Christmas 2007

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We had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS this year. We were able to see almost all our family (we missed my brother and his family). We went to Riverside and Tehachapi, had three Christmas' and loads of fun. I love the Christmas season, but it's always sad to say good-bye and have to wait a whole year for it to return! Thank you to everyone that helped make this holiday season special.

Here are some of our favorite Christmas highlights:
1. Pedicures with Momma Lockwood
2. Having a yummy pot roast with the Jones'
3. Mom's Tacos
4. Matching purple PJ's with Smith girls
5. Garrett being inseparable with his cousin Peyton
6. Dirt Dawg dance (video of dance)
7. Kandi's pumpkin pies
8. The Dooney and Burke beast bag
9. Aaron golfing with Chris and Robert
10. Shopping and going out to dinner with all the siblings

Mr.G and Mommy and Me with Santa

Garrett has so much fun at Mommy and Me, he loves his new teacher Ms. Dorthy! Santa Claus came to visit our class last week, Garrett was the first one to jump on Santa's lap...he's his biggest fan! Oh, please ignore the bruises all over Garrett's head he has been a little rambunctious lately!

Christmas Projects

I made these fun hooded bath towels for my nieces and my Mr. G for Christmas. This was a time consuming, but fun, creative project! I even thinking about selling them!

Christmas Card 2007

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Vine Street

Last weekend Aaron's family came over to attend the Vine Street Christmas Celebration in downtown Paso Robles. I'm really getting to love this city more and more each day. It has great charm with all the cute eatery's downtown, safe and quite neighborhoods and a great school district. The whole Smith crew came on Saturday and we women had a great time hanging out, while the men went golfing.

That night we went to AJ Spurs for dinner, its a cute western style steak house. It is a tradition that almost everytime the Smith Family comes to town we go AJ's for their great food and fun autmosphere. After dinner we went to Vine Street where the old Victorian houses were all decorated for Christmas. There were carolers, Ebenezer Scrooge's house and Santa Claus. It was a magical experience.

On Sunday, we all attended church after church I went over to the golf course across the street to take Christmas pictures for Shelli and Robert. Shelli is so photogenic, I love taking pictures of her, because they always turn out good! Thanks for dealing with us girls Robert!

Christmas Pictures

Last weekend we went to Meadow Park in SLO with Trevor and Kiwi (Alina too) to take our Christmas pics, they turned out really cute. We took each others pictures, so we could get our Christmas cards completed! It was fun trying to get the kids to smile for the camera...it is amazing what you'll do for a good picture. We really should of got a picture of me doing the chicken dance for Alina...oh dear!

Thanksgiving Travels

Still recovering from the holiday travels, laundry to do, messages to return, and colds to fight off. We had a great time visiting with my family in Riverside. We went to my grandparents house on Thanksgiving and had a great time watching Garrett trying to play tennis. Since Garrett is really into golf, he proceeded to use the tennis racket as a golf club...that's our little Tiger in the making!

Went shopping on Black Friday, also just figured out the retailers call it Black Friday:) On Friday night we went to the Mission Inn, place were Aaron and I honeymooned our first night as a married couple. They had a Christmas lighting ceremony that included fireworks, ice skating, hot cocoa, all the little mom and pop shops were open as we walked down the historic downtown area of Riverside. It was truly charming, and a great way to welcome in the holiday season.

The Big Proposal

Shelli, Aaron's younger sister, was proposed to by her boyfriend of a couple years on Thanksgiving Day! We are so happy for them and are excited to have Robert as a part of our family.

Congratulations Shelli and Robert!

Where in the World is Aaron Fall 2007

Well I am back, after traveling North America I have a little break. (Three weeks to be exact) I have been to CO, WY, GA, and MT since the end of September. I have to say it has never felt so good to be home. I miss home, I miss Sarah, and I miss Garrett. Above are some photos of my recent trips. I hunted in CO for elk with the Magazine Outdoor Life. I probably wouldn't have gone on this hunt, but it was a paid archery hunt, and since I am addicted to archery elk hunting I couldn't resist. Working for a firearms company I don't get to do much feather flicking that often. This was a great trip but I unfortunately missed a big bull at 40 yards and wasn't able to fill my tag. It was a great trip with allot of horseback riding and walking. Always good for the physical fitness.

Then, the travel really heated up with two trips in October. I went to Glenrock, WY for my normal antelope and mule deer hunt, this was a great trip and is alway relaxing. We stay in a hotel that was built in 1903 and is supposedly haunted. My boss has had 3 encounters with the female ghost who comes and visits the people who stay in room 208. Its pretty cool I think. We had a great time but was very excited to fly to Sacramento to meet up with Sarah and Garrett at Sarah's cousins wedding in Auburn.

I return home just in time to pack and travel to GA for a little quail hunting. All I can say about this trip is that I won't live in GA. I did the humid thing on my mission and don't want any part of it any more.

And now today. I just returned from MT, where I went into the Bob Marshall Wilderness for 8 day to elk hunt. What an experience. I rode over 100 miles on horseback and spent half of my time in snow. It was a true wilderness adventure. The writer I took was successful on the first day and then I missed a bull elk on the third. I wasn't successful on this hunt but the experience will provide memories for an eternity.

