Merry Christmas and Happy 2010

It was a wonderful and magical Christmas and I hope it was for everyone. It feels like I haven't blogged for a long time but my computer was so slow and tended to freeze (I blamed Norton because it started when I put it on) so I shyed away from pictures but now I have a new lap top so hopefully I can be up and running again.

Christmas Eve we had all the kids and grandkidlets over for a yummy primerib and bakedpotato dinner with all the festive foods to go with it. After cleaning up, Santa Clause (aka Don) came to pass out presents. It was a hoot! Lukie and Mia were having none of it, and very vocally!!! Elijah wasn't real sure but was sticking real close to his mom just in case, which is kinda the norm anyway :), Savannah is only 9 months so she's just watching to see what happens, but Chloe and Scarlett were mesmorized! It was soooo fun. The funniest moment was when Santa asked the girls if they've been naughty or nice and Chloe immediately said, "Scarlett's been naughty." She totally threw her under the bus. We all just cracked up. (as an aside...that's a 3 year old's opinion, her nana's opinion is that she's been perfect all year, hence all the gifts. :) We decided that Santa maybe shouldn't stay too long as we didn't want to tramatize Luke and Mia so next year they might talk to him. Yep...this is going to be a Strassburg family tradition.

Christmas day was a small family dinner with my mom and sister, and my neice, Marila, Don's brother Lee, and Joe and Shana, Chloe and Eli, Cari and Juan, Scarlett and Savannah, and Juan's sister Clara. We were missing my Sister Diane and her husband from Virginia City, Nevada, and my sister's son Carl, who lives in Spain, and my aunt and cousin who live here but my aunt lost her teeth again and they couldn't make it. :) We missed them all! But glad to have my mom again. In all my 57 years I have never missed a Christmas with my mom. She turned 90 this year.

The group that went to Russia - 2009

Don and Eve, Jack and Leona Kofoed from B.C., Kent and Sharon Chappell from New Hampshire, Warren and Sue Wainwright from Calif, Glen and Shirley Spunaugle from Oklahoma, Dennis and Cherry Good from B.C. and Arnie (not in picture) and Marion Lyon from Calif.

Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, St. Basil's

St. Basils, built by Ivan the terrible in the 13th century. It was said that he had the designer's eyes gouged out after it was built so he could never build another cathedral as beautiful. It was pretty awesome. The history here on Red square was amazing.

This is Lenin's tomb. It was locked this day so we couldn't see the body but it's still on display, 85 years after his death.

These are all the Kremlin. This is Red Square.

Russia Pictures

Their everywhere!

Russia

We had a fabulous trip to Russia with 6 other couples, Warren and Sue Wainwright, Arnie and Marion Lyon from California, Glen and Shirley Spunaugle from Oklahoma, Jack and Leona Kofoed, Dennis and Cherry Good from British Coumbia, and Kent and Sharon Chappell from New Hampshire. We were on a river boat cruise that started in St. Petersburg and ended in Moscow with quaint little Russian villages along the Volga river. We crossed Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega which are the two biggest lakes in Europe. One of the Villages, Kizhi, was an island pretty far up north on the Volga. We were warned to stay on the path as they island had a "Viper" problem. Oh yea....I stayed on the path. I fret over the gofer snakes here at home....I definetly was going to stay on that path for vipers. We saw the russian ballet, Swan Lake in St. Petersburg. Don actually only slept through 3/4. The russians have an odd thing they do, they come out and take bows at intermission, Don put on his coat because he thought for sure it's over, he was sooooo dissapointed when he realized that it was just intermission. He kept his coat on well into the 2nd half, wishful thinking I think. We had meeting in St. Petersburg at the sister workers bach and it was very very special to meet that little group of friends. They fed us lunch then we had a little testimony meeting, which was special to hear those Russian testimonies, then we were back to the ship. The sisters were able to spend a little time touring with us when Stephanie was not in school. Moscow was incredible. A huge and mostly wealthy city. 13 million. We met Enid and Lyle Dean who have a condo there and the brother workers and had wed. meeting. The Kremlin and red Square were a once in a life time memory for me. I could have spent a week just sitting there soaking in the history. So much history. We saw the old KGB building. The russians have a saying, the building is the highest place in Russia, from the basement you can see Siberia. :) Russia was not someplace I ever thought I would place high on my places to see list, but we are so glad to have been there. What a country. What an awesome trip!

Alaska Wedding

My sister Diane and her three kids, Linda, Kenny and Jeff.

Ginny and John cutting the camo cake. (Their both in the Airforce.)

"We are family, I got all my sister's with me." (and our mom :)

We had a fabulous time at my great-niece's wedding in Anchorage. My sister Peggy and my mom met the rest of my family, my other sister Diane and all her kids, up there. My niece Linda arranged a great house for us all to stay in so it was just a fun weekend to be with family. We usually only get to catch up in splurts but being together for the weekend we were able to spend lots of time, and considering we are all pretty diverse religiously and politically we did well. And of course Ginny looked beautiful and were just so happy for her. She's a sweet sweet girl, just back from Afganistan, and so deserving of this big day.

50 years ago. I'm on the end on the left, Linda is 3rd from the left, Jill is 2nd from the right.

Today.

