Lazy Day

Monday morning and Michael needs to work. 

I decided to head to the store for some groceries and fun with Krista and the kids. The rest were up very late/EARLY working on wedding plans...and slept in. 

Back at home we played with my new instant pot...a gift I enjoy greatly. Today I baked really well-evenly cooked potatoes in 10 min, steamed green beans in 2 minutes, and did I tell you it can do dried beans in 10 - 15 min? Amazing. I wish we needed some rice - I want to try that feature. LOL 

Arielle and BreAnne made a tofu "cheese" ball.  Everyone played games and chatted....Dakota and Izaak like "Command and Conquer" - I think that's the name of the game. 

Zander loves his new track 

We had planned to take dinner to the fellowship hall and watch the Alamo Bowl (Go Ducks!) but discovered the TV doesn't have ESPN....and we couldn't find a way to pay to stream it....so in the end....Krista, Nolan and I joined Michael to watch at the club on base. We were the only ones watching the game; and we had fun. 

Krista matches my computer

We got home from the game and Michael needed to stretch his shoulder (daily personal torture) and get ready for another day at work. The rest of us played games.....

Monopoly Empire

Krista, Arielle, Alex, Stacia and I played Ticket to Ride...

Somewhere during the evening I realized TOMORROW is New Year's Eve....oops. But I think I have everything to pull together the planned celebration. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Two Post Sunday - Reconnecting in Old Sacramento!

Jesus and Js (fill in the family name). We have been looking forward to this day.  Arielle had dear friends in Misawa (we all did).  One of those dear friends has grandparents who live in Stockton. They flew from AL to visit over Christmas and we planned to converge on Old Sacramento this afternoon.

We were all looking forward to exploring a new area. Our immediate family (6 of us) were excited to reconnect with dear friends....maybe Arielle was a little bit more excited than the rest of us....maybe. It would be hard to say - I was dearly anticipating a hug from Becky. 

We divided into groups. I am glad each group had a camera.  Us "Old fogeys" migrated to a spot to sit and chat.....These girls chose the candy barrels as the spot to reconnect...yes, 2 pieces only girls.

Emily, Arielle and Deborah

Becky, Steve & Michael 

Becky and Me

Emily and Arielle

Krista

Krista

  Krista suggested we get Stacia a balloon creature. She chose a purple and pink princess hat. When the gentleman found out we were Air Force he started adding to the hat....

She was certainly easy to spot in the crowd

 I really want to come back to Old Sacramento and explore....so many places to wander. Several museums to visit.

We never made it to the river. I was glad BreAnne got these photos. 

GOLD!

We met back at the train museum at 4:30 p.m. It was hard to end the day so we visited until dusk.

The kids think this hat may be the ticket to get into People of Walmart.

 I couldn't help but remember past adventures with Becky.....it was fun to stroll in the sun, vs the snow...to relax and not have any stress over retreat worship or retreat speaking...it was just an "ah" moment.....the hug, the reconnecting, the catching up - all a big "Ah!"   I am deeply grateful for Becky's parents and our older kids' willingness to share a day of "family time" to allow us this very special afternoon to take place.

We CA Gherkins needed this "Ah."  It is more than enough.

 Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Two Post Sunday - Static Display

This will be a "two post Sunday." We were all up, showered and ready to hit the road at 0900. That's quite a feat with eight people sharing one bathroom. ::grin::  I offered our bathroom but some are "freaked" out by the glass and mirrors in our bathroom. 

This was one of my favorite glimpses of the day. When we have the other four with us, we'll need a second pew. LOL 

It was fun to be at chapel - and I'm still contemplating this babe in the manager with pages of names.

BUT before Chapel - on the drive in - Michael pointed out the Static display with the SR 71 and drone. As we drove into the parking lot he said, "You have time to take them for some pictures if you'd like." Well.....how boring would that be? It's a static display. We've seen hundreds.  But then again - do they want to sit in the chapel for an hour?

 So we asked...."Would you like to get some photos by the display?"

 Um - yes. In fact Izaak and Dakota were INTERESTED in the SR 71 and knew lots of fun facts. Score one for Pepaw!  I forget Air Force bases and such have become common place to us - but aren't to our visitors. Maybe we can get a tour lined up for a future trip.

We headed across the street to check out this baby too. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monopoly Kind of Day

There was FROST on the cover of the backyard onsen this morning - and this was a couple of hours AFTER I opened the lid.....

The steam was welcoming. The moon and sunrise was beautiful when seen from the backyard onsen. I had just gotten out when Krista came down and joined me. I didn't mind a bit longer. 

Michael had to go to the base to prepare for tomorrow. The rest of us busied ourselves with games, wedding prep, and more games. 

Krista and the kids headed to the park....what is this? A mugging perhaps? No.....just a new game....knots.

Michael got home. I made Yakisoba. We sat around the big table and enjoyed dinner and conversation. I do love the the family table.  Cleanup got underway...Michael  went to run through his sermon, Stacia played a computer game.....these kids played Monopoly Empire.

Yuuki is worn out from the park

Krista and Arielle enjoyed the backyard onsen. I was tempted to join them but 3x in one day seems a bit excessive. Krista had a hard time keeping her eyes open with the bright flash....I told them to keep their eyes open wide....

 Arielle's got wider and wider...

This is a unique solution 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...