Better Late Than Never!!

January – May Events 2018

Charlie’s Birthday - January

Charlie turned 12 years old in January!  He’s almost as tall as Vovo!!

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Weekend Get Together - March

Jimmy, Jessica and the boys spent 2 days at our house in March.  We had a great time, although it’s always too short.  We squeezed in swimming and some fun at the park.

The kids always look forward to seeing the goodies we have for them on their bed… first place they ran to!

Vovo’s big bathtub is always “the place to be'” to have some fun

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Golf Tournament – May

We played in a benefit golf tournmant for a local church in Lincoln.  We had a really fun day, didn’t win anything, but had a great time!

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Trip Down South - May

We visited Hal & Debbie in Avila Beach for a of couple days.  They have a really old house that has been in the family for a very long time that they’ve renavated and it’s wonderful.  They only live a block from the beach and their view from their top deck is fantastic!  We spent our time golfing, wine tasting, site seeing, and reminiscing.  We had the best tour guide because Hal grew up there.

View from their top deck

Check out this albino peacock we saw at a local winery… it was beautiful!!

Some of the backroads we toured, just breathtaking views.

These guys have known each other for almost 30 years.  It’s so nice to stay in touch and get together!

After we left Avila Beach, we traveled 30 minutes north to visit George & Carol in Atascadero for a couple of days. We spent our time golfing, wine tasting, site seeing, and reminiscing.  Humm… sounds like we just did that… LOL!  We had a great time.

Another long term friendship still going strong after 40 years!!  

We went to Cambria (very close to Hearst Castle) and saw these amazing elephant seals hanging out on the beach, they were everywhere!!  It was really an amazing sight to see.

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Celebrated Lizzy’s & Alex’s Birthdays - May

Lizzy turned 10 and Alex is already 7

October–December Adventures

High School Buddies

Hank’s buddy from high school came to visit the Almeida B&B for a couple of days in October.  It’s wonderful that these guys have remained friends so many years.  We enjoyed playing some bocce ball and billiards.

It was our first visit to Top Golf… gotta go back!

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Thanksgiving

The family celebrated Thanksgiving and we had a great time!  The day flew by and the cousins loved playing together, and yes, I got in on that action as well… so much fun!

Hank’s Dad and his wife Ida

The Boys - 4 Generations

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Auntie Jean’s 90th Birthday

What a lovely party for my Auntie Jean’s 90th birthday!  Family and friends gathered to celebrate this momentous event.  She was so excited and nervous at the same time.

The cake was out of this world!  It had edible photos… very cool!!!

My sister and I with Auntie Jean

This is my cousin Jamie.  She was the main party planner, but had help from the family too.

My sister was voted in to be the MC and she did a great job.  She is so short that she had to stand on a box so she could reach the upper section of the podium so people could she her!!!!!  I’m short at 5’ 2  1/2”, but she’s 5 inches shorter than me!!   LOL

Friends & family had lots of wonderful things to say about Auntie Jean, and she listened to every single word.  Afterwards she got up and made a very heartfelt speach thanking everyone.

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Nothing Like Good Friends

These women are wonderful longtime friends and we have so much fun together!  We talk about anything and everthing… that’s what friends are for.  Sheila, Denise, Marcia, Cynthia & Julene… I love you girls so much!!!!  XOXOXOXOX

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Celebrating Christmas with the Kids

We had an early Christmas on December 16th, so the grandkids were very happy about opening presents early!  We had a slumber party and we all spent the night at Mike & Pami’s, so much fun!

I have no idea what these boys were doing on the trampoline… looks like they were meditating.  If you knew them, that would be a big fat ”NO” , too funny!

Mike & Pami got a new puppy and it was the first time the family got to meet him, so we all had to “share” him.  That was hard because he’s so darn cute!!!  He eats, poops, plays, sleeps, and then he does it all over again… just like a baby.

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Misc. Stuff

We got to babysit this little cutie on Christmas Day.  His name is Oliver and we babysit him sometimes when his grandparents can’t… he’s a good boy.

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We were wine tasting at Pottery World and look at this huge bear!

I made this fruit & vegetable holiday tree for a cocktail party, it turned out cute, and yummy too!

Now this is real talent Alex!!  You need to teach your cousins.

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This is a birthday card I made for my grandson Charlie, he is turning 12.  He earned a promotion from Cub Scout to Boy Scout.  He’s very active in his troop, so I wanted to make him a card that was relevant to his interest.

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Michele… my partner in crime! 
Thanks for being my accountability partner.

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Rest In Peace Laura
1933 - 2017

On December 31st, my cousin passed away, God Bless You, you will be missed!

It was sad that we lost a Laura, and although the circumstance to see the family could have been much better, it was great to see and visit with everyone.  It sparked a discussion for all the first cousins to have a cousin reunion.  I have to get working on that!