway was fabulous. The weather was perfect and the company simple delightful. Thanks to Megan and Clarissa we were kept in stitches all day long. They are soooooooooooooo funnnnnnnnyyyyy!!!!!
Josh's second birthday celebrated in California.
No Mexican birthday is complete without a piñata!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has Papa Steve's eyes- so handsome!
Grandma Tess made a deeeelicious ice cream cake, well- everyone ate a piece except the birthday boy. Let's just say the apple didn't fall far from the tree. His daddy didn't like sweet treats when he was 2 year old either.
Josh has a car or ball in his hands at all times. At the moment, he has a soccer ball in hand and getting ready for a drop kit. That's Damon in the background putting together the goal net for soccer.
Is he adorable or what!? Jack is 7 months old and almost crawling. He's up on all fours and rockin' but not moving his knees and hands just yet.
Carly is 3 years old and holds her soccer shin guards, purse and party hat.
Ooops, I forgot to mention how much Josh loves NEMO so we lamenated paper placemats so he can have them forever.
Carly's purse is filled with candy and fun things from the piñata. Kaela is 4 months younger than Carly. She too is enjoying the party festivities.
Ava is oozing sweetness from all the candy she's consumed. She is 4 months younger than Joshua.
Grandma Tess and Papa Steve getting ready to sing Happy Birthday to not only Josh but Carly, Kaela, and Ava. (Everyone wanted a chance to blow out the candles.) Jarod is working as the sales manager at Harley Davidson in Austin, Texas. Summer is their busy time so he wasn't able to join Megan. I certainly appreciated his generosity flying them to California for three weeks. Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Josh loves the outdoors especially with toys in his hands. He is creating a master piece with chalk.
I too love being outdoors. The only thing better than being outdoors is being outdoors with the grandchildren.
Carly is busily painting. Rembrandt, Monet....Valdivieso.
Sensational SEQUOIAS was a must see on our list of TO DO!!!
We will make our way to see General Sherman. 
The path to Gereral Sherman is about 1/2 mile down a manicured trail. We walk down with confidence not realizing the slope will be a bear to climb back up.
A pathway was cut to walk through this majestic tree. It looked like it fell many, many years ago. Mama Tess is holding Jack and running to catch up to Carly and Josh.
Josh and Mama Tess are discovering all the intricacies of a boulder.
General Sherman is the largest living organism. What a magnificent sight.
We loved being in the mountains; we didn't want to leave. The sun was beginning to set; so we started walking as briskly as we could.
Josh is enjoying a ride back to the car. I know you can't see the out of shape Grandma in front of you but I'm panting and resting every few steps resolved to get into shape before I turn 52 (only 9 months away, I better stop talking about it and start doing something about it).
Fresno CHAFFEE ZOO was a big hit.
Mama Tess is carrying Jack. Josh is sitting and Carly is next to me.
The gorillas have everyone's attention.
Lions, TIGERS, and bears...oh, my.
Did you know that the length of a giraffe's tongue is in direct proportion to his height (inch/foot).
Carly and Josh feed the giraffe.
How Josh loves his NEMO.
Carly looks on towards the sting rays.
Elle is so brave to touch the sting ray. (Elle just graduated from high school. )
Josh can't wait for a sting ray to approach. Little does he realize that the splashing he makes keeps them away. But ohhhh, the water is so inviting in 99 degree weather.
Megan too touches the strange little creature from beneath.
Carly grooms the goat with great ease.
Your eyes aren't deceiving you, that's Megan with a horned owl above her head. She volunteered to be an assistant at the Bird Show.
What a perfect ending to a perfect day.
The infamous LADYBUG trek began with a frightened Mama Tess. She got out of the car and thought she'd be able to approach a snake with ease. Little did she know, she's a great big scared-y-cat. Megan caught me jumping into the air on camera.
Josh wanted to jump into the raging brook.
In the spring this bridge is covered with ladybugs. The wooden rails are filled with millions of ladybugs; they literally cascade several feet below the bridge clinging one to another. Josh was enthralled with the ants on the rail. Carly kept warning him, "Watch out, they'll bite." This did little to discourage him from touching the ants. He kept saying, "Oh, ah, oh," with a huge smile.
Picking fruit with cousins in BAKERSFIELD was as much fun as all the other activities.
CALM-California Living Museum in BAKERSFIELD.
Stylin' with the shades. Kaela is in front and Carly behind. Ava in the wagon.
Not to be outdone by the little ones, Megan and I picked boysenberries at the Rodmacher ranch. 
Those berries made deeeeelicious jam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before the Texans left for home we had one more stop....downtown Visalia via the trolley.
The trolley is free gratis and lots of fun for everyone. What a wonderful three weeks. Josh loved Elle and Emm and got to know me a little better. Carly gave great big hugs and lots of sugar. Jack is a chip off the ole' block. He eats, smile, and is a very content little baby-exactly like his daddy was.
Last but certainly not least, the best part of their visit besides the hugs and kisses (a.k.a. sugar) was feeding Jack. I was privileged to be the first to feed him. What a treat!!!!!!!!!!
Just look at him; he was a pro from the get go.
So long and good-bye for now:)
