Our December

We had a really wonderful holiday season this year. We started off on December 1st at the home of our dear friends Mike and Marilyn. It was a Christmas dinner and a musical performance along with some really fun Christmas caroling. It was a wonderful way to start the Holiday Season. On the 13th of December we had our Ward Chritmas party and Dana was Santa, he really was so great. Sage and I did lots of our Christmas shopping on December 18th in Fashion Valley (love that shopping center). Andee was with us also and we had the greatest lunch at the new Bing Crosby, such a fun day! On the 20th we went to Jeff and Carole's for the lovliest Christmas Party, always great to see our friends and Carole always has the most amazing buffet. Chritmas Eve was at Sage's along with Jer's parents and grandparents--dinner was great and it is always such festive evening at Sagey's. Christmas Day was at Amber's with our adorable grandchildren. Our Holiday Season was filled with Family and Friends, the season couldn't be any better than that. Dana and I along with Sage and Jer look forward to the 31st when we head out for Hawaii. New Year's in Hawaii. Aloha and Happy New Year!

Christmas Day!

After the presents!

Before we start opening presents!

Ella, Hammie, Sagey and Jake

We love our Jake and Ella!

We spent Christmas Day at Amber's. It was so much fun to be with Jake and Ella on Christmas to see their faces as they opened treasures from Santa. Amber made an awesome breakfast and we really had a great time just being together. Being with the kids is the best Christmas present for me.

Santa Baby!

Our ward Christmas Party was on December 13 and Dana was Santa for all the little children. He did such an awesome job. It was really cute to watch the children tell Santa all their Christmas wishes.

Love My Disneyland Pass!

Love, Love my Disneyland pass!  We made a day of it last week and had so much fun.  Am's and Jake met up with us and Little Ella stayed home with Ben.  We took Jake on the Matterhorn for the 1st time.  Crazy, I know, but he's ready for the bigger rides.  He didn't make the height minimum for Indiana Jones so he and I sat that one out.  I seriously love that Kid--when we're together I see the world in such a happier light!!  At closing, they light the castle and it looks like sparkling snow and icicles and the giant Christmas Tree changes from color lights to white lights--it is just beautiful.   Last but not least snow begins to fall--just so awesome.  It was a really fun day--I think I'd like to go again soon, like maybe next week!! Crazy, I know!

Thanksgiving Week!

Soo here's the low down--Thanksgiving week is a really big deal around the Baltzer Pad. Ella is our Birthday Girl on the 24th. Dana is the Birthday Boy on the 25th. Amber and Ben are the anniversary (3rd) couple on the 26th. And taa-daa Turkey Day was the 27th. So we celebrated pretty much the whole week. Amber and Family were with us from Tuesday through Sunday, so I really got lots of grand-kiddie time and loved every minute of it. I really wish I had more pictures of Thanksgiving--Oh well!

Coming Soon!!

Sooo Sorry, that I haven't blogged in a while. I've had a busy week and will catch you all up in a day or two.

Happy Birthday Ella!

Today is our precious Ella's first birthday! Happy Birthday, Ella!

Party! Park! Pinata!

On Saturday Jake had his Birthday Party at the Park with some of his friends from school and church. The park is a great place to have a children's party--the playground and wide open spaces for the kids to run and have fun! Jake's party theme was Army Camouflage and he dressed the part. The kids had pizza, sodas, cupcakes and a pinata loaded with candy. Happy Birthday Jake!

Happy 6th Birthday Jake!

Today is Jake's 6th Birthday! These six years have flown by that is for sure! Jake is an awesome grandson--he brings so much love, joy and happiness to our family. Happy Birthday Jake!

VOTE!!

Please remember to VOTE tomorrow.  

Trick or Treat!

On friday Sage and I went to Amber's to go Trick or Treating with Jake and Ella. Jake was an awesome Bat Ranger and Ella was an adorable Bumble Bee. We had so much fun, and Ella was hilarious she had to walk the whole time, forget the stroller. By the time she would get to the door Jake was on his way to the next house--just too cute.

Disneyland!!!

On tuesday we went to "the happiest place on earth" Disneyland! I've wanted to go and see the Halloween decorations for the longest time and we finally did it. If you haven't seen Disneyland decorated for Halloween you should, it is adorable and we had a really fun time. I honestly can't wait to go again.

Ella

Ella is eleven months old, is that smile the cutest. I love the Toofies!!

Big step for our little 'Short Cake'. She is walking everywhere !

Boo!

