Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!! We hope that all of our friends & family have a wonderful day.

We recently went to Viejas to go ice skating. We had a great time with our family & good friends... we all did much better than I thought we would. No one got hurt!

May we all enjoy the true meaning of Christmas, for if it weren't for Christ we would not have anything to celebrate! Remember that it is better to give than to receive!

Remembering

Today is my dad's birthday. He would be 90 years old if he were still living. That seems so crazy to think of him that old. He was always so youthful and full of life. It's weird to think, but I was born when my dad was my age now. I couldn't imagine starting over and having a baby at my age. I'm tired and worn out already!

I loved my daddy!! (You can soooooo tell which decade this was from)

By the time he met my mom, he had already served in the war, married, and had 3 boys. They married and got a HUGE surprise!! ME:)

We always were traveling and camping, and visiting relatives. My parents loved taking off in their motorhome for months at a time after all their kids left home.

This is one of my favorite pictures. It's my sister-in-law, my dad, and me. My dad was so much fun and always spending time with his grandkids. He taught the boys how to shoot a bb gun, even making a homemade target where it would catch the bb's so they could reuse them (he was very thrifty). He played marbles in the dirt using a garden hose as the circle, played horseshoes, baseball, and even made a homemade kite one time and tried to fly it at the park with them. That didn't go so well. But it was a sweet gesture.

With the vast age difference, I knew it was important for my kids to know their grandparents from early on and have wonderful memories like I did with my mine. Its so great that my parents always had time for the boys and made fun memories.

It was so hard to lose him, but I am thankful for the soldier, father & grandfather he was. He was an honorable man. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Our Last Water Polo Banquet

Monte Vista Monarchs 2010 CIF Quarter-Finalists Jason got another letter and CIF patch for his hard work this year.
He also got Grossmont Conference All League Selection honoring him for outstanding achievement in water polo - 2nd Team All League. (I've never even heard of this award before:) Way to go, Jason!!

My favorite is that he got the Coach's Award. Coach Newman started at the same time Jason did 4 years ago, and they've been thru it all together. The team wasn't much 4 years ago, but it has really grown in numbers and their ability. It was really nice of Coach to recognize all of Jason's hard work and determination. Good job, Jason. I'm really proud of you!!!

It's been a fun time helping out with water polo. I really enjoy it and most of all, I enjoy the players and their parents. I will definitely miss visiting with the moms!