Going Home...

I suppose many of us think we grew up someplace pretty special. The older I get, the more I believe that I grew up in a place that was near perfection. I just spent three wonderful days in San Luis Obispo, and if it had a real airport that could get our large family in and out easily, it would be a prime choice for retirement in my book. I had a wonderful time with old friends, and the mothers of old friends, who won't always be there to visit, as they now range from 80 to 90 years, plus.

In the photos are the two mountains that framed my neighborhood; both were within a mile of my home. Exactly 10 miles south off the 101 is Avila Beach, which is in secluded San Luis Bay, and 12 miles west is Morro Bay with it's famous Morro Rock.

I told Steve, "The good thing about a motor home is that we can retire everywhere!"

2008 -- Oh the Places We've Been!

Well, I've completed the blog of blogs for me, and in my inexperience, it runs backwards. It is not exactly as I wanted, but it will have to do now. Next year I will try to do much better. I hope you enjoy traveling through 2008 with us, as we have enjoyed this year and look forward to the new one.

December has arrived with all it's activity and in addition to the preparations for Christmas, we celebrated four birthdays last Sunday. My mom turned 82 and although she would say that she's seen better days, she has dodged several health issues and is generally doing well. Dawn turned 34, and she'll tell me that's the last time I can post her age. We loved giving Kendall an American Girl doll that looks like her, and Mike helped Michael master his new pogo stick.

November was a huge month. Sean brought his family down and we introduced Nicole and the kids to San Diego and to Mickey Mouse. We celebrated Chase's birthday while they were here.

Thanksgiving was a long planned and very enjoyed holiday. We camped at San Elijo State Beach Wednesday through Sunday with a real Boydrow group. We had Andersons, Wilsons, Holcombs, Tedrows and Boyds and enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast right at sunset. The next days were filled with beach activities like tide pool visits, wave jumping and much more eating. We missed several who had other commitments. Starr had planned to join us, but stayed in Washington. Tracy had just deployed to Iraq and she had things she needed to handle there. Maybe next time. I can't believe I said that!

In October I headed back to Montana to help with Sarah and the kids and welcome Baby Reina.

In September Steve went "back to school" for the 39th time, and I received my 15 year service award with the Padres.

August also took Harrison and Kim to Wyoming where they lead a youth group on the Martin Handcart Trek.

In August Michael, Jackson and Triston were little chicks in a ballgame along with the Famous San Diego Chicken. We headed north and visited Snowbird with Sean and Family and Natalie and Family, and stayed a couple days with Monika, Dusty and kids in the "Tedrow Suite" at their home, then drove further north to see the beautiful area of Bozeman, MT where Sarah and her family are currently living. From there, we drove through Yellowstone and over to Powell, WY to see Briana and her group. Oh....Steve caught up with me and turned 60, too.

In July we visited Mark, Christy and Piper in DC, then road tripped on through several states to visit Palmyra, NY and Kirtland, OH. While in New York we attended the Hill Cummorah Pageant. Brad and Maren joined us back in DC and we did the National Mall at night.

Here's Steve touring Gettysburg via bus in the rain.

The Hill Cummorah Pageant was amazing. Here I am on Main street in Kirtland, Ohio. The Newell K. Whitney Store is in the background.

Our oldest grandchild Kendall was baptized in June. We were lucky to have Sarah and kids visiting then, so all four of my kids were together for the event. The Padres took the Front Office to New York for the series of games against the Yankees. It was a fabulous trip and nice for me to have Harrison as a co-worker and travel with him and Kim since Steve couldn't get away from school to go.

Dayle turned 60 in May. Kind of a stand-alone

event!

April is Baseball time.

March to Beijing, China...Spring Training and California Adventure with Mark, Christy, Piper and Harrison and Kim (otherwise known as Mickey and Minnie).

In February I was able to visit Sarah and family in their home in South Dakota, and Steve took a trip over President's Day to see Briana and her boys in Powell, WY.

January brought Dawn, Mike and kids back to San Diego and we celebrated the twins 3rd birthdays along with Harrison's 31st.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It's been years since I've sent Christmas cards, and I've never managed one of those nice Christmas Letters, but this year, I'm attempting this Christmas Blog! I hope you enjoy it and can make sense out of our wonderful and crazy year.

Those of you who have spent time in our home know we recapture our years by watching the photos pass by on our computer. This has been a remarkable year and when the photos go by, I'm a little amazed by all the things that have transpired during 2008. It's hard to believe we've both worked full-time all year.

We hope you will enjoy looking at some of these photos while we remember 2008 and give thanks for so many blessings at this time in our lives.

If you are receiving this blog, we count you among the blessings of our life. May 2009 find us focused on the things in life that really matter.

Merry Christmas!