Have Courage and Be Kind...

 I took Emme to see "Cinderella" today.

Her brother didn't want to go "...its for girls!).

This little 4 year old sat through the whole thing.  You could hear

the other little girls talking about different parts of it during the movie.

Hubby and I had gone to see it the other day.  We'd seen so many previews

that he actually wanted to see it!  Must say he really enjoyed it.

I think that I appreciated it even more this time.  I had read about the dress, so

I paid even more attention to it (all those bitsy lights that make it sparkle).  Amazing!

Me said her favorite part was the pumpkin turning into a coach and

all the animals.

I can actually say that the ball dance scene is probably my 

favorite.  I know that the actors worked really hard on that because of the dress.

(so I wonder if Disney will rework all of their Cinderella products to go along with this updated version?) 

I was thinking about the overall theme to the movie.  It's really not "every girl gets a prince".

it's...

even as Cinderella and the Prince are leaving her house, she shows kindness

to her step-mother by forgiving her.

Isn't this what we want for all of girls?

Girls can do anything as long as they have the courage to try.

Kindness is so unselfish.

This are the traits that I want for my granddaughters (even their mothers).

** Emme told me that I couldn't be a Fairy Grandmother, even if I knew all the words,

because I didn't have a magic wand!  well that makes sense.  Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo!

Crackers and Dinner...

we changed things up a little bit this year with dinner...

Terry made a turkey the night before and sliced it up and

then we made a ham also.  Not quite as much work.  It was really 

a great dinner.  How do mashed potatoes taste so good?

my friend Roxie, from school, is studying in London for a year and a month ago she sent

me a set of "crackers".  We used to do these years ago with my in-laws.

The kids loved them!

I don't know if it was because these actually came from Great Britain or what it was, but these

were great!  The prizes weren't made of plastic, but metal...a mini screwdriver set, yoyo, bottle opener, etc.  The kids all wore their crowns.

Thank you so much Roxie for sending these.  I think they need to be a new family tradition!

Christmas Morning and Geodes...

we went over to Traci's, not too early, on Christmas morning.

Chloe wasn't quite sure exactly what was going on.

Jack asked what Chloe got for Christmas and Traci answered, "a home".

which was very true for this special little rescue dog.

we went over to Geoff & Bri's for an early lunch

oh this little girl...

Greyson got a geode kit, so there was much time spent

breaking them open and looking at them.

it was nice that it wasn't too cold and everyone could be outside for a while.

It was a nice day because it was so mellow.

Holiday Surf Contest...

last Saturday we got to go to a Scholastic Surf Contest that Lauren was doing

at Oceanside Harbor.

It was cold and windy.

We actually got to see a couple of friends of ours that our boys

all did contest together when they were Lauren's age.

now instead of "surfing moms" we were "surfing grandmas"!

Lauren actually surfed in two divisions, shortboard and longboard.

This is what her uncle Geoff used to do too.

her coach is actually someone that we knew from church and he went to school 

with Geoff.  He also happens to be her Spanish teacher.

We were so proud of our little surfer girl!

Oh Christmas Tree, 2014 edition...

One of our family traditions is the decorating of the 

tree at the MH.

Our tree here is just a smallish, artificial tree with multi-colored lights.

What makes it so special is that it's decorated every year by the grands.

All of the ornaments are unbreakable, so there isn't any worry 

about spoiling anything.

We noticed this year that now the tree is decorated all the way to the

top because the kids are so much taller, they can go all the way up.

Emme got to help poppa put on his "cherished Mexican (ugly) ornament"

it was Laurens turn to put the star on the top...they take turns every year.

these four are the most cherished things of all

(yes, even Chloe got into the picture)

We love this four and love this tradition.

TBT Christmas Memories...

found a couple of Christmas pictures from a few years ago

when there were only 3 Grands.

They were doing their annual tree decorating at the MH.

Memories, that's such a special part of the holiday season.

Thankful Thursday...

I'm thankful for these 4 miracles...our legacy and our gifts.

There is nothing more wonderful than grandchildren.

Lauren who made us grandparents.

Jack our first grandson.

Greyson will carry on the name.

Emme the light that never goes out.

We love them dearly.

Bathing Beauties and Double Shakka's...

cuzzies are such fun...

the boys spend hours in the pool.  Some of the games they come up with

crack me up.  They can't really explain it to me, but they seem to know

how to play.

these two bathing beauties are something else...

Lauren was so good with Miss Emme.  

Emme tried to do everything that Lauren was doing.

they really had a great time playing together.

the pool seemed to be helping by back (up until yesterday)

so we got in some really good, warm, salt water time without being at the beach.

love these four kiddos

Comfort Food...

a taste of something that taste like home or brings back fond memories.

It's funny how I've seemed to find more of these places when I'm on the mainland.

There's a place in Dana Point, Stacks, that we'd been wanting to try because they

have a big sign in the window that says that they have gluten free pancakes.

I was surprised to see "Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice on the menu.

It was actually very good, not Rolandos, but close.

we took the kids to get some sushi that Lauren was craving the other night and 

they had ahi poke on the menu.

It reminded me of the poke our neighbor, Christine makes in her "poke stack" because

it had avocado in it.  It was also very good.

Lauren found her "comfort food" in the GF pancakes at Stacks.

She said they didn't even taste GF, (not that she would remember what regular

taste like she says).  They were the best, and she'd like to eat there

every day!

It's hard to just walk in somewhere and order pancakes right off the menu,

so this was happiness.

and she ate the whole thing!

Hip Hop Hipster...

last thursday was Lauren's dance recital.  she's been taking hip hop dance for about a year

so this was her first recital.

Poppa and I don't quite understand hip hop, but it was fun 

to watch her dance.

we weren't expecting her to be thrown up, so this was a 

surprise.

Lauren and her very proud mom

hubby was telling us that Lauren's great-grandma took ballet when

she was young, so Lauren has rhythm in her genes!

we were so proud of our sweet Lauren,

she's quite the hipster.

Cousin Birthday...

Yesterday was the "cousin birthday".  The final ones in June.

Lauren turned 12.

This girlie is a real "tweener".

She made it through her first year of middle school with straight A's.

Loves clothes, her friends and is a beautiful young lady inside and out.

Greyson turned 7 yesterday.

He had a great year in 1st grade.

Played baseball and was a true sportsman.

He loves to read and play with Legos.

We love talking to him and listening to him laugh.

not only do these two cousins share a birthday but they share a love of surfing

It's funny how these two are a like in so many ways,

that's what makes them so unique and special.

Lauren and Greyson we love you!