New Years and a Year Older

 Time flies when you are having fun! I couldn't explain January any different than that! We had so much going on and so many fun activities I will do my best to show it all off! We started the year off dog sitting some of our friends pups as they enjoyed vacation in Mexico! We had a total of 3 dogs and they all seemed to be inseparable. As fun as it was to see them all together, I have now realized I am not sure I need another dog at this time!

All the dogs getting their treats!

Juco got a new bed for Christmas

     As every year, we kick it off with New Year's Eve. With basketball, I never know what exactly we are going to have time for. This year, Fresno State played on the 30th, and didn't have to leave for their next game til the 1st! So that left us with a great night enjoyed with friends, playing the "low key" card with football, games, and togetherness!

New Year's Eve

Making it Year 2 in Fresno with this girl!

Always enjoy being with the Loftins!

     My birthday was the next celebration of the month! I was surprised with a Ski Trip to Shaver Lake to China Peak Resort. Shaver is about an hour from us, and with the drought in California, we were not able to check it out last year. Now, with the rain and snow we have been getting, we had a day filled with great memories and lots of laughs and falls. Neither Keith nor I had skied since we were in 6th grade! We had no idea what to expect or if we were ready to take this on. My morning went about as I had thought, but was going strong by the afternoon! Keith enjoyed the entire mountain and time we had. He did such a great job planning this trip and it will be a birthday I never forget!

The Beautiful view of Shaver Lake on our way home

The must take Ski Lift Pic

My work ladies are so good to me! They dressed up the Birthday Bear to make me feel like I was back at home!

     The last celebration was my parents coming to Fresno! They have been out here a couple of times, however, we tend to go visit other places. This time, we stayed in Fresno, watched basketball, and got things done! They are so helpful when we are needing little odds and ins done, and for some reason, it is so much easier to do them when they are there. We played a lot of games, mostly Pitch and enjoyed the different places around Fresno to eat. I always am thankful they come out and make me feel so special!

Always helping when they can

Basketball Selfie! Dad and Mom got to watch two games and two wins!!

Dad had control of Juco when walking, something I can never do

Mom let Juco climb on everything and made sure she was comfortable

     January was a quick month and a very exciting one! It was a great way to start of 2016! Many things to look forward to ahead!!

Family Christmas

     Every year I look forward to the Holidays. I always know that means family will be together and many memories will be made. However, I didn't realize it would get better and better each year. Moving away has put me in a situation that I never thought I would be in. I thought I would forever be a Kansas girl and always be around the ones I loved. 4 years ago, that changed, and since then, these trips home have meant more to me than ever before. I love looking ahead and having my countdown on (I know you are supposed to live in the moment, but I love countdowns!). This year was even more fun. I would call the nephews and neices and get them all riled up as to how many more days until I got to see them! Some would send pictures, send videos, or run laps around the kitchen of how many days left. All would brighten my day each time it happened!!

     My time home is always amazing, and I cannot even start to explain all the memories of the two weeks I was able to be home. I love seeing everyone and enjoying the time we get together. The kids are growing so fast and their excitement brings so many smiles to my face. Here are a few pictures of what my weeks looked like. (These do not do justice on how great of a time I had)

My Welcome Home Committee

Heading back to GB

It was my duty to have breakfast made each morning!

Enjoying the more quiet household :)

Game Time with Reese!

Lots of Ring Around the Rosy

A little Airplane Action (not sure she was enjoying it)

They love "playing" with Keith!

A family that dresses together, stays together! Family of 4 on the way!!

Bat Cade and his Bulldog socks! 

Luke and Lawson enjoying their Bouncy Balls

Keith reading to Keeley and Laney

Lawson showing off his Gingerbread House.

Little Laney

Enjoying their Christmas Puzzles

This Christmas we also gained a new Angel. My mom's mother, Grandma Schartz went to Heaven. Although, it is something that is always hard to handle, we were able to spend time together and be around all of the family for a couple more days. She was a fighter and lost a quick battle to Cancer. We will continue to smile on the memories we all share.

Thankful

     Holiday Season is always such an exciting time of year, especially now that I live at least 1500 miles away from most all of my family and friends. I get to enjoy this time and be so thankful for all that I have in my life. Thanksgiving has turned into a holiday that I truly enjoy. Whether I am able to make it home or not, it really makes you think of how amazing life is and how many wonderful opportunities I have been given. This year I was not able to return home for Thanksgiving, but I was able to spend it with family and people who mean a great deal to me in life.
     On Thursday, Thanksgiving, I picked up Keith's Parents and Brother from the San Francisco Airport to begin our weekend stay.  We loaded them up and headed to the Golden Gate Bridge! Although I know they were starving, they were great sports to let us get some sight seeing done and head on our way.  We stayed the weekend in Walnut Creek, CA, right outside of Moraga where Keith had a Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Mary's University. The entire area was so beautiful and fun. We were not able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, but we made due with what we had!

     It was so much fun to be able to catch up and spend some quality time with people I enjoy. Although I may not have been the best chauffer, it was not easy finding my way around, I loved being able to listen to Christmas music, see the views around me and constantly smile thinking about how lucky I am.

