A very California Thanksgiving (part 5 and FINAL!)

When the kids and I returned from our great trip to Sacramento, they were finally feeling a little better from their initial allergic reaction to Southern California. Humidifiers were doing wonders so coughing was to a minimum - thank goodness! It was so very pitiful, day and night. The weather turned AWESOME when we came home from the beautiful Fall Wonderland we experienced Sacramento. So... after being cooped up inside quite a bit, we finally got to go in town to let them have a little fun. What's more fun than looking at Mall fountains and playing in another Malls water display (as featured in a previous visit to CA). After that, we did, what else? Photo shoots for a couple of my siblings! :)

My mom and I went to our old/new mall when we got back from Sacramento. It was like 86 degrees out at the end of November! I just HAD to put CG in this super cute outfit, one more time. A funny thing about it is, before having her, I would never think I would put my child in something I think is so 'fru fru' but it is one of my absolute favorites! ugh! I love it.

The ever lover of water. He has influenced his sister in kind. :)

And the real fun begins!

This just makes me so happy!

Grandma Putsie came along to help round up these wackos. :)

I just love seeing their athleticism in this picture, besides the cuteness. :)

My absolute favorite photo. We bought these crocks. The baby's are the most adorable and I had a fit about choosing  pink or yellow cause they were equally so cute. Evan of course choose green but recently has been naming yellow as his 'other' favorite color. Interesting since it was the first color he ever said or could identify. I hope he keeps adding favorite colors. :) and p.s. I LOVE Cora's bathing suit! It was bought for next summer but she's already filling it out!

This is my beautiful sister Jenalyn and her family. She is #9 of the kids in our family. Funny to call her a 'kid' but when I'm ninety, I'll still be calling her 'my little sister'. lol. As a note, when we were growing up, she was always a mom. She was 8 when my youngest brother Isaac was born and that kid lived on HER hip, not my moms (OK, my moms too but seriously, he called for "Jenny" equally). I always knew she would be a mom and a great one. Not only that, she's a great wife too.

Side story: (I looked up this date:) At about 430am on January 17, 1994 (Northridge Earthquake), I was sleeping in a water bed in the basement of my parents house (3 1/2 stories) when I was jolted awake, sloshing in my bed. It was and Earthquake... a BIG one. I had been through many Earthquakes in my life but this was the strongest and in the middle of the night so I was scared. Only adding to that was the fact that my four year old brother shared a room with my sister, up a full flight of stairs and was crying out for her "Jenny!? Jenny!? What's happening!?" I was too panicked to cry but re thinking about it gets me emotional. I was still trying to get out of the bed cause the tremor was still rocking and finally I could hear her reacting and running with him up a 1/2 flight of stairs and out the door. I don't know what she remembers of that morning but I am so grateful she was there to comfort him and react quickly. Many more things happened because of that Earthquake, damage at my dad's gas station, my then 17yr old brother Bennett was un-like him, NOT home and we were worried about him (he was home minutes later, had been playing foot ball in the street with friends or something?). It's interesting to think back at your feelings at such a traumatic time with your current experiences and knowledge. I guess this is where sentiment starts. :) Ok, back to the subject, sorry about that....

These are my very favorites that I took of the family...

Jenalyn, Liam (almost 4), Darren and Reese (almost a year!)

I've just gotta tell you about this. Poor little Liam needed to go potty but we made him stay to finish the shoot. I just love little Piece's face! He's all concerned about his big brother like, "hey big brudda, it'll be ok, just smile a couple more times." lol. :) (I have a vivid imagination. he he he). Also, this set up is one of many tires on our property that once surrounded and protecting the water system for our Avocado Orchard. I'm sure the tires were from my dad's gas stations. Speaking of 'sentiment', I like this one. :)

The best.

Spoke too soon?

Some mama pictures.

Real life mommy challenges: getting your child to behave during pictures. lol. :)

Daddy's turn.

Now, my brother Bennett (#6) and his family. He is such a good man and I hate it cause he was always 'perfect' and born under some amazing star or something. lol Well, I'm happy to report that he's still awesome. He works so hard for his family and has a wonderful wife that is smart and talented and hard working as well. They just make me sick ;) he he he. And here are their crazy kids. Let me say, sorry there aren't more pictures but it is next to impossible to photograph this big of a rambuncious family. Now I know why my parents never got our pictures taken. lol

Noah (6 1/2), Jen, Olivia (4), Bennett, Juliet (18 mo) & Luke (3)

I rest my case. You only need one good one. :)

What do you do when the 18 month old is tired of cooperating? Make them the center of attention. :) (worked for about 7 seconds lol)

This one is either my favorite or second favorite. It's hard to choose. :)

My kids have Olivia for the children's gift exchange. She is a girly girl so I had the idea as her gift, to take her picture and display it a few different ways then frame 3 for her room. I thought of a take on Andy Warhol famous picture. It came out great. Here are a couple of my efforts to immortalize her 4 year old self. ;)

Future heart breaker for sure. xo

Finally at the end of our trip! On the plane home they were great. Getting ON the plane was a whole different story!! Evan had a major meltdown while I was talking to a nice French gentleman the kids were pestering who coincidentally turned out to be 1. Adopted and 2. LDS! I wish I could have talked to him longer to hear more of his story but as I mentioned, the meltdown happened AS they were calling us to board and on a full flight like that for Southwest, if I didn't get on board when my group was going, I could be separated from the kids... hmmm... maybe I should have done that.... food for thought for next time. A perfect stranger can try to change their poopy diaper in the forward lavatory (you know, the one you can't assemble in front of to save your place? The only one with a changing table!? What the poop is that about?!). Anyway, once on the plane their Allergy med I gave them for the cough they still have, must have kicked in (i also believe the med contributed to Evan's melt down, he seems to react that irrational way often when giving the allergy med. Yes I will be researching a more holistic option asap) cause those babies were OUT within 20min for about 30minutes but I was able to have some time to myself that was needed and welcomed (including going potty by myself with out them in a teeny bathroom!). There were 3 very helpful and nice people (none of them were the flight attendants fyi) and wherever you are, thank you. So here we are all pooped out and ready to be home with DADDY!

This is my, "I survived traveling alone with 2 kids and all I have is this kooky smile, no make up and horrible braids to show for it", look. :) It's good to be home. Mike worked hard monetarily and physically fixing up our garage with new shelves before he himself went down for the count for a few days with a bad illness. Knock on wood, we are all currently healthy and Happy! Talk about 'Thankful". I'm thankful for our visit to California, sane/safe travel, good health and this season where we can go out and show others love and service. God Bless everyone.