Chips 'n Salsa

Merry Christmas!! Bruce and I are giving each other Hawaii for a present this year. We are going with Tom and Leeann in January for a week, on the island of Kauai. At first I was a little apprehensive with flying and all again. But I have heard it is abit easier now a days. We shall see. Sean, Niki and I made sugar cookies last Sunday in fun Christmas shapes. I sent them home with Niki, so they can paint them with frosting this week. I remember doing that with Niki and AJ when they were little. They had so much fun. Bruce and I got most of our shopping done last weekend. It was a very cold shopping day. We kept getting latte's and sipping free hot chocolate at William/Sonoma. Plus they have this fire pit at The Summit shopping center. But you practically have to climb in it to get very warm in this cold weather. It is festive tho. Bruce and I have been thinking of making up a thermos of hot cocoa and doing the rounds of the neighborhood light shows. I am waiting for the newspaper to do a map of them, like they do each year. I know we are in our 50's, but its just fun. And we haven't done it in years. Christmas dinner will be another fun contribution of lots of things. I'm sure Bob will find some new way to smoke a turkey again. Bruce and I are going to do lamb this year. Brian and Niki did one for us about a month ago, and it was so darn good. I wasn't sure about it, but when I talked to Cheryl and Sharon about it, they said they would love it, and Al said the same to Bruce. We will have to get the games out, and of course the winter puzzle is out. Sure miss Rachel working on it. We have the borders done, thanks to Cheryl and Sharon, and I think Al at Thanksgiving. We will also plan a foosball tournament. Maybe I will put AJ in charge of that. I have learned that I am horrible at foosball. I am sure I can improve. Do I want to??? So, how is this winter treating the rest of you??? (We have had some snow, and my driveway is one icerink since we were not able to get out and scrap it before we drove our cars all over it. I just drive straight into my garage. No walking out on it. Or I would surely fall.)

Hi everybody. Thanks Tim for blogging and letting us know you guys are in a safe area so far. Keep us posted. I tried to comment but my computer wouldn't let me. i will keep on trying. Those fires are so aweful. I don't think we have ever seen anything like this. We are praying for everyones safety, and that the winds and all cooperate. The leaves are all changing and falling here in Carson City. My favorite time of the year. Today it is 75 degrees and absolutely lovely. I have my window near my desk at work open and the air is wonderful. This Friday night is Brandy's Halloween Party, so Bruce and I are watching Sean and Darby so Brian and Nicole can attend. I can hardly wait. I just can't get enough of those kids. Sean is starting to talk more and what a great personality he has. Darby, well she's just 2 months old, she weighs 12lbs and is just my little sweet pea. She smiles and is just starting to coo abit. I was with Cheryl and her grandbaby, Alex on Saturday, and boy does he ever coo and try to talk to you. So very cute. With those big brown eyes. We had a fun time together watching the babies, while the older kids, Sean and Taylor went to a pumpkin patch and petting zoo here in Reno. They had a great time. I remember when my kids were young, we always tried to go to grandma and grandpas in early October to visit and then go to the pumpkin patchs in Half Moon Bay. Those where some very good times. I miss that. I think the fall season just brings that all back to me. The cooler weather makes me nostalgic for the old stomping grounds. For one last Thanksgiving walk around the block at mom and dads after the dishes were done. To watch the planes take off and land from their veranda. To smell and hear the popcorn popping in the pan as dad shakes and shakes it to get all the kernels popped. The swoosh, swoosh sound of dad walking in his slipper, and moms crisp steps in the kitchen as she prepares one more meal. The unending bowl of nuts, and dad begging us to eat them. Persimmon cookies and mom's turkey dressing. I could go on and on. Hey, what do you remember?? Also, who's all coming for Thanksgiving? I have the puzzle out already. Its a good one. I will even get some nuts. Ha!! I hope you all can come, the more the merrier. Lots of love. Terrie XOXOXOXO

So here it is August 9th already, and I haven't been to Sand Harbor once. This really stinks. I know there is still time, but I actually have to take it and use it for going to the Lake. Will I???? Since we are in the throws of kitchen tiling and painting, it seems every weekend is used for that. I really like my backyard tho, and sit out there, or lay in the hammack and just listen to the birds and crickets. The stars at night are great, and Bruce likes looking for satelites. Good company, a glass of wine and a nice summer breeze, that's hard to beat. Got to go and see my new grandnephew in the hospital. Alexander Cruz Mena is a beautiful little boy. He is so loved, and so wanted. I can hardly wait to see him again. Taylor had the sweetest smile on her face the whole time I was in the hospital visiting them. Brandy did such a great job. She's such a great mother, and Chad is such a proud dad. No doubt he is going to be fantastic at being a dad. Hope Cheryl puts some pics of him in her next blog. Maybe one of Taylor holding him, with that sweet smile of hers. Nicole is due Sept 4th. I can hardly wait to see that new little Kelleher. She has her room already, infact Sean thinks he should be able to climb into her crib now. Its going to be interesting to see how he reacts to someone else taking Nicole and Brians time besides him. Nicole has three names she likes so far, Darby, Brenna and Terra. Once she and Brian sees her, then they will make the decision. Hey, how is everyone doing out there? How's your summer? I know Dave and Jami are in Germany, so I will be really excited to here how that all went. Hey, Bruce broke the tile cutter he bought, must not have been Bruce proof!! HaHaHa!! He said it was because when they built it the person who screwed in the mail screw, over screwed and it was stripped. Does that make sense? He took it back to Lowe's and he got a new one. So on again to finishing the tile in the kitchen. This weekend will be all about grouting. Talked with Helen (Van Wey) Betzler the other day on a chat line of all things. Seems she is taking her dad to Hawaii this month. He is 94 years old. Hope they have a fabulous time. Have a great rest of summer. Love, Terrie