I hope everyone is doing well. I am looking forward to seeing everyone for the holiday. Talk to ya'll soon.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Happy 28th birthday sweetie! We love you!

Love,

Sarah, Garrett, Lulu and Koda

Vegas Baby, Vegas!

VIVA LAS VEGAS! We had a great time in Vegas last week. The PBR was on the edge-of-your-seat awesome. There were times I couldn't even watch it was so intense. The buffets were delicious. We had one run-end when Garrett and I got either food poisoning or the flu, but we survived, ended up loosing a few days of party time. We are able to go to the Mandalay Bay Aquarium and lay out by the pool/beach/lazy river.

The Championship Night of the PBR was so much fun. Aaron's parents ended up meeting up in Vegas to attend the big night. Justin McBride ended up winning up finals. We were able to be apart of the filming of CSI:Las Vegas, see Stomp-Out Loud and Jewel perform (not all at the same time). Since Aaron's work sponsors the PBR we were able to go to all the VIP events and have awesome seating at the finals! Thank you Weatherby!

It was a memorable trip can't wait for 2008!

Halloween Night

On our way to Vegas we stayed in Tehachapi to celebrate Halloween with Aaron's family. We had a busy night visiting Great Grandma and Papa Smith, Aunt Linda and Uncle Rich, going to the downtown Tehachapi's Trunk or Treat and the Trunk or Treat at church....wow we got quite a bit of candy! We had so much fun with the family. Garrett must have ate three cupcakes that night and like two suckers...we were all on a sugar high.

Mandi and I dress up as a belly dancer and a kitty. Garrett was so amazed at the whole trick-or-treat concept, you say please and people and they just hand out candy to you...soooo awesome! We had to hide this basket, so he would stop asking for a "treat" for breakfast.

Mommy and Me Halloween Carnival

On Friday we had the Annual Halloween Carnival and Parade at Templeton Park with our Mommy and Me class. Aaron was able to join us for the fun! We just love this program, the teachers and staff do so much for the kids. This was Garrett's first debut of his firefighter costume. We were a little late getting there since our little fireman dumped his firefighter hat in the toilet right when we were ready to leave...it needed a little clean-up before we left! It is never a dull moment, but that is what makes life more interesting!

Garrett enjoying the ring toss!

Temple Trip and Waldrum Family Visit

We were able to attend our stake's LA Temple event on Saturday. The Waldrums were so gracious to watch Garrett for us while we attended the event. We spend Friday night and Saturday evening just hanging out with them and catching up. Aaron and Jeremy went to high school together and he was also the best man in our wedding. Thankfully Jamie and I get along really well, so we always have a fun time together!
Garrett and their daughter Kamryn were signing "ring-around the rosies" together and zooming along the apartment in the Mermaid car and a shopping cart...needless to say, Garrett had a great time!
We spend Saturday evening at the South Pasadena's Trunk-Treat event....WOW~I have never seen so many kids at a ward event. Jamie said there are 30 young couples in their ward...I was really jealous. Waldrams...we need you back in Paso!!

Foot Soak Party

On Thursday night I had a Body Shop party hosted by Kiwi, she is a new demonstrator. She whipped out the foot soak bins and we had a great time relaxing, shopping and eating yummy pumpkin pie! Thanks Kiwi for the GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

Weekend of Parties

Last weekend we went to our friend Eva's birthday party at Templeton Park. She had a Shrek party, it was too cute with the way her mom Mindy decorated with a Shrek theme. Garrett had a great time sliding down the slide like a thousand times.

On Sunday, we went to Missy and Jared Howard's daughter's baby blessing. She is the same age as my niece Claire (Claire born Sept. 7, Ella born Sept. 8, same day as Garrett). Afterward, we went to the Howard house for a luncheon that was sooo yummy. Jared's step mom made this cake that was to die for it was so good, I will get the recipe and post it! We had a great time celebrating these special occasions with your dear friends!

This picture is of Ben and Alissa holding their son Maverick and the Howard's daughter Ella Jane. Jane seems to be the popular middle name these days!

Garrett'sTalking!

Garrett had his friend Pixie over this evening and he was really talking. He has been putting words together like "dada home" and "doggie potty". It is really one of my favorite stages to hear him talking, we are so blessed to have this little man in our lives!

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Fall, Around the House

I love this time of year! Decorating, baking , harvest parties, and pumpkin patches are a few of my favorite this about fall. I spend most of the day cooking it up! I made beef strognoff, spicy artichoke dip and a pumpkin spice cake...it was YUMMY! I've also been decorating with the pumpkins we picked up at the pumpkin patch earlier this week.

Our Paso Home, Sweet Home

I've been asked to post some pictures of the house and Garrett's bedroom. He is now in his big boy bed and loves it. We decided to stay with the cowboy theme, so we got him these cute sheets with a cowboy scene.

Here is the bookcase that I painted for his room. It was given to me by my step brother and his family. I just painted it red to match is room them sanded the edges to make it look worn and rustic.

We had a great day just hanging out at the house. I took Garrett and met my friend Betsy from my new ward at the Atascadero Lake Park and walked around the lake for exercise. She has twins, a girl and boy, the same age as Garrett. Betsy is also a recreation major and her husband is in rec too, so we have a few things in common!

Happy fall!