We Are Family- Part 1 of California trip

I love my family! I love to go visit them!

We went to Lake Arrowhead first to stay in our traditional cabin that is owned by a family friend. We cram into the 3 story cabin and although we don't sleep very well, we have a lot of fun.

This year, my brother Andy, changed things up a bit. He was able to "rent" a Pontoon boat so we could ride around the lake and knee board. Hahaha! Silly.

The kids loved it though.

Andy also brought up some electric scooters so we could cruise around the area.

Good times!

Here is my side of the family:

All grandkids:

Nobody can make a straight face when getting their photo for anything important:

This was Andy's boat license he had to get that day to drive the boat.

(Click to see larger)

Poor Jake was in charge of getting the tow rope out/in the water and he burned his knees on the hot cushions he was on. He is okay now.

Jay with no shirt on.

Andy and Shawna

Robyn and Jenna

Ryan

Taylor and Jon

Oh, yes! I know what you are thinking about Jake. "Wow! He has great posture!"

(See burned knees, dollar store shades, and sweet pink helmet below)

"Yeah, I like pink. You wanna mess with me?"

Jeffrey and Trent

Shawna and Breck

Melinda showing off her talents.

Trent, Breck and Ryan. Cousins.

Pretty Mom and Me.

{4 Years Old.....Oh my!}

I can't believe my baby is 4!! She is so grown up! I love everything about her. She is so smart and beautiful and happy. I love how she looks when she first wakes up with her hair all messy and pretty. I love her smile and her giggles. She is a good friend. She loves to make up songs that are silly. She loves to be in the water. She loves primary songs from church. She loves anything that is "baby" or that is "tiny", even the "tiny" toilets in kids bathrooms.

She loves her daddy the most. (sometimes hard for me to accept) She is perfect in every way!!

We had a little birthday party for her yesterday with a few friends from our neighborhood and she had so much fun. They splashed in a little pool and slid on a slip and slide. Party+H2O=SuperFantasticTotallyRadFun.

My talented neighbor/friend made the cute cupcakes and they were so delicious!

Jake was up late decorating our home:)

She was shy when we were singing to her.

I don't know what she wished for, but my wish is for her to stay 4 forever. :(

They grow up too fast and I don't think I like it one bit.

{My little graduate}

Breck and I had a fun year with our preschool group. 6 mom's from our neighborhood decided to take turns teaching preschool twice a week. We had 3 sweet little boys and girls in our group. It was free and fun and it took some work too. Emily, one of the moms, planned a cute little graduation for the kids last night. Thanks Emily!!

I had to hobble over to get some pics of my cutie pie. (I recently had surgery and I'm still recovering, but doing well)

Here are the 6 of them together. They all became such good friends. It was a good experience for us.

{Just in case you don't visit my photo blog....}

Email me at danawillis@gmail.com

This is how Jake jumps off a swing.

Am I old fashioned????

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the skies were blue. I opened my window to enjoy it and I looked down at our nice little park area behind our building and saw two teenage couples laying on each other kissing. I was shocked. I was totally shocked that they didn't seem to care if anyone was watching them out their windows. Ew.

I shut my blinds.

About an hour and a half later, they were still out there. I mean, really? Who are these kids?

Am I old fashioned? Should I be thinking,"Well, at least they are dressed and doing this in a place where things cannot get too heavy." NOPE.

I went outside. I opened my gate and tried to shoo them away with my hand and voice. I said,"go home".

They ignored me!

I then grabbed Jake and the whole family and we went running out with every ball we own and bats and started playing sports on Sunday about 4 feet away from one girl straddling her "man".

By the way, they were about 14 or so years old.

We were yelling and cheering and trying to be annoying.

Within a minute or so, the girls got off of their "men" and just sat there.

Jake even asked them questions,"Are you new to the neighborhood?" They just shook their heads and didn't say much more. They then moved over closer to the playground and just talked for the next hour.

I'm okay with talking!!! (even though I still wanted them to leave our innocent, clean family playground area)

FINALLY, I heard a "mother" yell out to her daughter that it was time to go.

Blech!

This "mother" was okay with her daughter and her friend laying on their boyfriends making out???

It makes me wonder what the "mother" and her friend she was visiting were doing......EW!

I know there are worse things out there, but seeing this makes me want to keep my children sheltered and safe from hearing, seeing, doing anything inappropriate. I'm already doing this, but I think I might do it until they are 30.

I have a feeling this won't be the last time these teens show up and straddle each other on my back lawn. (well, it pretty much is my backyard)

If I call the police next time, will they just laugh at me???(the police, I mean)

{She is full of color}

THIS VIDEO makes me happy when I watch it.

I love that she finds so much color and fun with the world around us. I wish I was more like her.

It's only a few minutes, go watch! It will make you giggle. It is three and a half minutes of creativity!

Here is her blog and I think everyone should follow it.

Logo, I like it.