Yes, it is summer again. Lots of things blooming, including weeds and hard to pull grasses that are inbeded in the flower beds and are very hard to pull. Yeah!!!! This last weekend that is just about all Bruce and I did. Plus Bruce took a load of stuff to the dump, including our old counter from the kitchen. Our new granite counter tops look great. we still need to paint and put up the tile backsplash. All in time. I am learning to be patient, and just live day to day. It so much better than the other way around, which is yelling and being upset that things are not moving as fast as you would like. Keeping in God's word and just loving your family and what God has given me helps alot. Sean is such a joy always. Nicole and Brian are fantastic parents, and they have created a very special child. I can hardly wait to see the newest on in September, plus Brandy's little boy. It just doesn't get any better, does it? We just came back from a family vacation with AJ and the Kelleher's. We all went to Monterey/Carmel area and rented a house. We had a very relaxing time. We went to the Aquarium, which Sean just loved. The whole 2nd floor is just for children his age, very hands on and fun for him, and us. To watch Sean get so excited about the fish and penguins and all, it was so fun. We stayed there for hours. Then we took him to the beach, and boy did he love that. I think he would of just walked right into the waves. It was just like the biggest sandbox ever for him. He played with his pail and shovel, and cried when it was time for us to leave. We ate at Clint Eastwoods old restaraunt, Hogsbreath. We sat outside in the courtyard right by a fireplace. Very nice. Carmel is a fun place to visit. The guys golfed a couple of days. Nicole and I went shopping one day and then to this kids park called Dennis The Menace Park. The guys BBQed for us and we went in the hot tub almost everyday. The house had a great view, and lots of birds. A nice relaxing time. But of course it went to fast. So back to reality and all the things that need to be done here at home. Never ending.

Today is Valentine's Day, and I am going to make nachos for dinner. Nachos!! You say. Where's the surf 'n turf or scampi or something fabulous. Well I like nachos, and it's easy to make and Bruce and AJ love them to. Plus we had a big dinner on Monday with london broil etc... Plus nachos are fun. We finally mastered our large professional popcorn machine. I found this company on line and ordered the kits of popcorn. The first time we tried it the popcorn seemed chewyish and not crisp so I bought some other popcorn, and used part of the kit plus the new popcorn and that was delicious. We have been watching alot college basketball lately. Nevada is now in the top 10, which I believe is a first. College basketball is so much more fun to watch then professional. March madness is just around the corner and will be another fun one to watch. I will probably have to bring the small TV to work again. Yesterday it blizzard from time to time, today it is very sunny and warm. You've got to love Carson City weather.
Sean turned 1 last Sunday. We celebrated at the Kellerher home with about 30 or so people. It was fun. Nicole was all nervous about having that many people at her house, but I think it went very well, even with all the small children. It was nice to meet some of her play group parents and kids. Plus this is my favorite age for kids, I really enjoyed myself.
I am trying to plan a vacation spot for my family this year. I think we will go to Carmel. Also want to go to Disneyland sometime with AJ, maybe Knotts Berry Farm too. Its been awhile for Bruce and I. Just want to wait till the weather is a bit more warm. Can't love the log ride as much or any water ride when it's cold out. What's everyone else planning???

Yes, I just turned 52 and mom would have been 85 can you believe it? She's been gone 5 years now. I miss her. Nicole and Sean came and took me out to lunch. She also brought me 2 huge slices of cheesecake with strawberries on them from a cheesecake she bought at Costco. Probably Cheesecake factory. Bruce brought home carnitas from Micasa 2, and even margaritas. I ate and ate. I've actually got to stop all this holiday and birthday eating. Bruce had his eye surgery on the 9th and can see 20/15 in each eye now. He loves it. He has to use reading glasses, but no longer the daily glasses for distance viewing. Tonight Bruce and AJ are going to the UNR/Fresno basketball game at Lawlor. Bruce just got 2 tickets. It's a sold out game so he was very lucky that 2 of Michael Hohl Jr's friends couldn't go so now they are. Guess I will just take a nice bubble bath put on my warm jammies and watch a good movie. Probably finish the rest of the carnitas. What are you doing tonight??? How is everyone????

What a fine Christmas Day we had. The usual to much to eat, especially the appetizers. I thought I was going to be so good about that this year, but once again a plethera of small snacks. I guess that is just the way it will always be. We tend to eat our big much later, because we are so full, and that's okay. We all seem to have good breakfasts on Christmas morning anyway. So we will just eat later from now on. The appetizers are fun anyway. Since Brian,Nicole and Sean where in Chicago, we are doing our Christmas with them this weekend. So I really won't be putting the tree and trimmings away until next weekend. Bruce didn't get his eye surgery this month because he got the flu. But he will be getting it on the 9th of January. I will let you know how it went. Was good to see Tim wrote in his blog. We knew you were busy, Tim and Paula, we love you and miss you. Hope your cruise and week off will be restful and reviving. Let us know how it goes. My New Years Resolution is to read Mom's old bible from cover to cover, (just found it in my box books the other day) and to lose some weight or atleast get out and walk more. I am really starting to feel my age, and I don't like the sluggishness. What about you all? Any resolutions??? Love you all. Love to hear some comments.