I had lunch today with my 2 best friends in Elementary School, Linda and Jilly. It was so much fun to see them. I've seen them off and on throughout the years but mostly off. We've promised to have monthly lunches. It was just really nice to get together and talk about times of such innocence. Like our rebellion in Jr. High against having to wear skirts so a bunch of us girls got together and decided we were going to rebel and wear pants. Except only Linda and I did.....or whenever a new Beatle album came out we would race to Jill's to play it on her record player. We literally grew up together.

Random Pictures

These are just random July pictures of the kids and g-kids. We are so lucky to have them all live so close and see them often. Mia is just starting to want to dress up with Chloe and Scarlett and Luke and Lijah are getting into playing with the trains. Savannah is still just being very sweet. and of course the big guys are solving all the worlds problems outside!

Chloe turns 3

Chloe had her birthday party and she was so excited. Shana is the most excellent cake maker. She baked a castle cake for Chloe because Chloe wanted a princess themed birthday party. It was awesome.

We try to go up to our cabin on Lake Cammanche every July 4th. Last year we took a picture of the grandkids and thought it was so cute, we decided to do it every year as they grew and multiplied. It's just a fun time with the boats and jetskis and food and games. This year we didn't know if we would make it because we had someone there replacing the carpet and kitchen floor and we were not real sure he would be done in time but he was. I have to say I was not sorry to see the old 70's orange and yellow shag carpet go. Our next fix is the railing around the deck as our precious babies can squeeze out. So it is slowly getting baby proofed.

2nd Annual July 4th Grandkids Picture

We added Savannah this year.

More Birthday Pictures

Mom's 90th Birthday

We (my sister's and I and my cousin) had a very successful and fun birthday party for my mom and my aunt on June 27th. Lots of relatives came. Unfortunately it was VERY hot, 107, but we had the pool to swim in and the house to sit in. My sister, Peggy, bought some Pinatas, a must at any hispanic party, and one we filled with fruit, and had my mom and aunt take a whack at. It was hilarious! The kids had so much fun that we decided to use them at the birthday parties from now on.

Check one off the "To Do List"

A couple of weeks ago, Shana, "lijah", and I, along with her sister Nichole and Nichole's friend Kristen, walked a 1/2 marathon, that's 13 miles folks. It was along our beautiful American River. We walked it in 3 hours and 40 minutes and that was after 2 potty stops (hey I'm in my 50's) and one stop so Shana could nurse lijah. We sure were not doing it for time, just to finish it but ended up finishing in the middle of the pack. It was actually easier than I thought it would be, but the recovering was slower than I thought it would be also. Signs I'm getting older I guess. I would definetly and most certainly do it again.

3 kids + 3 spouses = 6 grandbabies

Two years, 10 months ago we were anxiously awaiting our first grandbaby, Chloe. Now we have 6. This was taken on Easter at our house. We had the kids over for an Easter ham and an Easter egg hunt. It was a lot of fun watching the grandbabies look for those eggs. They are as seated Chloe, Elijah, Scarlett, Savannah, Mia and Luke. It looks like Chloe is giving her sweet baby brother a kiss on the head but she is really licking chocolate off of it. Oh well, we girls love our chocolate.

And Introducing.....Savannah Violet Valdes.....

Savannah Violet Valdes was born on 3/21/09, at 10:02 am, weighing 8.7oz. She is, of cours, a cutie-patootie. Mom and Dad are doing really well, and Scarlett is giving her baby sister lots of hugs and kisses, sometimes a little tooo aggressively. Since Savannah was born on my mom's 90th birthday, Cari and Juan wanted to use her middle name of Violet (mom's name is Ruth Violet). My mom was so excited.

My mom turns 90

Scarlett, Linda, Chloe, Shana, Eli, Joe, Jim, Luke, Mom, Alyssa, and Mia. Mom and some of her grandkids and g-grandkids.

My mom turned 90 on saturday. We had a small little birthday party for her with just immediate family. My sister braved the weather over the Sierra's and came down from Virginia City but had to head back early and barely made it back before the road closed. But it was a fun day, starting out with lunch at my house and ending with cake and ice cream at hers. She is in such great shape. She walks miles everyday, still drives, her mind is totally clear, lives by herself, and still kinda scares me when she gets mad. :) We will have a big party for her in June, with my aunt Eve, who will turn 88 (they are the only ones left in a family of 10), so her relatives around the country will be able to come also. Happy birthday Mom! I hope Igot her "energy" gene!

Scarlett turms 2!

Scarlett had her second birthday party on Saturday. I can hardly believe she is 2. She is such a little jibber-jabber. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, stayed in the orchard, for those of you that know Cari, me and my mom. :) Now we are awaiting Scarlett's babysister who is due on my mom's 90th birthday, 3/21. While Juan and Cari are in the hospital, Scarlett and I will be watching Elmo and eating fruit snacks and drinking chocolate milk. Yep, sounds fair to me.

BFF's enjoying cake together.

I Love this one, comparing owies.

Happy Birthday Luke and Mia!

Xmas o8

Marila knew just what to get the girls. Dress up clothes!

My niece Marila and Scarlett.

My mom and her 9th great-grandchild, Eli.

Best buds coloring.

All of Santa's little helper's.

All my xmas stockings. Too many to fit on my mantle.