Christmas and More

Since the second van load of weary Midwesterners arrived over a week ago, life has spiced up a little.  I hinted in the previous post that I slightly dreaded the arrival of my family, not because I don't like them, but because I knew that once they arrived things would never be 'normal'.  Moving from house to house is fine because that's what works; however, it's been a little challenging emotionally to work through this holiday season of constant activity while trying to enjoy my final days here.  I realize that I'm incredibly blessed and really have no reason to complain because I'm being so well taken care of.  But to completely ignore the fact that this is hard and sometimes even painful isn't necessarily wise so I'm grateful to have a God to turn to when life gets a little unstable.  In fact, I'm grateful for the times when life gets unstable because then I turn to God and realize He is my satisfaction.  That's a whole other topic for another time :)  For now I'll do a picture post of the holidays so far...

My waterfall buddy.

Hike up Echo Mountain.

 

 



 

Twins!! Well, twin cousins.  Hannah and I were born on the same day but to different mothers.

 

Fun day with Jenna, Anikah, and Jordyn in Claremont.  Just the beginning of lots of cousin time!

 

He's real!!! Calvin arrived Tuesday and this was the first time I had seen him in 3 months!

 

All of us but David, who came to sunny California and went up in the mountains to go snowboarding, went to a whale watching place where we saw several whales and then on to Donald Trump's golf course where there's a path to the ocean and some tide pools.

 

 

 

 

This is a giant sea slug.  We think it was dead because it looked bloated and didn't move while we poked around at it.  Bleh, it almost makes me sick to think about it.

 

I carried Calvin back up the cliff and was snapping photos of him when he pulled this expression.  I think he just might live up to his name :)



 

The next morning, those of us who were staying at Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue's met Steven and his sisters for breakfast on the beach.

We drove in to Pasadena for a fun cousin day which consisted of some yard clean-up and wall demo at Jon and Kali's new house followed by ice skating.

Jamming to songs from 'Frozen'.

After Christmas Eve services that evening, Aunt Heidi hosted a shin-dig for all the family.  And after a whole day of being together there's still enough love amongst the cousins to at least snap a photo :)

 

The next day, Christmas Day, my family had a brunch at Grammy's and then opened gifts.  I made Calvin a Hobbes which was the project I was procrastinating on because hand-stitching on 23 stripes was a time consuming task.  However, every Calvin needs a Hobbes and for this little guy I'd do anything!

 

We enjoyed playing some games and a hike back to the waterfall before the Sauder's arrived for dinner and a walk to the Pink Mansion.

 

 

The day after Christmas was when the big Klotzle family got together to celebrate.  There were a few missing but we still made quite a crowd and had a great time together!  Uncle Dave and Aunt Janelle did a beautiful job hosting.

 

A wonderful Grammy and her six wonderful children.

 

Kim, Danny, Edie and I stayed at Uncle Dave and Aunt Janelle's that night.  The next day we went on a hike with the Klotzle boys to a waterfall and Indian cave on a nature preserve.  I've been loving my nature dose with the various hikes over the past week!!

 

The next day we piled in vans, mini vans, cars, and anything in between and came to Temeculah where I am right now.  In fact, breakfast closes in half an hour so I'd better get down there for my Embassy omelet. 

 

Until next time...











Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is 9 days away.  It hardly feels real but I'm sure that once the van loads of Midwesterners arrive it will all be verrrrrryyyyyyy real.  Ha, no, I really am looking forward to it.  But lately as I've realized that my 'normal' days here in California are few, there's been a little ache.  A hint of that fear rising up because more transitions are coming.  Due to the death of my great uncle, Mom, Aunt Kathy, Danny and Edie are driving out early and will arrive on Thursday.  By the time the rest of the family arrives on Saturday I need to be packed up and ready to move around because Dad and Mom will be using 'my room'.  I have no reason to complain because everything is going to work out wonderfully, it's just that lasts are so bittersweet.

Before I get lost in nostalgia I'd better switch topics.  There's been a lot of rain, which is the California equivalent of snow in that it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling to be inside while it's cool and damp outside.  The waterfall has gone from a trickle to a gush and although I haven't been going back there near as regularly these past two weeks, I did take a walk in the rain this morning (I think it was worth it).  The cool thing was that I only saw about half dozen other walkers out from the time I left the house til I got back.  And it felt like an adventure, just a really wet adventure.

The 'spring green' that rain brings to a drought-spelled land. 

Loving the contrast of the wet ground and these leaves. 

Besides rain, the days have brought attending cousins' Christmas programs and singing in the church program, gift-buying, Starbucks and hot chocolate (lots of it!), Christmas music and caroling, card making, an advent study, and another night hike to watch a meteor shower.  I had my last day with Jordyn a week ago and we went to Starbucks for coffee (me) and a scone (her...and me).  Thankfully I've been able to see her twice more in the past week and will get to see her more with the family celebrations coming up!

Ugh, I'm running out of things to say and this isn't working because I'm procrastinating. Yah, like a college student studying for finals except I don't have finals.  I'm in the middle of making a Christmas gift (it's a surprise that I'll share later on) and the fact that I need to hurry and finish is the only thing that's going to press me forward at this point.  So, I'd better get back to work.

Thanks for reading my procrastination ;)

Have a safe and blessed CHRISTmas! 

Special Saturday



Yesterday I was privileged to join the Christmas decorating and first birthday party for sweet Edmund Jon at Aunt Jody's home.

 

Eddie more than just enjoyed it the spaghetti dinner--he had noodles in his hair and a streak of sauce above his ear by the time we were finished.  Although his birthday is actually today, we celebrated it yesterday making it the third celebration already so he should feel quite loved :) He's still a little unsure about this whole candle idea.

 

After supper the decorating began!

 



Photo credit: Joey

Photo credit: Joey

We all had a grand time together with Christmas music, a cozy fire, the warmth of family and friends (well, Kailey is practically one of us by now ;D), anddddddd church lunch prep!

Aunt Jody served lunch today so I baked a few sweets Friday and yesterday. (Eggnog lovers, have you ever tried eggnog cookies? I'm not a fan of drinking straight eggnog but in cookie form it's tolerable and if you really enjoy that holiday flavor I'm sure you'd find them delicious!)  For the meat we assembled some delectable hot ham and cheese sandwiches last night.  Who knew something so simple as cutting bread could be so technical?

Steven thought this was the most efficient way...

And Jonathon thought laying the knife on the table and pulling the bread through it was a better method.  Well, it was argued that the latter method produced a straighter cut but took longer and therefore was less efficient.  Then things went to the next level.

And that didn't last long.  Back to method #1.

Once the bread was cut things went pretty quickly.  As we were standing in our assembly line casually chatting the time away, I mentioned going for an evening walk back to the waterfall with Kailey.  Pretty soon Steven and Joseph were game to go and we wrapped up the last of the sandwiches.  What started out as a 20 minute walk to the waterfall ended in an hour long hike to the top of Echo Mountain.

And that's LA.  Except it sprawls even further on both sides, the lights only stopping where the ocean begins.

At first we took a few pictures with the timer setting.

And then there was this random guy, by the name of Jim M, who was up there taking photos as well and he offered to take several for us.  Thanks, Jim!

'I think all of you standing would be better.'

'Maybe spread out a little.'

Hmmm, we kind of lost Joey in that picture but the lighting was tricky.  So thanks again, Jim.

After soaking up the view and being reminded of how big God is, we headed down the mountain and went home to bed.  And I won't mention what time that was :) I'll just say that although I'm tired it was completely worth it and a wonderful way to end the evening.