Happy New Year

New Year's Day began with a late breakfast of Alysha making pancakes for everyone. We then went to Grandma GiGi's for New Years dinner. Danielle, JJ and Logan, Justin, Rebecca and Carrie, Alysha and Savannah and me. Earl had to officiate a Division II basketball game in Hobbs that day, (who plays basketball on New Year's Day anyway???) so he wasn't able to play our new "provocative" game. We had a wonderful dinner and played games, a new game call "The Things", it was alot of fun. You answer a question with answers you hope no one will guess is you. So we did that for awhile and then the fun really began later that evening. As Danielle and JJ went home, Logan got sick and threw up everywhere in the car, so much so, they had to stop in Socorro and buy a new car seat since he couldn't stay in the one he had thrown up in, then Justin got sick, then Carrie, then Me, then Alysha, then Rebecca, then GiGi, then Danielle and it was not fun. Hopefully everyone will still be willing to get together next year and this won't become a "tradition" of getting sick after New Year's.
Carrie will be 1 year old January 23rd. She is walking everywhere, has 1 tooth and it looks like maybe another one coming through as well. She is dainty and very petite and absolutely adorable. We loved getting to see her! Logan who is 2, is a man's little boy, he is full of enegery 24 hours a day until he collaspes and goes to sleep, then he is ready to go again. But he is also incredibly sweet and loving and will melt your heart with his "I sorry, or I love you Nana". Savannah is almost 3, her birthday is February 13th. She is talking up a storm now and doing much better with her walking and balance. She loves to do somersaults on the bed and on the chaise lounge in their living room. She loves the nursery at church and loves music!!! She will even tell you in the car, I don't like that song, change that song when you are listening to the radio or a CD. Liam and Ben are much farther away and we don't get to interact with them as much as we would like. They are both adorable and fun little boys. Liam is 2 1/2 and Ben is 11 weeks old. They both have tons of hair, Ben's hair is a little bit wild as you will see if you check out Brooke's blog. I love how well Liam talks to Papa and I on the phone when they call. He always wants us to come play at his house.
I hope to have some photos posted soon of all the grandbabies. They are by far my greatest joy in life!

Christmas Cookies with the Grandkids

This past Friday evening we attended a Marachi performance in Los Lunas. It turned out to be really good and Logan and Savannah really liked the music and dancing. Earl and I then took Logan and Savannah home with us, we got home about midnight and put the kids to bed and they both slept until about 7am. Saturday, Earl had a game in Hobbs, so it was me and the kiddos. I decided we would go to Walmart and get stuff to make cookies. Well, I put both Logan and Savannah in the grocery cart and we started our shopping, as I put items into the cart, they both wanted to hold "stuff", so that worked for a little while until they both wanted to hold the same items, and next they decided to throw the "items" out of the cart, as fast as I put things back into the cart, they threw them out, finally, I put all the items on the bottom of the cart. Then we get to the checkout and the conveyor belt, since Logan couldn't reach the counter, he just threw the stuff and also threw it at the cashier. She thought it was cute, so that was an invitation for Logan to step it up a nouch, he threw it "harder", finally we got it all unloaded and checked out. Once we get home, we unloaded the groceries, and got them all set up to roll out cookie dough and put them on the pan, they both had their aprons on, a bit too big, but cute nonetheless, they played with the dough and ate some, then we started to roll it out and use the cookies cutters, the cookies were all shapes, none that looked like the cookie cutter cut out.
But we got them on the pan and into the oven, while the cookies baked, we mixed frosting and added food coloring, they liked watching it change colors and they each got their own bowl of frosting, once the cookies were out and cooled, we began frosting and decorating them, Logan and Savannah would lick the knife and then dip it back into the frosting to put on the cookies and then we added sprinkles, we had them everywhere and then the ants came, the ants must like the kids to visit because there is always food on the floor for them, so I am trying to get rid of the ants, frost cookies, and keep the kids from stabbing at each other. I was able to get some pictures, but I need Earl to download them for me.
By this time, I was exhausted and so were the kids, so great nap time, NOT, they didn't want to sleep, just play, so they played and read stories and then we went for a walk and Savannah was doing great running and along came Logan and bumped into her and down she went headfirst onto the pavement and got a nasty bruise and scrape on her forehead.. Logan always is sweet and says sorry Vannah. All and all we had a great time and the cookies weren't bad either.

Benajmin Nelson Wittwer has arrived!

Benjamin Nelson Wittwer arrived Saturday morning around 7am our time. 7lbs. 6ozs 21 1/2 inches long. He has lots of hair just like Liam did. Everyone is doing well. Brooke and Ben will get to go home tomorrow. I bet Liam is just going to have a ball being a big brother!
As you can see from the pictures, he is adorable and looks alot like Liam and Liam is very sweet with him, Brooke says. I love the sweet picture of Brooke with Ben on her chest both of them asleep.

No Baby Yet, Still Waiting.........

As of today, the 23rd still no baby Wittwer. We are anxiously awaiting his arrival. I'm sure his mother is also anxiously, impatiently waiting his arrival. I can't wait to see how Liam responds to having a baby brother, it is one thing to have a visitor come over but for this "visitor" to stay will be interesting to watch. I think he is going to love this baby and be such a good big brother. He is a friendly litle guy and loves everyone he is around.
So watch for the news of baby wittwer's arrival and hopefully we will also have pics to post shortly thereafter.
Carrie is trying to walk and doing very well with that. I wanted to download the video Justin sent me on my cell phone showing her walking as she holds onto a little cart, but I don't know how to do that.....Help!
We are going to Logan and Coleton's combined Birthday party Saturday. Logan will be 2 and Coleton will be 7. I'll post pictures from their party when we get home.

