New Years Eve 2014

New Years Eve was low tide in Laguna so we and a few friends decided to take a hike through caves and onto beaches that are only accessible when the tide is low enough.  The weather was 80 degrees and it was a beautiful day!  Just another reason we live in California by the coast so we can enjoy these days!!

 This is a pool that was built years ago for Mr. Wrigleys wife so she could swim laps in a pool down from their coastal home.  Now it is old, but the kids still like to swim in it.

 We finished the day with the Cook's BBQing Hawaiian hot dogs and garlic roasted endamame.  It was delicious and the sunset was beautiful!  

Later that night the girls went to the New Years Eve dance in Laguna Niguel while the two younger ones hung out with us and ended the night with sparklers and sparkling cider!

 Madalyn enjoying a New Years toast with her friends at a pre dance party!

Happy 42nd Birthday Danielle

For my 42nd birthday I wanted to go roller skating.  As a kid I loved to roller-skate and my kids had never had the privilege to skate so I thought I would introduce them!  It was just me and the kids.  They day went like this:

Had my follow-up body scan at Newport Diagnostics.  Found out that the cancer was not completely killed off, but the radioactive iodine was still in my system so the doctors are confident that it will be killed off.

Then we loaded up the car and I took the kids to Fountain Valley Skate Center.  The kids did pretty good...none were as good as old mom!  It was fun doing the hokie poke again on skates!  Lots of laughs!  Meredith gave in and practiced with a walker so I could have some "fast skate" time.  Trevor fell a lot, but he just kept getting back up and never quit!  During the last song Madalyn took a pretty bad fall and ended up with a bruised bottom and hip.  Luckily it was the last skate of the day!

 After our skating adventure Ryan, Scooter, my parents and grandparents met us at Souplantation for dinner.  I love to eat there for my birthday.  Having the holidays just before I am ready for salad!  My favorite part is the vanilla soft serve with butterscotch and peanut topping.  Unfortunately the machine was broken so I settled for a Sprinkles cupcake with 42 candles on it!  The wax melted off like a waterfall!  

Turning 42 was one of my best birthday's.  Not sure if it was the skating, food or the fact that I just went through an experience that taught me how fragile life can be.  I am thankful for good doctors and a family that loves me!

Christmas 2013

The season began with our traditional Christmas Pajamas, hot chocolate and watching Elf the first Sunday in December

 We spent a fun family day at The Grove In LA.  The lights were great and the "snow" was lots of fun!  Not too sure about the "Mac Girls" that were dancing though...haha!

 Before Danielle went into isolation she made sugar cookies so while she was isolated the kids could all decorate cookies for Santa!

 The day Danielle got out of isolation she was anxious to go somewhere so we drove up to Naples in Long Beach to walk along the canals and see all the great lights for FHE.

 Christmas Eve began with Trevor getting the flu and Ryan not feeling well.  So the rest of the family drove down to Carlsbad for our annual Jones Family Christmas Eve celebration.

 The stockings were hung and we were ready for Santa to come!

 Christmas morning and everyone is excited to see what Santa has left them!

 Meredith got black suede boots

 Trevor got a Sector 9 long board

 Madalyn got a pair of boots

 Mackenzie got a Mac computer (Santa must know that she is going away to college in a few months!)

 Madalyn made this great tribute to Ryan for his office at work

 Mom love Christmas...its her favorite holiday!

While this is the first year that we did not get out Christmas cards and health issues kinda put a kink into quite a few plans we still managed to have one of the best Christmas' we can remember!

Disneyland Date

Last year Mackenzie was selected to perform in the Christmas processional at Disneyland.  Since she performed Disney gave her a free pass to come back within the year to enjoy Disneyland.  The ticket was about to expire so she gave the ticket to me.  I think it was partially because she knew all I had been through in the past few weeks and what I was about to face with treatment.  She knows how much I love Disneyland at Christmas!  I was so excited and had planned a day when I could go...even if it was going to be by myself.  Ryan surprised me by taking the day off and making it a date at Disney day and night!  

 We started the day sharing the famous corn dogs we have always heard about.

 Ryan had to get his Mickey head ice cream!

 Frozen had come out recently in the theaters and we loved the movie so we were excited to see this statue of Olaf!

It was the perfect day and Disney with my hubby!  I was so grateful for Mackenzie letting me go!