Happy New Year!

Another year gone--- where did it go??? This past year has FLOWN by! It is so true when they say the older you get the faster time flies. I had a great year for the most part. The highlights were Brynn being born, spending time in Disneyland with Ian's and Brooke's families and having Cami here in June and July. I have family and friends I wish I could see more often. My job has been good, I am lucky to work with great people!

So for 2009--- I look forward to Cami's wedding, seeing more of my grandchildren, traveling to Sweden, and hopefully other places. I am off to spend New Year's Eve with McKenzie and Brynn while Brooke and Evan go over to friends' house.
Happy New Year to you all!!!

Merry Christmas!!

This will be a short blog - just to update you all that I am still over at Brooke and Evan's. Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were beautiful!! Except that little Brynn is sick, which breaks our hearts. I was able to talk to Ian and his whole family. Reagan and Jenna had a fun Christmas and were so excited telling me about everything Santa brought them!! I also was able to talk to Cami and Klas. They are up at Klas's mom's house having a magical Swedish Christmas.

Here are a few Christmas Eve and Christmas Day pics. More to follow later---


There is an amazing neighborhood in San Carlos that decorates like crazy!


Enjoying the lights with McKenzie.



McKenzie's goodies and note she left for Santa!


Kenzie and Brynn in matching outfits!


Kenzie dressing up as a Princess!


Brynn loves her new baby doll.

Holiday Emotions

I am pretty melancholy this time of year. I want to be with all of my friends and family. Last Christmas I was able to be with Ian, his family, and Cami. This year I will be with Brooke and her family. I am so excited to get past the next 2 days so I can head over there. Cami and Klas will be coming out for a visit in January so I have that to look forward to also.

Last week I saw McKenzie and Brynn. Kenzie is so excited for Christmas. I am adding a cute video of her singing. She loves to sing for her sister.


Brynn is growing so fast. I love getting her to smile- which isn't hard to do!


This past weekend was a crazy busy clean-up, catch-up, Christmas shopping, movie going, church going, friend visiting weekend! My kind of weekend! While at the movies with Marcia and Diana I ran into friends Rick and Tracy. I ended up going to early dinner with them afterwards. It was great to catch up with them. Today after church I went to Bryan and Lisa's for an amazing dinner! They had friends from Texas staying with them, Adam and Meagan. Lisa made this fabulous dish that is actually a Macaroni Grill recipe- of Chicken, pasta, prosciutto, and capers which had a delicious rich sauce on it. I didn't even want to know the calorie count for it!! I love their family so much. It is always entertaining to watch their boys, Ayden and Logan! Lisa even sent me home with leftovers. Most people know I don't eat left overs--- but let's just say that this time I am definitely making an exception. I can't wait for dinner tomorrow night- I know what I am eating!


Ayden loves to draw!


Lisa cooking our wonderful dinner!!


Logan found something to do while his mom was cooking!


Meagan, Adam, Ayden, Bryan, Lisa and Logan.

It is really cold here in Sacramento- but after hearing from my sister in Seattle- they have been snowed in for 3 days! And of course, with Cami in Sweden, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least we have more than 2 hours of sunlight a day...
Have a great Christmas week everyone!

End of the year check-up

Every year at the end of the year I have an opportunity to meet with the Bishop of my ward at church. We go over church matters and then he asks how I am doing. He is truly interested in what is going on in my life. I think it is pretty amazing that I am at a point in my life when I can tell him everything is good! The things I feel a need to complain about all of a sudden seem trivial- so I don't. For the most part the things that are tough for me aren't really that tough. I wish I lived closer to my children, other family and friends, I wish I could retire, I wish had more money so I could retire..... but really................... I have my health, I have a good job, I talk to my children on a regular basis, I have wonderful friends, I have 4 precious granddaughters, I have my faith. It has only taken me 50+ years to feel like I am pretty grounded!!! Sure I have regrets but, for the most part, if I could go back I wouldn't. The saying"If I knew then what I know now" couldn't be more applicable!!! I do have to admit-- I told the Bishop I am ready for a new calling. Being Activities Chairperson has been a great challenge. But after a year of planning activities for the ward and for 3 years before that planning events for the Single Adults I feel I have had enough of event planning! However, I also know I should be careful what I wish for! So we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I am grateful for this past year. I am grateful for my blessings.

I'm Still Employed!

This past week has been a roller coaster week for me. I knew at the beginning of the week that there were announcements coming at work by the end of the week that would affect me. The big media announcement came on Thursday that AT&T would be laying off 12,000 people. I have mixed emotions since I want to retire soon and there would be additional money if they were to lay me off, but I want it to be my idea not the company's. I need to still work for financial reasons so if I were to retire from AT&T I would still be needing work of some kind. So I found out Friday that I am safe------FOR NOW! However, 7 of my friends are not. I am so sad that they received their notice. I am fortunate to be working with government accounts. I am a Sales Support Manager- which is like a project manager. Thank goodness not many do what I do so they still need me. We all have the feeling that eventually they will move our job to the mid-west though where it is less expensive, but for now I am grateful to still have a job. It couldn't have come any closer to me then it did without it hitting me. For those that did get the letter I am sorry. I am sad. I am mad. It comes down to the dollar- and at the customer's expense too. But corporate America isn't thinking about that. They are thinking of the shareholders. I will continue to work hard (probably harder) because the company has fewer and fewer resources that I use to provision the technology for State and Local government agencies. Oh yea- last week- the Governor's office lost their voice mail for 2 days! Something that could be fixed in a couple of hours took about 2 days to get them back up and running. But that isn't anything new- just an example of the issues we deal with on a regular basis! Picture the cartoon of the guy banging his head again and again on the brick wall ---- that is how I feel! I do still like my job. Just don't love it. I need to get ready to go to church- and unfortunately, afterwards, I need to go into the office for a few hours. But I am not really complaining- I am grateful to still be employed!!