This is for my girls! So the last few years I have not really decorated for Halloween. There are  several reasons for this: The first is, we get 'ZERO' Trick R' Treaters, our street is pitch dark and we live at the very bottom of a dark steep driveway, actually sounds perfectly creepy for Halloween, so there is no point in decorating just in case we might get some cute costumed kiddies knocking on our door. The next reason is that before the girls left home Halloween decorating was a really fun Family activity. The girls now have their own homes to have fun decorating and I usually go to Sage's cause her neighborhood is all Spooked out for Halloween and there are lots and lots of Trick R' Treaters. And the last reason is I guess I've gotten lazy and forgotten how much fun Halloween decorating is. Amber and the kiddies won't be down before Halloween so I know the pictures will bring back some fun memories, especially the silly guy on the porch. For many years Sage and Amber would use their Dad's old levi's, flannel shirt and cowboy boots to make this guy up!! I had the stuff packed away in the Halloween decoration box and couldn't resist making him up this year. He looks pretty good! So even though we will get 'ZERO' Trick R' Treaters I'm decorated and had lots of fun doing it!!

This is my Spooky decoration--its a domed cake plate filled with Skeletons and a black wreath and purple bats, love it.

I think the spider is my favorite!

Front Porch!

Dull and Boring!

Okay, I've fumed a few days now over the debate--and could it have been any more boring, I think not.  We are all well aware that the Economy is beyond in the tank and has gotten worse every day this week, I might add.  So here was the opportunity for either candidate to come out of the gate blasting (especially John McCain) but did they??  Heck a Moly, NO!  I am so disappointed in that fact there was so little passion and irateness on the part of these guys!  I am one pissed off American right now, I am livid over Wall Street, and more upset that Washington is sooo out of touch with Mainstream America!! And where the heck did they get those people in the audience??  Could they have been any duller in their questions?  Am I the only one fired up over the mess we're in right now, cause if I would have been asking the questions you would have seen the passion and ire I'm feeling.  These folks and the online questions were dull, boring and pointless, to say the least.  And Tom Brokaw, good gosh he stunk!  His monotone voice and attitude Suck, let alone his ridiculous attempts at humor.  It was the worst debate and it should have been so much more.  I want more and I expect more.  Where is the passion?  Where is the Crusader?  Where is the fighter for Mainstream Americans?  Where is the Maverick?  Please give us more, I really need to see more Passion on the issues in this Election.

2nd Presidential Debate!

Okay, tonight is the 2nd debate and these boys better put some meat into it.  The Economy better be the #1 issue cause it sucks!  I'm am beyond the name calling and the he said this and no you said that--baloney!  What I want to hear is, what the real honest to gosh plans are to get this Country on track and stop the downward spiral!!!  I could really get on it because I am sick of Wall Street and Washington being so out of touch with Mainstream America.  At this point both McCain and Obama better get in touch with the working folks of this Country who now are carrying the $700 billion dollar bailout, the War in Iraq and the "Oh woe is me" foreign aid policies on our braking backs.    

Debate?

Is anyone as interested in the V.P. debate as I am?  

Best Mommy!

Amber is such a great Mommy! I love that she really loves to play and be silly and have fun with Jake and Ella.

Best Auntie!

Seriously, Sage is the best Auntie!

Love this Girl!

This is our little Ella doll. She is almost 10 months and nearly walking, taking after her Aunt Sagey who walked at 9 1/2 months. Is she cute or what?

Tattoos! Yikes!

So this Uncle Jer being a Tattoo artist and Jake is loving it!

How many 5 year olds do you know with full on back tattoos? Crazy Fun!

So Cute

Jake and Ella read together!

Ella's favorite place to walk back and forth is under the dining room table. Oh yes, she's walking!

Family Fun

Jake in the SWAT car
Family and friends

Best Buds!

The girls

Jake practices kicking

The soccer player

So, last week I decided to take a long week end to visit my darling grandchildren. I drove to Amber's on thursday and stayed until sunday. The question is "Why does my time off fly by so quickly, and some of my days at work drag on endless?" I really get the saying "Time flies when you're having fun." I had so much fun with the kiddies and my time with them went by way too fast. Sage and Jer also came up, arriving friday afternoon. We really filled our saturday, we started with Jake's soccer game in the morning. It is the cutest thing to see these little 5 and 6 year olds running like crazy all over the soccer field. I loved it! Jake is really getting the hang of it, however sometimes he runs like a T-Rex, it is hilarious. After the game Ben's department had an Open House at their station for the community. That was fun for all of us to see where Ben works. Amber and Ben's friends the McMillins came also. The boys had the best time checking out the helicopter, swat car and boxing ring.

1st Day of Kindergarten!

Is that a look of anticipation or a look of dread--one day down how many more to go?

Jake's school is a short walk from home!

Tuesday was Jake's 1st day of Kindergarten. I am so glad that I went up to walk to school with him on his first day. I remember the girls first days of school so clearly, they were much more nervous, excited and sort of frightened than Jake. He took the whole morning in stride and I am so proud of him! I think Am's and I both had lumps in our throats but kept the tears totally under control. When we met him after school he proudly announced that he already had a "best friend". And so Jakes school years begin!