Lots of October News and Birthdays

Brooke is due October 18th, we are excitedly counting the days. Liam is about to become a big brother! Savannah is going in for an MRI on October 15th and Carrie is wanting to be a big girl and start walking...Not yet, you're too little.
Justin has a new job. Danielle started back to school to get her teaching degree, Logan is turning 2 October 14th. Fall is here, leaves are turning and starting to fall. The air is cool and crisp and I love the evenings when the wind isn't blowing and everything seems so serene and peacefully calm. I like to sit outdoors and enjoy the coolness in the air and the backyard landscaping.
Shylah and Coleton are doing well in school. Coleton has a birthday coming up October 31st. This is a busy birthday month for our family.

October 9-Anita's BD (My neice)
October 13-Kevin's BD (My brother)
October 14-Logan's BD
October 16-Will's BD (My son-in-law)
October 16-Doris' BD (My step mom)
October 18-Sheryl's BD (My sister)
Baby Wittwer #2 is due October 18th
October 22-Alysha's BD
October 25-Lamar's BD (My brother-in-law)
October 30-Rebecca's BD (My daughter-in-law)
October 31-Coleton's BD

Happy Birthday everyone!

Starting back to work! New baby due soon!

First, I am not expecting a new baby, just in case my heading was misleading. It's Brooke.... Well, I need to update a little. Since our family reunion in July, I started working at the title company I worked at about 3 years ago. It was a crazy first 3 weeks, we were very busy and I was trying to relearn everything, remember how to do things again, but I did it!
We enjoyed having Logan this weekend. He is a ball of energy and very smart and very "old" for his age, which isn't quite 2!!!
He entertained us and we had fun watching him. Savannah came over for a visit too as well as Cecily and her baby Madison, they also enjoyed being entertained by Logan.
All our grandbabies are doing great and growing fast. Brooke is expecting her 2nd boy October 18th. I think Liam is going to love having a little brother. He is a very kind little boy and very loving. He calls and says Hi Nana, I love you and Hi Papa and just talks a mile a minute. He is smart and enjoys life so much.
Carrie is trying to crawl and if you have checked out their blog, she is a budding pianist.
Babies make the world go round and make it a wonderful place to be.

Family Reunion, Birthday Celebration and Fun Times!

This is my entire family. My two sisters, Michele and Sheryl, one sister Michele, and her family, one brother, Kevin and his family, my Dad and Doris and all my kids and grandkids. Sheryl's kids didn't get to come this time. Both Deanna and Kelly are expecting babies.

Savannah & Logan at the Zoo having a snack.

Papa and Liam at the park.

Liam playing on the slide.

Justin, Rebecca and Carrie in Ramah. We hike up a little ways at the "falls".

Liam saying "Cheese".

Liam in Ramah. I think that's Lincoln's foot.

Logan, Savannah, Brooke & Liam on the train. The train was fun and we went through tunnels too. The kids loved it when they rang the bell.

Brooke, Liam, Savannah and Logan at the Zoo.

Nana and Liam swinging.

Papa and Liam.

Liam posing with Geronimo, I think.

Carrie eating mom's necklace.

Carrie Elizabeth Carrie, 6 months old and sitting up by herself. She is such a fun, happy baby.

Papa & Savannah walking.

Papa, Carrie, Rebecca, Brooke, Liam, Logan, Savannah, Alysha, Justin, Nana and Danielle having fun at the parade.

Danielle, Logan, Justin, Carrie, Brooke, Liam, Alysha & Savannah

Nana, Papa and all the grandbabies.

Brooke and Liam arrived on July 16th and we were so excited to see them. They got to ride the rail runner from Albuquerque to Santa Fe with Earl's mom and spend the night with Alysha and then they came down to TorC. Liam is such a smart boy. He turned 2 on July 20 and we spent the morning at the Lake, went to McDonald's and got his first happy meal and played on the toys there. We also went to the pool and swam. Liam loves the water. Wednesday we went to Albuquerque and picked up Logan and Savannah for a day at the Zoo and Aquarium. It was alot of fun, very hot day, but we enjoyed their reactions to riding the train between the Zoo and Aquarium and the Botanical Gardens and seeing the animals. I rented a two seater stroller for Savannah and Logan and Brooke had her stroller for Liam. It was quite a workout. Long day and we were all very tired that evening.

On Thursday we went to Ramah to the Clawson reunion. All my sisters and brother came and their families and my 4 children and their children. We were missing JJ, Will and Michael.

We went to a pageant about the history of Ramah and the role Ramah played in the pioneer saga. We had Siu's baptism on Saturday morning and then there was a parade later that day.

We enjoyed eating good food, and having everyone together. We played a new game Jenelle brought that made us have to think. It was history based and very fun. I can't remember the name of the game. We managed to have 28 people wall to wall and everyone got along and enjoyed being with each other.

Hope you enjoy all my pictures. I am still trying to learn how to do different things, but it is slow going. I need my kids here to help me!