If you would be so kind, grab the html code for my Logo Button under my logo on the right side of this blog and copy it and paste it under the "Add a Gadget" on your Layout page. Click "HTML/Javascript" and paste the code in the box and VOILA!

I would be so grateful! Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Smarty Pants

I was sitting at my computer, something I do way too often, and I looked over at my 3 year old, Breck. I saw that she was drawing on a piece of paper. I asked what she was drawing and she said, "Cinnamon Toast Crunch". The box of cereal was gone and was still sitting on the kitchen table. I walked over to see and found this:
"Wow!", I said. She would just keep looking at the box and then draw what she saw on the paper. So fascinating, kids. She is such a smart little girl.

By the way, she is left handed. Not sure how I feel about that. I keep trying to tell her to switch, oh well. Is it that bad?

She then started to erase everything she had written because she ran out of room on the paper. I told her to just get another piece. She said,"Don't worry, I won't get tired from erasing." Hahaha! Smart AND she thinks GREEN! Who could ask for more?!

Hooray!

I finally got a website up and going! I'm so excited to have it. It looks more professional than I thought it would:)

Go visit: www.danawillis.com

{Cheat Day CAFE}

Okay, my cute friend Melody started a great blog with yummy recipes on it!

She is very talented. Well, she is having a giveaway for her 100th post!

Go visit and enter and see the cute prize!

{Cheat Day Cafe}

Great Date!

Jake's boss has season tickets to the Utah Jazz. They often hand out tickets to the games. As nice as that is, we don't really care as much as some, to go to the games unless........they play the LA Lakers. I know there are so many people in Utah that for some odd reason, can't handle the Lakers. In fact, I feel that it has affected our ability to be better friends because of it. (not me, they have the problem) I don't mind the Jazz and I don't trash talk. I just enjoy my Lakers, that's all.

Jake's boss handed him two tickets to the Lakers vs. Jazz game on Feb. 10th

We had a lot of fun. I wasn't expecting a win, actually. I hoped, but the two "star" players were out with an injury.

Well, let's just say, they aren't the only star players on the team:)

I was so proud of them.

LAL 96 Jazz 81

If anyone wants to get in my face and be a huge jerk about it, I dare you. :)

Some know what happens when an immature(not saying they all are) Jazz fan shoves stuff in front of my face. Haha! The good 'ol days, huh? I hope I've grown up since then.....

Anyway, watching them always makes me miss my Dad, who used to watch the games with me as a youth. We even had a family cheer when watching.

Needless to say, it was a great date with Jake.

Two days later we got to go to the LDS Conference Center and watch my baby brother play the drums with BYU's Synthesis. It was a great concert! Jay did an awesome job. I wish I could play the drums like him.

Finally.

I finally finished reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". I'm a weird reader. I don't mind reading. I like it, sometimes. I can't just pick up any book and read it from cover to cover like some can. I also definitely cannot read it through the night like some can. I value sleep way too much. Anyway, the book really has to grab me in the first few chapters or I'm done. Am I a book snob? I don't know. I don't think I am.
Maybe I am. I am a pickle snob. I will only eat certain pickles. All others are nasty.
The "Potato Peel" book was cutely written and entertaining. It was, however, a slow beginning for me. It took me a while to get into it. The 2nd half is what got me reading almost daily:)

Now on to another book: The Hunger Games

By the way, Jake said,"Did you get that hunger book yet? What kind of diet is it about? Is it any good?" Hahahahaha!
I guess that is the author's fault for naming it that title.

I've heard it is really good......we'll see. :)

Someone needed a haircut.

Christmas in CA

This year we decided to go celebrate Christmas at Grandma's in California. We were so excited to go see family and be amongst the warmer temperatures too. Christmas Eve we gather to read from the scripture's about the story of Jesus' birth. My Mom was the donkey this year and Jonah and Breck were Joseph and Mary. Haha. These are the "costume's" we use from the bathroom and closets.



My brother Jeff came from Michigan to have Christmas at home.

Each year we also read a story form Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book. It is read by my little brother Jay since the main character in the story is called "Jay Bees Daws".

Jeff and Trent hanging out.

My family has the tradition of photographing the kids on the stairs Christmas morning before they go see if they got anything for Christmas:) My Dad used to always say,"Kids, Santa didn't come." We always just laughed and ran past him to see our gifts in the living room. He was a joker, my Dad.

Here are our kids, bed head and all.

Here is our family picture on Christmas Day at my Mom's.

Breck got a few little things that she was so happy to have. I love her little face below.

We finally got the boys a Wii this year and it has been fun to have. Jake and I now compete against each other. Look at Gavin's face. He is my child I have to really be careful with video games. He loves to play them too much.

All of my siblings came over for lunch and to open presents from each other. I had to shoot a couple of pics while we there together. Here are my two beautiful sisters below.

The 3 sister's always have to take a pic together:)

Jonah and I goofing off on the trampoline with my camera and dusk.

Superman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!