HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Jim was really happy to ring in the New Year. You know you're getting old when you want to stay home and make your own party with your family.
Ryan and Crystal.

Chris was on duty, but found time to come have dinner and then later to have dessert with us. We were glad to have him join us, Kelly looks extra happy.

Kelly, Crystal and I went shopping together for our New Year's Eve feast. I've never had such a meal on New Year's Eve. King crab, shrimp, tri-tip, twice baked potatoes, and tons of other yummies.

Cute cousins say Happy New Year.

This is what happens when you eat your ice cream too quickly . . . brain FREEZE!

The new year did not bring in a fortune for these 2 gamblers. Ryan got them scratch its and Owen's face shows their "winnings".

We took time to hang out and make a last of the year visit.

The kids were starting to slow down after

playing outside and

and shooting off poppers.

They also rocked out with Dick Clark's New Year's Eve countdown. They danced with Niki Manaj.

At 11, Kelly and Dylan headed home. Kevin, Jim, Ryan and the kids went to bed.

But these 2 made it to

midnight!

OLD TOWN SACRAMENTO, A STONE'S THROW FROM THE NEW

One day on our Christmas Break, we went to Old Town Sacramento. It looks like an old city,

until you gaze down the street and see the new Sacramento.

It's a very fun place to visit.

You can drive or hitch your horse to the hitchin' post right next to the cobblestone streets and plank-wood sidewalks.

You can stroll through town in a horse-drawn buggy or

just "hoof it" to the closest candy store.

Jim REALLY was happy to be there, I just pushed the camera button at the wrong time.

SOOOOOOOOO many caramel apples, so little stomach room.

Another store had barrels and barrels filled with taffy and other wrapped candies.

There is an old fashioned shooting range, Dylan thought was fun.

Uncle Kevin showed him the shooting technique.

Shopping boutiques delighted Kelly and Crystal. Each bought something and here's Kelly modelling the scarf she bought.

The toy store were a big hit. Dylan shows his purchase of the "Rustler" rubber band gun.

This is the rubber band gun that Grandpa Jim wanted, "the Devastator". Notice it is displayed up high, out of the wanting-to-try-it-out hands of kids and adults.

There was a sternwheeler on the dock.

And trains at the station. Don't worry, that train isn't moving towards Owen.

End to a perfect day -- Jim and Dylan sacked out after a day at Old Town Sac.

IT WAS A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

We went to CA for the week of Christmas (24-Jan 1). We had a wonderful ho ho ho holiday.

This is a picture of the girls taking their girls to see the Nutcracker a few days before we got to CA. I am putting it in because it is the only holiday picture I have of Addison and Sophia. On the day before we came to CA they left to come to Oregon and the same thing happened on the way home. So we missed seeing them on our visit.

Christmas morning at the Burks. I missed getting a picture of Chris' parents. Both our girls had both sets of parents at their house for Christmas. I thought it was fun, hope they did too.

Smiths with Meyers, Merry Christmas.

We had Christmas dinner at Crystal's house. It began in the morning with this yummy hot chocolate bar with sooooo many choices of delicious toppings - candy canes, chocolate covered marshmallows, marshmallow creme and sugar delights.

We spent the day and week doing all kinds of fun things, but we also went to bed late and slept in every morning after Christmas. It was great! Kevin and Jim had a good time doing nerf wars.

We went shopping at the huge Roseville Mall. Owen and Payton got new jammies.

Payton and I went to the movies- Chipmunks in Chip-wrecked, cute, but not a huge plot.

We watched the kids play with their new toys. We played games and did puzzles. I am getting better with my puzzle building skills (I've never been very good with puzzles)

One day Jim and Ryan added these legs to Owen's train table, that used to lay on the floor. Owen literally plays with his Thomas Train set every day. He's a huge fan and Dylan likes trains too.While Jim and Ryan worked on the train table; Crystal and I hung her new frames with our new family pictures on the wall that Ryan and her painted a few weeks ago. There were times that she scared me with that drill. (she was little crazy and wild wanting to get the project done)

Finished, oh so nice.

One day we went to see where Kelly's new office is going to be. They are building it and Kelly got to work with the architect in helping to design the building. With her persistence, they were able to create about another 1,500 square feet of storage space for records in the attic space. She also helped to remodel an existing building into vocational classrooms.

Alex entertained us with his magic tricks.


And we just hung out a lot. A great way to close the year with lots of rest and relaxation.

Families are the best presents of all. Hope your Christmas was great.