     After Keith's games, we headed back to Fresno. We wanted to make sure and catch the last Fresno State Football game. Although it was a rough season this year, we love to catch the games and support all of the coaches and players. Keith's Family had never been to a game, so I did my best "tour" of what the Fresno State Football experience is all about. To begin, we ran into the Pepsi Challenge. A small football obstacle course that you were timed. Michael and I decided we were up for the challenge and ended up getting the best time of the day! They let us know they would mail us our prize and we were very skeptical of what would arrive. Sure enough, we were sent Fresno State/Pepsi Corn Hole sets and couldn't be more excited! Team Kansas were the Champs! Sorry Coke, its Pepsi here on out for this girl!

     Sunday was a day off for Keith and we got to enjoy the entire day together. We began by taking them to our favorite breakfast spot, Huckleberry's and then hitting up a little Vino and Friends to watch the Chiefs game. After running around town, we headed back to the house to watch football and relax. Our Sunday dinner was our "Thanksgiving" and we enjoyed all the food we could eat! Thankfully, Jan was there to help cook, because I am not sure it would have turned out as well if she wasn't!
     I am so thankful for Bill, Jan, and Michael, not only because they came to visit, but because of all the love and support they have shown me through the years. Thank you for all you do! I cannot wait for Christmas and our corn hole tournament!

Halloween Weekend

Halloween always brings stress to me since I have become an "adult". You have to decide early what you are going to do, or where you are going to be, because there is so much to plan for. Even the "Quick DIY articles" for Halloween costumes are insanely not easy and if they are, normally not much fun. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it is what goes thru my head. In the past couple of years, we have not done anything too exciting or even dressed up for Halloween. This year though, was going to be different!
     Before we headed on our way, we had to make sure Juco was in the Halloween spirit. By we I mean me! I dressed her up in a cape that we had won from some carnival last year. I took multiple pictures, but not many she wasn't moving and blurry. My parents also were in the Halloween mood and made sure she was included. By they I am assuming my mother. Ha Ha. She sent an Edible Greeting Card, and though Juco was hesitant that we were letting her chew up something at first, it ended up being finished, rather quickly..it must have been good!

     We were invited to take in a Jets/Raiders football game the Sunday after Halloween. Some friends of our, Kas and Adam were going for Adam's birthday and asked if we would like to join. He is from New York and a Jets fan, so they try to make a game every year. It was so nice of them to invite us, and we had a great time!
     We started the weekend in San Francisco, going to Union Square and enjoying the costumes all around us. Sometimes it was hard to tell if they were costumes or just their every day outfit. We held off till literally the last second, making sure we were able to go and no recruits were coming into town. As guys, they aren't concerned and feel that you can just throw something together at the last second, or do not care if you are dressed up at all. Not my plan though! I was NOT going to be in San Francisco and NOT have a costume on. So what did we decide...Where's Waldo and Wenda! Yes, Wenda is a real person in the books, apparently, she is not in the books here in California because no one knew she existed. We had a so much fun sneaking in people's pictures and trying to be discreet, some worked great, some we need to work on.

     Sunday, we headed to Oakland for the football game. We were all awake so early because of the time change. We got up and headed for breakfast and then the tailgate. Although the Jets did not win, it was still fun. I will say that I do not advise heading to the "Coliseum" for an NFL game and rooting for the other team. Although, we wore black, being seen with the enemy gave us some comments and crude looks. Ha  Ha.

     After a great weekend, it was fun to get back home. We got to watch the Royals game and watch them win a World Series! Although, we may not be in Kansas anymore, the cheering and support is still there!

Bay Vacay!

  My parents have been talking about wanting to come out during the summer. Between the short trips I was making home, and Keith's schedule for recruiting, it is always difficult to find a time. This year, we decided on the weekend before Labor Day. My dad's Aunt, Cousin, and her family live in Morgan Hill, right outside of San Francisco. He had been wanting to get out there and see them, so we figured what better way to spend our weekend. We drove the short 2 hour drive to the Coast and enjoyed many of the sights of the Bay Area.

The first day I arrived, we spent some time with family. Dad and Mom had already been there a night, so catching up was so nice. We enjoyed lunch with Aunt Merilee and Melanie at Black Bear Diner in Gilroy for lunch, before heading off to do a little shopping. We lounged around, caught up on the news we hadn't talked about in the last couple of days and enjoyed this time together.

Saturday was an early morning. We started the trip bright eyed and excited to go (except for the non early morning person who is typing this right now, I am not sure everyone else would agree I was as excited) However, we headed to the pier and had a great breakfast at Boudin. We were able to get Trolley passes and headed thru the streets of San Francisco. We enjoyed a day at AT&T Stadium watching the Giants Vs. Cards game, and ended up with great left field seats! It was hot, and the "Dog Days of Summer" so we had lots of entertainment around us. We headed back to the hotel, got ready and headed out to Fisherman's Wharf where we got to eat right on Pier 39 and be apart of all the excitement happening around.

Keith didn't get the "wear stripes memo"

Sea Lion Island

Sunday morning was a trip we were all excited for. We were heading to Alcatraz Island. None of us had been there before, so we didnt know to expect. I had to do a little bit of a history lesson before, as I wasnt quite sure of what we were heading into. It ended up being a very cool tour and so glad that we went. It was something that I will be able to say I have been to and experienced. Amazing stories and views from the island that you cannot explain. We turned into even more tourists when we arrived back at San Fran. We headed down the Crooked Mile, went to the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fort Point. The views in that city are so amazing.

Audio Tour

We had such a great weekend with my parents and getting to experience some very cool things. I am loving that we are really taking advantage of living so close to so many things and able to make these weekend trips happen!!